Shackled (The Lord Series) by Carlos
284. Olivia - Reunion IV

Tyson?

I refuse to look in case I'm wrong.

A last exchange of fireguns happens. "They are all dead," a man says. I don't recognize his voice.

Another speaks. "Except for the ones that got away." He sounds like Rueben.

Fuck. If Rueben is here, I'm in so much shit.

"My blood-brothers and I will hunt them down," the first man says.

Strong arms peel me away from Mose. I scream but stop when I realize it's Tyson.

"I'm not going to hurt you," Tyson says before embracing me. The air leaves my lungs. Why is he hugging me? "I was so fucking scared that something happened to you." I keep quiet, not trusting a word that comes out of his mouth. "Your heart is beating so fast, Little Rabbit. You are safe now."

Safe? What's that?

Little Bunny.

Bile rises to my throat. I hate being called that. I continue to keep quiet, not knowing what to say.

Tyson grabs my face between his palms. Why is he looking at me as if he's concerned?

Someone yanks me away from Tyson, spins me around, and buries my face in his chest. I didn't get to see his face, but his scent let me know it's Ansel. I wrap my arms around him. "How is your back?" I ask.

Ansel chuckles. "You must have been through hell, and yet, the first thing you ask is how I am."

I look up at him. "I was worried. What the demons did to you in the Catacombs was awful. They ripped off your wings because of me."

"Who ripped off your wings?" Tyson asks.

Didn't Ansel explain what happened in the Catacombs.

Ansel ignores Tyson and kisses my forehead. "I would gladly give my life for you. Don't you know that I love you?"

Each time he claimed he loved me, I thought he lied, but I'm starting to think he is telling me the truth. I wish I could return the feeling, but I'm so broken. I have nothing left to give to Ansel.

Rueben approaches us, and I shiver. I don't know if it's from the cold or because I'm scared of what he's going to say next. "Olivia," his voice quivers as he says my name. My gaze rushes to him. Did he suddenly remember my name? No more Diseased Cunt? His eyes are full of anger and hate but with sadness. Despite everything he did to me, I want to give him a hug and tell him that everything will be alright. But I can't. "I was wrong."

About what?

I don't ask.

Rueben reaches out his hand, and I tense. Is he going to hurt me? Rueben's hand drops.

Mose growls. "Leave. Her. Alone."

"What happened to you?" Rueben asks.

I whimper. Rueben and Tyson are going to hate me even more after they learn what happened to Mose.

Tyson takes me away from Ansel. "Are you hurt?" He studies me from head to toe. "You are freezing. No wonder you are whimpering," he says as he takes off his coat and puts it around my shoulders. "I'll take you home and prepare you a warm bath and a big cup of hot cocoa," he keeps talking as he picks me up.

That sounds so wonderful. I burst out crying because I know that instead of that, I'll be taken to the shed and tortured for hours.

"Olivia, what's wrong?" Tyson asks.

"I am so sorry," I sob. "I tried to get him out in time. I failed him just like I failed Camila."

"What is she talking about?" Ansel asks.

I cover my face with my palms. I even stop crying, not wanting to anger them even more. "Mose. Gone," his demon says.

I stop breathing and get ready for a beating.

"Fuck," Rueben mutters. "If that's true, why didn't the link between us break?"

"Bond," Mose explains.

It was the only way I could save him.

"You bonded with Olivia?" Ansel asks.

Mose replies quickly. "Yes."

Tyson walks away with me. "You are amazing. The bond might have saved Mose."

He is not angry?

I peek at him. He doesn't look angry. "What happened to your eyes?"

Didn't Rueben say that Tyson got blind? That he and Jasper don't want to see me again?

Tyson appears to see, but his eyes look tired.

He smiles a bit sadly. I reach out my hand but stop myself before I caress his cheek. "Your father made Rueben hit me in the head with a baseball bat. It affected my vision." Rueben lied about Tyson being blind. I should have known better than to believe Rueben.

I bite my bottom lip. "I am sorry."

He gets us inside a car and sits me in his lap. "It's not your fault," he says, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear. "I saw the videos. Oh, Olly, what did I do to you?"

Tears run down my cheeks. He knows. This is why he's so sweet to me. His sudden change toward me feels so fake. He would still hate me if he hadn't seen the videos. "What I had to protect those I love." His fingers wrap around my neck. "It's not your responsibility to protect me. Or anyone else."

"I didn't know what to do. I had no one to talk to," I try to explain what and how I felt back then.

"You had me, Olivia. It wasn't supposed to be like this. I was supposed to be there, protecting you and Camila. I failed both of you."

His lips capture mine. I don't want to be kissed by him, but I can't escape him. My lips move against his. I missed this. I missed *him* not hating me so much. Not *him*. Tyson.

There's no need to keep referring to Tyson as *him*, as he already knows everything. As my heart still yearns for him.