Shackled (The Lord Series) by Amy T

359. Olivia - 'Surprise' II

I

Ansel and Mose enter the house carrying three large pizza boxes and put them on the dining table, next to the potato salad Jasper and I made. Tyson made crispy onion rings. "I thought you were making burgers?" I ask, confused, while I finish setting the table. Mose puts on an apologetic face while Ansel shrugs. "Change of plans."

Rueben puts a six-pack of root beer on the table. "I bet..." From the couch, Tyson and Jasper watch him intensely. Rueben's eyes narrow to slits. "I'm sure Mose burned them."

give Mose a peck on the lips. "He's doing the best he can. After all, cooking is not that easy, especially since he has little to no experience."

Rueben rolls his eyes at me. "He's Mose's demon, for fuck's sake. He should know how to make simple dishes but he can't even fry some eggs without burning the kitchen."

I press my lips together, not wanting to laugh with Mose present. Rueben is not wrong, but he shouldn't be so direct. "You should be more considerate of your elders," I say, and everyone gives me strange looks. Well, Mose's demon is older than dirt. He must have seen the Big Bang and the formation of our universe."

Jasper can't help himself and says, "His fart was the Big Bang."

"Shit. Don't give him beans! Who knows what will happen if he farts again," Tyson continues the joke.

fun and burps. "Boom!" he says before wrapping his arms around my waist and spinning

me

to tell me, "Love." He still hates talking more than a few words at a time, but I don't need long conversations to understand him. Or to care deeply

living again. My heart is not fully healed; it will never be, but each day is better than the other. I never once dreamed of a life where I'm not only loved by Tyson but by four other men. Allowing myself to have feelings for them is hard, but one day, I'll trust them not only with my body

my grandparents, Jason and my father would quickly snach it away, especially if

find our new house, but Ansel and Mose's constant vigilance has me

threats have been eliminated,

back then, I was still living in my own world, thinking that once I finish high school, Tyson would take me away on a white horse or some shit like that. He was the first man who respected me and told me to love myself more than I loved him. That's something I was never able to do because back then, I couldn't imagine living without him. It's why I made a deal with Jason to get him, Rueben, and Ansel out. The idea of Tyson, of any of them, locked in the facility, enduring the same things that 919 or Anton did, still

ones from six years ago. I am not the same either. While I'm

Ansel steps behind me and kisses my

shoulder, I ask, "What

grin appears on Ansel's face. "I don't want to ruin

Ansel speak are stopped with

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