Shackled (The Lord Series) by Amy T

Olivia

I try to do as he asks and get onto my knees before forcing myself to stand, but I fall again, hitting my head against

the wall.

Jasper rushes inside the bathroom. “I said help her wash, not kill her,” he says as he steps inside the shower. “What the f**k!? This is freezing.”

Tyson shrugs. “I thought cold water was good for people with a fever.”

Jasper mutters something under his breath as he takes me out of the shower and has me sit on the toilet. My shirt is soaked and cold, and it clings to me like a second skin, and I wrap my arms around myself.

“She is going to die sooner or later; I don’t see the point in dragging out the inevitable,” says Tyson.

Me either.

Jasper goes to check the temperature of the water. “You already know why.”

“If you think that by f**king her and posting videos of her and her nasty p**sy all over social media, we will finally be able to take down Senator Deymar, you are delusional. That man doesn’t give a f**k about her. He will even deny she is his daughter.”

Tyson is not wrong about my father, although he might get a heart attack if his career as a politician is ruined.

“You think that didn’t cross my mind? We will have Cirro look into the evidence once he is done with that job for the

Elders,” says Jasper.

What evidence?

Except for my birth certificate, there is little proof of me living with my parents while growing up. There had been a handful of times when I was allowed to be part of the family photos, and I am sure my mother had thrown them out already as she always hated the color of my hair. ‘Red is for whores,’ she used to say, although my hair is auburn, it was the same thing for her. Guess she was right in the end, I am a wh ore.

“Whatever. Like I said last night, I don’t want any part in this sh it,” Tyson says and leaves.

Jasper lets out a loud sigh before returning to me. “Do you need to use the toilet?”

I shake my head. He removes his clothes, then mine.

“Don’t mind Tyson. He always gets like this when he is editing one of his books,” he says as he takes me to the shower.

The water is warm enough to stop me from shaking.

Jasper is gentle as he cleans my hair.

nice to me, but men don’t like

Olivia

I hate when I am forced to think or to feel, and I miss the numbness provided by

my wrist. “No matter how hard you try, you will never be

to find some

into that sh it, and as I mentioned before, you

I whisper. “I am not

clean and look healthy in the sex video we are

in their absurd plan of taking down my father. It’s not like I have any

don’t want the

I look? All

and he would not ca re what happens to you, but once you are healthy and radiant, looking absolutely smitten

look at my scars and

chin and forces me to look into his eyes. “Do you know what kintsugi is?” I shake my head. “It’s an old Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold.” Tracing a scar I have below my belly button, he adds, “Your scars,

of gold will

“When we film you being railed by us, making you scream our names,

frown. “Why is it important to make everyone believe I am your woman? You can always f**k me and

won’t be the same.” Probably noticing I am still confused, he adds, “You

I am clean and dried, Jasper takes me back to the room. Clean sheets and a new blanket are

am sorry for getting

says as he puts me on top of the bed, then goes to the closet and takes a t-shirt from inside. “I flipped the mattress

told. When he tries to restrain me again, I say, “Please,

214

Olivia

it matters what I want. It never does. “I will return in a

am not

says before leaving me

sleep because I feel like I have been hit by a train. With a bit of luck, Jasper

dry. Water would be nice

takes a few minutes

chest hurts

feels more like I am on a boat in the middle of the ocean during

I close my eyes.

opens, and

pretend to

and eggs.” Jasper’s voice reaches my ears. Why does he keep

celebrated it was wi th Camila and her family. I miss her so much, each passing second is an agony without her. “Merry Christmas to you too,” I whisper, while I don’t feel ‘merry’ at all.