Shackled (The Lord Series) by Amy T

103. Angel

ཨ ཙ ཏུ ཏ , ཨ ཏཾ ཡཱདཱནྟི དྷསྶཾ ཙ ཨིཏཾ, 1:| ༧ •

For hours, I have been forced to sit at a table, having a staring match with my father. I am tired, hungry, cranky, and nauseous as we are on a yacht somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean, but I try to hold my shit together as I fear for my father’s intentions in harming my unborn child.

When I told Alekos that the baby was the only thing that kept me going, I was being sincere. While in the Sanctuary, I was in such a bad place that I am sure I might have done something foolish, but I did all the things the therapist

ve done s recommended so I could strive to be the best mother for my child. The day I found out I was pregnant was when I snapped out of my sadness and worked hard to put myself back together, one piece at a time. And I am not about to let my father or anyone else destroy the progress I’ve made so far.

The last time I saw my father was the night Carlos beat me until I passed out. Since then, it looks like he has aged at least ten years and lost weight. Empty alcohol bottles are all over the small kitchen of the yacht, and the horrible smell coming from my father makes my nose want to commit suicide. When was the last time he took a shower? Doesn’t he know pregnant women are sensitive to smells?

He is cleaning his pistol while his gaze never leaves my face. There is no doubt in my mind that he will kill me. If I weren’t pregnant, I would have risked fighting him and jumping into the ocean, hoping someone would find me. But to protect my baby, I have to find another way to escape him. It won’t be easy, but I don’t have to be stronger, only smarter than him.

“I thought those Lords would never leave you alone.” My father finally speaks, taking me by surprise. “For days, I watched the house, hoping they would leave you alone at some point. I even sent some men to bring you to me, but they chickened out in the end.” Is he talking about the men from the nightclub? “Good thing I am patient, and in the end, I could get my hands on you.”

I want to say something sassy, especially since he disowned me, but his completely black eyes let me know I have to be cautious. “They tend to be very…possessive,” I say.

My father nods. “I used to be the same way with your mother. She was everything to me, and she was brutally taken away from me by the Raptou family.”

My pulse quickens. “The Raptou family is responsible for the accident?” Did Alekos know that his father killed my mother? How he must have laughed behind my back.

+

“And now you are carrying a Raptou bastard in your belly,” my father’s voice breaks. “Why?”

“I…I didn’t know Nikolas was behind my mother’s death, and the baby might not be Alekos‘.”

He slams his palm on top of the table. “Who said anything about Nikolas? It was Zak.”

new head of the Raptou family is the one behind my

help of other family

his cousin, Anne.

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20%

103. Angel

you said the Raptou family, I thought it was Nikolas since

father changed the topic. “If that bastard in your womb is not a Raptou, then who else can be the father? You are such a bitch in heat, I don’t even

I want to say, but I bite my tongue. “He can be Reyes Ortiz’s

eyes widened. “The one who is killing Duke

them. And especially, I don’t want Reyes to end up in prison. “That one.” Fear

had to do was marry Carlos, but what did you do? You opened your legs for the Lords. Do you have any idea what you

you

what you think it

the world can be that hard, but I don’t comment about it as my father doesn’t know I found out what he does for a living. As far as I am concerned, he has a car

father is telling me the

Carlos pay you

paid all my debts and helped me get on my feet. But he took everything from me after you escaped the Celestial Heaven.” He points the pistol at me, and my chin trembles with fear. “You should have stayed there as a sex slave. At least then you would have been useful.” He pulls on the trigger, and nothing happens. “You should have been born male! But no, you had to come out as a woman. Weak, pathetic, and worthless.” Didn’t he learn that men are the ones who determine the

Shackled (The Lord Series)

104. Angel

pregnant again. So, I got stuck with you.” Nice. Really nice to know what he really thinks about me. He pulls the trigger again. My heart almost stops beating. Is he playing Russian Roulette with me? “But your mother loved you very much. She said you were special.” He snorts. “I don’t know what’s so special about a bitch in heat like you,” he says as his right hand–the one he is holding the pistol with–moves around. And then he shoots again, the pistol firing, and the bullet grazes my left cheek. A whimper rushes from my lips, and my

debts. I thought your business was going well.” Maybe if I keep him distracted by talking to him, I will find a way to stop him

mean I won’t defend myself. His back is to me, and as quietly as I can, I grab one of the empty bottles from the table and hide in the waistband of my yoga pants. It is small, and if I am lucky, he won’t notice it under my clothes. I am done arranging my baggy t–shirt

of cheap liquor

didn’t take your mother’s death well,