Page 6 of The Dollmaker
“Your wish is my command. Stay away from the ones responsible for your pain. You live your life with Tripp for now. Once it’s time to enact your revenge, you will know,” she says, and I nod.
“Okay, I’m ready,” I tell her as the shivers race up my spine so quickly I scream, not being able to handle it anymore. Myvision becomes clouded in black smoke and homecoming night replays repeatedly like a never ending reel.
“Soon, my girl. They will all pay. I promise you. They will all suffer for what they did to you. One by one.” Her voice getting further and further away.
Gasping awake, I take in a deep breath as powerful hands push down on my shoulders. I try to peel my eyes open as the beeping next to me gets louder and louder.
“Sav, I need you to calm down. Baby, it’s okay,” he says. Tripp's voice alone slows my erratic heartbeat down a bit. I peel my eyes open, but the bright light over me automatically forces them shut again. “Slow down your breathing, Savannah. You are okay. You are safe. I’m right here,” he assures me as his fingers slide between mine, lifting them a bit, pressing soft lips against my skin.
“T-Tripp, how long have I been out?” I rasp in a panic. My throat feels like sandpaper as I try to speak.
“Two months,” he says, and my eyes go wide as pain laces both my eyes at the brightness in the room and it makes me want to scream.
“Shut off the lights so I can open my eyes, please. It's too bright,” I complain as I feel him moving around my bed, then the brightness dims beneath my eyelids. Opening them, I’m greeted with Tripp's gorgeous face and his big blue eyes staring at me with concern written all over his face.
“Two months? Did I hear that right?” I say, and he nods, bringing my hands up to his lips.
“Yes, baby. Do you remember what happened?” he asks, and I growl.
“Of course I do!” I spit.
“Y-yo—,”
“The baby?” I interrupt, and his eyes cast down, and that's all the answer I need. Tears fall down my cheeks as he squeezes next to me on the bed, bringing me into his arms.
“Savannah, I'm sorry, but the multiple stab wounds prevented the doctors from doing much. We are actually lucky you are alive right now,” he says as I lift the blanket and pull up my gown to see the scars left behind...
“Do you still want to be with me after everything that happened?” I ask, and he sits up abruptly, staring down at me. My body aches from being in the same spot all this time, but I need answers because I just want him. I want to feel safe again.
“I am not going anywhere without you, Savannah. When I told you I loved you, I meant it. I’ve been here day and night with you through this. I prayed you would come back to me, and if you didn’t, I was going to come find you because there is no me without you, Sav. Never!” he confesses, pressing his lips to mine.
“I love you too, Tripp, but what have you said to the cops? They must have been waiting here for me to wake up?”
“We were attacked. That’s it. We didn’t see anyone. It happened so quickly. That's the story. Do you know how bad I wanted to tell them everything and who is responsible for all of this? I keep fighting myself between doing the right thing and taking care of it myself,” he says, and I nod.
“If we tell the cops, they get off easy. Just rot away in jail. That's not enough for me. We need to find out when I can leave here. Are our parents at home or they didn't give a shit?” I ask, and he squeezes me tighter.
“It’s just you and me against the world. Can I just hold you a little longer before you start barking orders at me?” he asks, making me laugh.
“Yes, I’ve missed you, Tripp. Thank you for never leaving me like everyone else does.”
“You’re stuck with me forever Savannah,” he whispers, pressing his lips against my cheek. I snuggle into his body, inhaling his scent. Vanilla and chocolate. I swear this man smells like baked goods. He brings up the blanket, covering us both, and it's not before long I’m fast asleep in his arms, dreaming of the day I finally get my revenge.
Tripp
Getting My Lick Back…
Being shunned at school was harder than I thought. They kicked me off the football team while I waited for Savannah to wake up. Not an ounce of remorse came from my coach, but watching the team act like they didn’t turn my life upside down—like they didn’t leave us for dead—had my blood boiling. I couldn’t do anything about it in public, just bit my tongue as they taunted me with each passing second I was on school grounds. Savannah made me promise her to keep my cool after she told me the story about her dream. I looked at her like she was insane, but in the end, I told her I’d stay away.
For months we've shacked up in the mansion while Savannah recovered from the injuries she sustained. The detectives have been by a few times with never-ending questions, but we still kept to our story. I’m glad Savannah agreed to handle this ourselves. There’s no way getting them arrested would besufficient. Not after what they did to her. I don’t care that they beat my ass. All I care about is her and how she feels.
She, on the other hand, is having a harder time with it all. Between the loss of our baby, the doctor telling us the chance of having kids is slim to none is weighing heavily on her. All the scars that riddle her perfect body have put her in a mindset that she’s ugly and ruined. I don’t know how many times I have to lick, suck, and bite every single last mark on her for her to believe me.I guess time will tell.I know this is rough for her, but I need the girl I fell in love with to come back to me. She's changed drastically since homecoming. She’s much quieter and has moments of darkness that seep out of her. I made the mistake of letting her persuade me into taking her to school with promises to keep her cool. Savannah lasted four periods before she tore into Tatum. I thought she was going to kill her.
“Stay here and I’ll go get our lunch,” I tell her, placing a kiss on her forehead. Walking down the aisle towards the line of waiting students, I spot Tatum and the rest of the squad walking in. Ignoring them, I wait like everyone else as the line moves to grab us some food.
“Hey man,” Walker says, putting his fist out for me to bump. I bump him back and nod my head. “I’m glad to see you're back at school. I’m really sorry to hear about your attack,” he says, and I nod again.
“Thanks, Walker, you’re the only one talking to me from the team. Did they send you over here to do their bidding?” I ask, and his eyes widen.
