Shackled (The Lord Series) by Carlos

152. Olivia

I knew it from the hump

After putting me on the couch, the plate in my hands, Jasper immediately springs into action and jumps to his feet. At the same time, he pulls out his phone from his pocket and throws it at me. The phone lands on my lap.

“Call Maddox,” he instructs me as he is already checking on Rueben and Ansel.

I put the plate on the coffee table and grab the phone.

Rueben has fallen on top of Ansel, and Jasper rolls him on his back. A rag full of oil stains and blood is wrapped around his neck. I am pretty sure that is not hygienic and can lead to a serious infection. The hiss of pain coming from Ansel lets me know he is conscious, but Rueben looks like is on the verge of dying.

Jasper removes the rag from Rueben’s neck. Blood covers his skin, and it is impossible to say exactly where he has been hit or how serious his wound is. Red drops fall on the rug in front of the entrance, white patterns stained scarlet, transport me to the most awful night of my life. My heart starts to race, my mouth turns dry, my hands start trembling. It took me years to come to terms with what happened back then, but I don’t think I will ever be alright, as things like blood or the color red will always trigger me, never letting me forget.

My gaze goes to the window as I try to gain my composure.

It was winter back then, too, a few months after he returned to University for his second semester. I still don’t understand why, but I suppose it doesn’t matter anymore, not when he hates me so much, bruises left by him covering not only my body but my heart and soul as well. My love for him died years ago, and I don’t think I can ever feel anything for him or anyone else. He broke me indefinitely and irrevocably, no amount of gold can fix me.

Maybe it is for the best that things happened as they did-not Camila’s death, though. That would forever be my biggest regret. But he and I would have never worked out, not when we come from different worlds, him a Lord and me the daughter of a powerful Duke. Yet, there had been days when I couldn’t stop myself from imagining how my life would have been if Camila were still alive.

Thinking of her brings another wave of pain and sadness, and the need for drugs hits worse than ever. I need to forget. about everything-that boy with turquoise eyes that shattered my last glimmer of hope, Camila, and that perfect life I envisioned ever since he kissed me for the first time.

“Now, Olivia!” Jasper orders me, pulling me out of my trance.

I push all thoughts of him to the back of my head and turn my attention to the phone in my hands. Despite not having used one in years, I have no problem unlocking the screen since Jasper doesn’t have a password, and I go to the contact list.

Jasper drags Rueben across the living room floor to one of the spare rooms. I scroll through Jasper’s agenda while my gaze lands on Ansel-who is still lying on his stomach on the floor, with a grunt, he rolls on his back. He is pale, his jacket stained with blood, and from the rips on the right sleeve, I bet he has been shot as well.

While I don’t care, I find myself asking, “How many times were you hit?”

152 Olivia

Ansel tries to stand but ends up falling back to the floor. “I am fine,” he says, his voice weak.

Even before. Ansel always tried to hide if something was bothering him or if he was hurt in any way. Once, when he was involved in a car accident, along with Tyson and Ruchen, he hid that he had fractured his wrist and insisted the paramedics check only on others, claiming he was fine. If not for Rueben’s parents, who were informed by Ansel about the accident, he would not have gone to the ER.

“The f u c k you are,” Jasper says from the room.

Ansel chuckles. “Lonly have a scratch or two.”

It looks like more than a few scratches, but I keep my observations to myself, not wanting to anger Ansel by calling

him out on his lic.

I finally find Maddox’s number, and I dial it.

I remember little to nothing about Maddox, the few times he came to check up on me when I was drifting in and out

of consciousness and running a high fever. From what I heard from Jasper and Mose, he and his blood-brothers are the ones to treat the Lords or their wives in Veross City, as they all work in the general hospital.

Maddox takes forever to answer. “If it’s not a death-of-life situation, it can wait.” He sounds like I woke him from a deep sleep. While I feel bad about having to call him over when he sounds like he needs a few days of rest, Rueben and Ansel need his help. “Jasper?”

“It’s Olivia,” I let him know. “I am sorry to bother you, but Rueben and Ansel have been shot, and they are gravely injured. Especially Rueben, since the bullet hit him in the neck.”

Maddox swears before asking, “How bad is it?”

“Pretty bad. Rueben has been wounded badly, and while he is alive, I don’t think he will last long. As for Ansel-“