Shackled (The Lord Series) by Carlos
207. Mose - Courting II

After taking a cigar out of the pack from the table, Ansel says, "All I know is that we need to take down Senator Deymar no matter what, no matter the cost." "But if Olivia was framed," Jasper insists, "everything Tyson and Rueben did to her was...for nothing."

Ansel lights his cigar and takes a few puffs from it. "If that is the case, I don't want to be in their shoes. But Olivia has a gentle soul. She will forgive them way too easily. Just like she did with me when I broke her ribs." His expression turns sour. "She is a delicate butterfly who had her wings broken before she could fly. But I'll lend her mine and teach her how to strike back, quick and fast, just like a cobra." After a long drag from the cigar, he adds, "We need to turn our gentle butterfly into a deadly one. So no one will hurt her again. Not even us."

Jasper clenches his jaw. "Speak for yourself. I never hurt her."

"You only abandoned her when you learned that she can't have kids," Ansel points out. He jerks his head in my direction. "Mose might have been indifferent to her until he had his cock down her throat, but he is the only one of us who never made her cry."

Jasper grabs plates from the cupboard. "I kept her alive when no one around here cared about her. I stopped Rueben from killing her. I might be a piece of shit but I do care about her." "More than you care about having kids?" I ask.

Jasper hesitates before saying, "Yeah. I want her more than I want to be a dad. She makes my heart...sing. Even my knee hurts less when I'm around her."

Ansel nods. "I know the feeling. My...demon is usually quiet, but when Olivia is around, he fucking purrs like a cat." My demon is not the only one who does that, then. "And since I bonded with her, he sulks if I'm away from her." Another drag of his cigar. "He's obsessed with her. Just like I am."

"You love her." It's not a question but a remark. I can't help myself from being envious of his feelings. I never felt like that about someone.

Ansel finishes his cigar. "You think I would have bonded with her if I wasn't one hundred percent certain she's the one?"

*The one. But is she though?

"How does it feel to be in love?" I ask.

"To be in love is to be...alive. To wake up in the morning and know your day will be the best because you get to be with the one you dreamed about for years. And when she smiles, when she fuckling smiles, she brings you to your knees and you know you'll do anything to see her smile again."

I never heard Ansel talk like that about anyone.

"I never saw Olivia smile," I comment.

"We never gave her any reason to smile. But I know what she's missing to be happy again. Soon." Ansel does sound like he's obsessed. In a lower tone, he adds, "Soon her heart will be mine, just like all her smiles." He looks at me and then at Jasper. "But we are blood-brothers and I'll share her with you all."

Jasper snorts. "How generous of you."

"Generous. Yes, that's the word," Ansel agrees. "Especially when it comes to Rueben and Tyson. But I supposed she was engaged to "

"Olivia was engaged? To whom?" Jasper interrupts Ansel before he can finish his thought.

A crease appears between Ansel's brows. "I guess it doesn't matter anymore." It doesn't surprise me that Ansel doesn't reveal more. He's always been the type of guy you can tell him stuff and know he won't go running to tell others. If he doesn't want to speak, then he won't. Pressuring him won't work. On the contrary, it will only make him close up even more. "I'll go wake up Olivia."

I stop Ansel before he can leave the kitchen. "Actually, I wanted to do a quick check-up to see how she's doing. While you two finish setting up the table, I'll take care of Olivia."

Jasper puts a vase with fresh flowers in the middle of the table. I have no clue what they are called because, except for roses and tulips, I never bothered to learn other types of flowers.

Ansel looks at the vase. "Peonies. Olivia likes them."

Jasper smiles. "My mama also loved them."

"Are we courting her?" I can't help but wonder. It doesn't really bother me that we are choosing Olivia as our woman. There are better options, for sure, but she feels just...right. Like she belongs here. "Because you know how Rueben and Tyson feel about her."

"They might be our blood-brothers, but Olivia is my first choice, always," Ansel says.

Jasper shrugs before telling me, "I don't know what you're doing, but as for me, I want to see the stars in her eyes shine again. I want to find out why she is in so much pain." Jasper's words take me aback.

"She didn't look like she was in pain when she was twirling around here, showing us her new dress," I say.

"Her pain is internal," Ansel explains. "Ever since the bond, I can feel it too."

I never thought about things, but Olivia has suffered a lot. Rueben and Tyson might say what they want, but what sane woman would want to be used as a cum dumpster by the Dukes? Even the pornais at the Blood Lodge are not there by choice. She might have killed Camila, but fuck, I killed more Dukes than I can remember. The fact that Camila was Rueben's sister is fucked up, not gonna lie, but who's without sin to throw the first stone. Besides, Olivia was what? Sixteen when she shot Camila? Teens are fucking dramatic. Who knows what the fuck happened that night. Fight over a boy or something like that. No one can pay me enough money to be a teen again. Fuck that. Been there, done that.