Infinite Love (The Austin Series) Read online

  ‘Mason was being paid to watch Milo, so he was in his car further up the street that night. I told him that Milo was meeting you at the gym, so he was waiting for him to leave to join you. That’s how I know what happened and that’s why you’re alive, sitting here now. God, if I hadn’t … Jesus Mia, if I wasn’t such a fucking control freak you’d be bloody dead right now.’ He covered his face and started sobbing again making my heart hurt at what I’d put him through.

  ‘Gabe, please don’t, I’m fine. I’m really confused, but I’m fine. Please keep talking, I need to know everything.’ I grabbed one of his hands and kissed it, and he sniffed and pulled a tissue out of his pocket and wiped his eyes again.

  ‘Mason was on his phone, trying to get hold of me to tell me that you’d turned up at Milo’s. He recognised you from your meetings when you were tracking down Lexi’s dad. I was playing bloody pool with Doug and had the music on. I didn’t hear my phone, I didn’t even check it, I really didn’t expect to hear from you for another hour or so and I thought you were safe in the gym with Mason keeping watch outside. Mason said when he’d left the message he hung up and looked back at Milo’s house and saw some guy lowering you into his car, a silver car, then suddenly … suddenly …’

  ‘Suddenly what?’ I asked as Gabe stalled. He rubbed his face, the noise of his stubble scratching against his palms. He took a deep breath as he shook his head.

  ‘He knew something was seriously wrong, so he rang the police as he tailed the car to a derelict factory on the outskirts of town. He watched you get carried in and reported your location to the Police and crept up to look through a broken window. Mason said the guy had a huge knife, so he didn’t dare go in and tackle him in case he made matters worse, so he bided his time. He saw him … he saw him cut your clothes off and …’

  ‘You promise me that I wasn’t raped, Gabe,’ I interrupted as a violent shudder ran through my body.

  ‘I do promise Mia, Mason said that the guy stripped and cuffed you, then ran his hand over your stomach before he went to get water to throw on you after you were sick. When he held the knife to your face Mason was about to risk it and go in to try and help you, but the Police turned up no more than ten minutes after you arrived at that factory and got ready to storm the place. They managed to get to him just as he’d climbed on top of you, thank God they weren’t a moment later … I …. Fuck,’ he groaned as he rubbed his face again and I winced at the thought of how close I’d come to something even worse. ‘They managed to grab him while the knife was on a table at the side of the bed, you were out of it, but woke up as they tussled him to the ground. They got you out of there and brought you straight here. I arrived with Lexi and Doug soon after and your mum and Gerry picked up Georgie and made their way straight here. So you see, other than stripping you and getting on top of you, no one touched you sexually baby, I promise,’ he said earnestly as he held my gaze. I smiled weakly at him as relief flooded through me and I nodded.

  ‘And it wasn’t Milo that attacked me?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Who took me, Gabe?’ I asked quietly, convinced that now I already knew the answer.

  ‘It was Adam,’ he uttered, with a complete look of contempt on his face.

  ‘O my God.’ My worst fears were confirmed, it was him. ‘Adam was the one that choked me and … Gabe, I feel sick.’

  ‘He’s been arrested and charged with the rape and murder of those six women and for your abduction and attempted rape and for the mur … O God Mia, if I’d not had Milo under investigation ….’ He broke off again and looked at me with such pain in his eyes.

  ‘So he’s the Campus Killer?’

  ‘It looks that way, yes.’

  ‘Not Milo?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘O, thank God.’ I nodded my head, relief flooding through me that my friend hadn’t tried to hurt me. I hadn’t been completely wrong about him, he just cared about me and was too drunk and too vocal in expressing his new found feelings for me. He’d never have tried to hurt me, he tried to stop me going outside alone because he was genuinely concerned for my safety. All along I’d thought the danger was in the house with him, yet that would have been the safest place to be. It had been Adam all along, it must have been him when I felt someone watching me these last few weeks. It was his silver car I’d seen outside of Milo’s house, he must have followed me from the gym. He must have been hiding by the hedge outside Milo’s front door and seen an opportunity to grab me as Milo went back in for my coat. ‘O God Gabe, what will happen with Adam? What if they let him out and he comes to try and get me again?’

  ‘He won’t, Mia. I promise you he’s not getting out, trust me on that. I hope he gets life fucking imprisonment. I wish they still had the bloody death penalty here for people like him,’ he snapped. I reached out and took his hands.

  ‘Gabe I’m ok, I’m going to be ok. Please don’t let him get to you.’

  ‘Too late, Mia! He took you, he tried to take you from me baby, when I got that answer message from Mason … I thought I’d lost you.’ He took another pained sob and quickly wiped his eyes again. ‘I know now that it was Adam who tried to run me over. You said it from the start, you said it was him and that you got a bad vibe from him and I didn’t believe you. He’s married Mia, married with a kid. I mean, what the hell’s wrong with him?’

  ‘He has a child?’ I uttered and Gabe nodded. It was bad enough to wonder how his wife was going to feel when she found out that she’d been living with a psychotic serial killer, but that poor kid? It didn’t bear thinking about.

  ‘When the police went to his house to carry out a search, they found a locked basement. His wife said it was just for junk, she hadn’t been down there since they moved in, but it wasn’t for junk. They said it was like a shrine. It was full of pictures of girls, loads of young girls your age with blue eyes and brown hair.’

  ‘Were there pictures of me?’

  ‘Yes,’ he said quietly. ‘More of you than anyone, he had a board just for you. Some taken in and outside Peppers, on Campus, even outside our fucking apartment building. Also Dad’s house and you running in the park.’

  ‘O God, Gabe,’ I whispered as I covered my mouth with my hands. He could have taken me anytime he wanted and I might not have been so lucky.

  ‘He obviously has some serious psychological problems, which I’m sure that the Police will get to the bottom of, in time. They’re going to need a full statement from you when you feel up to it.’ He reached up and smoothed my hair with his hand and I gave him a half-smile and a nod.

  ‘He must have followed me to Milo’s from Uni, I had a feeling I was being watched. I don’t understand though, I was grabbed from behind, right outside Milo’s open front door that’s why I thought it was him. I really thought it was Milo holding me, Gabe. Does he know I’m ok? He must be so worried. I left my coat and phone and everything in his house.’

  ‘O God, Mia,’ Gabe sighed and rubbed his face.

  ‘What? You’re not going to tell me that you went around and beat him up are you? I know I shouldn’t have gone there, and I’m so sorry for breaking your trust. I promise now that I know how he feels about me, I won’t see him anymore, Gabe. I just need to have to have one meeting with him to explain that we can’t be friends now, to tell him that I’m sorry that I don’t feel that way about him, then I won’t see him again except in class. I don’t want to jeopardise my relationship with you Gabe, and I feel so awful that you were right all along, he was in love with me and I just didn’t see it.’

  ‘It doesn’t matter baby, don’t worry about it, ok?’ He gave me a sad smile.

  ‘But I do, how can I have been so stupid, Gabe? I didn’t see what was right under my nose with Milo, I put myself at risk with Adam by ignoring your advice. I just can’t believe it was him, I was so sure that Milo had grabbed me from behind.’

  ‘Mia, I’ve got to tell you something that’s not going to be easy to hear.’

  ‘I told
you so?’ I gave him a wry smile.

  ‘No, not today,’ he replied with a sigh and a shake of his head.

  ‘Why are you being so nice about it? I thought you’d go mad at me.’

  ‘Mia, shouting at you isn’t going to help. You’ve been through hell baby and all I care about is that you’re safe now, you’re alive, safe and here with me,’ he sighed and grabbed my hands again. ‘I still have to tell you something though. Adam must have been hiding right outside the house and saw an opportunity while you were standing there alone. The right amount of pressure in the right place on someone’s neck can make them black out in seconds, then an injection of drugs can make sure if you come around you’re not really with it. He carried you to the car and …’

  ‘I know, you’ve already told me this, Gabe. I just want to forget it all and I’d really like to see Mum and Lexi now, they must be so worried about me.’

  ‘They are Mia, but you don’t know all of it. I left some of it out.’

  ‘Why?’ I looked at him puzzled.

  ‘Because I wanted you to be clear that Adam was the one who hurt you, not Milo.’

  ‘So what did you leave out?’ I looked at him puzzled. What was the deal? I just really wanted to see Mum and Lexi.

  ‘Mason saw Milo stagger out of the house as Adam was putting you in his car. Milo tried to attack Adam and … shit … Milo was trying to protect you baby, but he couldn’t stop Adam from taking you.’

  ‘Gabe? Is he ok?’

  ‘Mia, Adam … Adam stabbed him and jumped in his car and drove off with you.’

  ‘No! O God, no. Tell me he’s ok? Please tell me that he’s ok?’ I begged. Something in Gabe’s face told me that the worst was still to come and I suddenly felt sick again as I bolted upright.

  ‘Mason had to make a split second decision Mia, help Milo or follow you. He chose you.’

  ‘Gabe, I don’t understand what you’re trying to tell me. Mason left Milo hurt and alone?’

  ‘If he hadn’t followed you Mia you wouldn’t be sitting here now, no one would have known where Adam had taken you. It was the right call, the sensible logical choice,’ he nodded, as if trying to convince himself, as well as me. I held my breath as he continued. ‘Mason rang for an ambulance while he was tailing Adam’s car and sent them to help Milo, then he called the Police and told them what was going down so they could hopefully catch up with him, or meet wherever Adam was taking you.’

  ‘So he’s ok?’ I breathed a sigh of relief to know that not only was Milo not responsible for what had happened to me, but he was ok after risking his life to protect me from a seriously crazed Adam, yet again.

  ‘Mia, I’m so sorry baby, but … but the Paramedics were too late. He was already gone when they got there, from massive blood loss.’

  ‘No!’ I whispered as my eyes filled up again. Had I just heard Gabe right?

  ‘I’m sorry baby, I’m really sorry, they told me that it would have been quick.’

  ‘No, Gabe!’ I snatched my hands out of his as I tried to process what he was telling me. ‘Please tell me it’s not true. It’s not true.’ I felt the room starting to spin as nausea hit me again. Milo was dead? My friend had died trying to help me? Gabe tried to put his arms around me and I pushed him away. ‘NO!’ I yelled. I refused to believe it.

  ‘Mia, please.’

  ‘No, no, NO!’ I cried and hammered my fists on his chest as he tried to hold me again. ‘I want to wake up, this can’t be happening. This is all a horrible nightmare. I want to wake up now, Gabe. Please.’ I sobbed as I lost sight of his face through the tears and stiffened up as I felt his arms try to encircle me, I felt like I was suffocating. This had to be nightmare, this couldn’t be real. Not stalking and abductions, attempted rape, serial killers and best friends dying. This wasn’t real, I needed to wake up, right now. I pushed against his chest again freeing myself, then screamed with anger as I rained my fists down on him, pummelling his chest.

  ‘Harder,’ he shouted at me through my sobs. ‘Hit me harder, Mia. Get it out, pretend I’m Adam, pretend I’m him.’

  ‘NOOOOOOOO!’ I screamed as I hit him again and again until my arms hurt. As I slowed from exhaustion he grabbed my hands. ‘Nooooo,’ I cried as my body sagged and I felt totally defeated and empty.

  ‘I love you Mia, I love you and we’ll get through this, just like we’ve got through everything baby.’

  ‘Gabe,’ I sobbed. I felt him haul me into his arms and press me against his chest as he lay down and took me with him. ‘Gabe.’

  ‘I know baby, I know. It’s going to be ok. I’ve got you now,’ he murmured as he kissed my hair and held me. I gasped between tears as I felt a weird sensation in the back of my hand where my drip was attached. My head went all tingly and dizzy as my limbs started feeling heavy. Someone had just drugged me again.

  ‘Stop! Don’t,’ I moaned as I the room started spinning and I tried to fight against the effect of the medication. I suddenly saw Mum’s face swimming in the background, she looked so worried. ‘Mum,’ I cried as I tried to sit up and reach out a hand to her.

  ‘Mia, you’re going to be ok, we’re all here for you. Try and rest, Gabe’s just pressed your painkiller button as you were so upset. You need to sleep sweetheart. We’re all here, ok?’

  ‘Gabe,’ I moaned as I sank back into his arms feeling boneless and spaced out.

  ‘I’m right here baby. We’ll all be right here when you wake up. I love you so much Mia, sleep for me,’ he ordered as I felt his lips on my forehead and I gave up fighting it as I continued to cry and fell asleep.

  Aftermath

  I woke up screaming again and Mum came running into my bedroom.

  ‘Sweetheart, I’m here, you’re ok. You’re in your apartment, you’re home.’

  ‘Mum,’ I sobbed as I sat up and let go of big boy who I’d had my arms wrapped around. She sat on the edge of the bed and enveloped me in a tight hug. ‘I had a nightmare again. Why can’t I stop crying?’

  ‘You’ve been through a horrible ordeal Mia, and lost a close friend. You wouldn’t be human if you didn’t cry or have nightmares.’

  ‘It’s my fault Milo died Mum, it’s my fault. He was trying to protect me.’

  ‘I know you feel that way Mia, but you can’t blame yourself. You were no more responsible for putting that knife in Adam’s hand than I was. Adam had set his sights on you and he was going to take you away from us, no matter what. It could just have easily been Lexi, Gabe or Doug that was with you when he tried. You can’t keep torturing yourself like this.’

  ‘I know, but …’ I sniffed as I looked over her shoulder and saw Gabe standing in the entrance to the dressing room, wrapped in a towel, fresh out of the shower with a sad look on his face. I winced as I saw the bruises on his chest, bruises I’d put there on Friday as he’d let me punch him while I’d screamed.

  ‘Here Gabe, take her off my hands while I go and finish Sunday dinner for us all. Are you sure you’re up to joining everyone?’

  ‘Yes,’ I nodded with a sniff and grabbed a tissue to blow my nose. She cupped my face and kissed my forehead.

  ‘See you in while.’

  ‘Ok.’ I watched her leave and shut the door and looked over at Gabe. ‘I’m so sorry.’

  ‘For what?’ he smiled.

  ‘Everything. Disobeying you, frightening you, punching you …’ I stalled and dabbed my eyes with my tissue.

  ‘Hey, no more tears.’ He strode over and clasped my hands as he sat next to me. ‘If you hadn’t disobeyed me Adam could have grabbed you somewhere else, where you wouldn’t have been followed by Mason and saved. Being your stubborn self actually saved you, Mia. Scaring me, well you’ve done it before and you’ll do it again because I’ll always worry about you so that’s my problem, that’s just who I am. Punching me, I told you to, you needed to get some anger out. Anyway, those weren’t proper punches, my eighty-one year old grandma hits harder than that,’ he smiled. I giggled before my face fell, then I s
ighed as I traced the purple smatters all over his pecs.

  ‘Do they hurt?’

  ‘Not as much as seeing you in so much pain. What can I do?’

  ‘Nothing that you’re not already doing,’ I advised with a smile. I’d come home on Saturday morning and stayed in bed since then. Everyone had taken it in turns to come and sit on the bed to keep me company between my sleeping and crying. Except Gabe. Gabe hadn’t left my side since we’d got home.

  ‘I’m sorry I left you alone. I thought you were sleeping again so I took a quick shower. When I heard you scream …’ he shook his head.

  ‘No, I’m sorry, now I’m affecting you as well. You can’t stay with me twenty-four-seven, Gabe.’

  ‘Hey, don’t apologise. Whatever you need to do to deal with this is ok with me. You have all of us here, ok? Georgie had to leave this morning and didn’t want to wake you, but everyone else is here. Are you sure you’re up to this big dinner?’ He frowned as he looked at me. Mum and Gerry were staying in my old room at Lexi’s, and Robert and Sofia had flown over Friday night. Mum had suggested cooking here for them, so I felt safe in my own home without having to go out. She’d invited Doug and Lexi too, to try and give me something to look forward to, to take my mind off everything.

  ‘Yes, dinner with everyone would be nice. I can’t sit here crying all the time.’

  ‘What’s upsetting you the most?’ he asked before kissing my forehead again.

  ‘How helpless I was, I took self-defence Gabe, and it wasn’t enough and then Milo … I just can’t get past …’ I inhaled sharply and fluttered my hands in front of my eyes, trying to stop more tears.

  ‘Sssshhhh. I know how you feel on both fronts, Mia. Adam targeting you was pure randomness, which not only lead to him taking you, but also to my accident. I couldn’t have prevented him running me down any more than you could have fought off a bigger guy prepared to drug you. And as for Milo, it was tragic that your friend died trying to help you, but you’re no more responsible for his death than I am for Mum’s, ok? You won’t let me blame myself for that, I’m not going to let you blame yourself for this. Grief, that’s normal, but not blame. I don’t want you to go through life feeling the way I did over something out of your control.’ He picked my hands up and kissed my bruised wrists.