Shackled (The Lord Series) by Carlos
179. Olivia - New friend II

Jasper looks at my feet. "When you are fully healed."

I don't show him how disappointed I am since I was looking forward to seeing the horses. "Next time, then."

He gets out of bed and goes to his closet, putting on clothes and boots before returning to me with a clean shirt. "Once this snowstorm passes and Jason is no longer a pain in the ass, I will make a quick trip to the city to buy you clothes and whatever else you need."

"Can I come with you?"

It's been so long since I last went shopping, I forgot how fun it used to be. It was so when Camila and I spent hours in the mall. After...Jason took to me the Celestial Heaven, my freedom taken away from me, I never once when shopping again. Jason brought me whatever I needed.

Jasper helps me put on the shirt. "I don't think that's be a good idea." Of course Jasper won't take me with him. I am his property not his girlfriend. He picks me up in his arms. "How about breakfast?" "I am not hungry."

"Well, you need to eat so you can get better."

Jasper takes me to the kitchen and puts me on a chair. Mose is in front of the stove, cooking.

Miss Teapot gets up from her basket and comes to where Jasper is standing and meows while rubbing against his legs.

"Food will be ready in a few minutes," Mose lets us know.

"Remember, Olivia can't tolerate spicy things," Jasper says. "I will go feed the animals and be back in a few minutes. Can you take care of Miss Teapot?" Jasper asks me.

"Of course."

Jasper leaves the house and I get up from the chair. The food for the cat is in the cabinet close to her basket, and after filling her bowl and checking to see if she has water, I ask Mose, "Do you need help finishing the breakfast?" Mose looks at me. For a moment, I think he will refuse me, but then he says, "Have you cooked before?"

"The last attempt was not a master chef dish, that's for sure."

Mose snorts. "Do you want to learn?"

I shrug. "I don't have anything better to do."

"I might regret this later," Mose mumbles to himself, "but come here."

Not wanting him to have time to change his mind, I move quickly, not caring that my toes hurt like hell.

"I am making fried rice. Have you cooked this before?"

"I made pancakes on a few occasion," I reply.

"Pancakes," Mose snorts. "Anyone can make pancakes." He hands over the spatula to me. "Here, you stir it."

I step in front of the stove and take over the cooking. Or at least try to. "When will I know if its done?"

"It needs another minute or two before it can be served. Meanwhile, I will put kimchi on a plate."

Without thinking, I ask, "Tyson is still obsessed with it?"

"How did you know?"

My back stiffens. "Since I was friends with Camila and used to visit her house.... Tyson lived there so...." "Oh yeah. I keep forgetting that."

"The rice is done," I say and turn off the stove. "Do you want me to go ahead and serve it already?" "When the others get here."

I realize the house is quiet. Maybe it is always like this. "I thought they were home."

"They are, but probably in the shed."

I shudder upon hearing the word *shed.*

Rueben and Tyson might have been beyond cruel to me, but Carlos did even worse stuff to me. The worst part is that I am not even angry at them. I have been abused for so long that it's all I know. Jasper and Ansel are confusing me with their kindness and I am always on the edge, wondering when they will show me their true colors. At least Tyson and Rueben are predictable. And Mose...I don't know what to make of him. So far, he has kept his distance.

The honk of a car horn makes Mose frown. He glances out the window, but except for the snowstorm, there is little to be seen outside.

"Probably the others," Mose says. "Let's finish setting the table."

Mose grabs a china bowl from the cabinet and comes to the stove to put the fried rice in it.

"How is your wound?" I ask. He still has a bandage on his face.

"I will be fine in a couple of days. At least my head stopped hurting."

Mose finishes putting the fried rice into a bowl and I take the pan to the sink.

Loud voices come from outside.

"Go to Jasper's room," Mose tells me while he grabs a knife. "Shit. I left my handgun on my bed. Can you go get it for me?" The voices sound closer.

"Which one is your room?"

The backdoor opens, and a woman enters. Mose drops the bowl with fried rice, food and broken shards scattering all over the floor.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" he snarls.

"Good day to you, too. And yes, I did drive carefully, as I wanted to get here in one piece." She turns her attention to me. "Why do you look like you have been through hell and back? Are these cabrones mistreating you?"