Page 52 of Quadruplets for the Vipers

“I don’t know. But Leah at least deserves the benefit of the doubt for us to look into it more.”

“She betrayed us, she doesn’t deserve a thing,” he says, storming out of the room.

“What do you suggest?” Rider asks with a sigh, turning his attention back to me, and folding his arms across his chest.

“I think it’s high time we pay the Hellhounds a visit. Either way, this ends now.”

Chapter 26

Leah

Tony’s grand tour of the mansion I’m doomed to reside in ends with a beautifully decorated bedroom with an ensuite and walk-in wardrobe. It’s like something out of a fairytale, every girl’s dream, except mine. It’s too gaudy and ostentatious, all marble and gold with rich mulberry velvet drapes, not my style at all. Of course, most troublingly is the lock on the outside of the door.

“This is your room, my love,” he declares proudly.

“It’s beautiful,” I lie, trying to sound suitably awed. “Thank you so much!”

“You’ve not even seen the best part yet!” he exclaims with glee, acting like a loving partner rather than a kidnapper.

Dear god, I hope I don’t get Stockholm Syndrome. I always want to remember what a monster he is. The devil that lurks under his charming facade.

He strides across the room and opens the wardrobe. Inside, it’s filled with clothing for me. He’s taken the liberty of buying me a whole new wardrobe, filled with expensive designer clothing I hate. Not one of them is my style. There’s not a single pair of pants in sight. Tony likes his woman to dress like a proper lady, or so he says.

Dutifully, I ooh and ahh like a dumb schoolgirl. “Oh, but they’re a little small,” I say, noticing how everything is a dress size too small.

“Oh, you’ll soon lose the weight and fit into them,” he declares confidently.

My diet will now be strictly controlled by him. He’ll watch every morsel that crosses my lips and chastise me if the weight doesn’t fall off fast enough for his liking. I’ve no idea what he thinks I’m supposed to wear in the meantime.How would I have ever hidden a pregnancy from him?Mind you, if I hadn’t lost the baby, I would never have come with him. I’d have found a way to escape him. But there’s only my life I have to worry about now, and it doesn’t feel like one that’s worth living.

It’s just then that I notice none of Tony’s things are in here. My heart soars at the prospect of not having to share a bed with him. At least I’ll have some time alone.

“Where are your things?”

“Oh, my room is just across the corridor. I’m afraid we won’t be sharing a bed, my love, not for some… oh, seven or so more months,” he says casually.

What does he mean? Does he know about the baby but not about the miscarriage? Can I use this to my advantage to buy myself time? My biggest fear was that he was going to want sex from me. I’d been bracing myself for the horror that not only is he going to rape me, but I’m going to have to pretend to like it. If he thinks I’m pregnant, maybe he won’t touch me?

The confusion I feel must show on my face as he elaborates gleefully, taking pride in having more knowledge than I.

“Yes, I know all about your pregnancy. How could I not with that disgustingly fat stomach you think you’re so clever hiding? I wasn’t sure, but my suspicions were confirmed today.Of course, I’m not happy about you carrying another man’s baby. The only child in your belly should be mine. Which one of them knocked you up? Or don’t you even know?” he says in disgust.

It occurs to me that he doesn’t know the baby was Levi’s, not any of the guys, or that I’ve miscarried.

“On second thought, don’t answer that, I don’t want to know. It’s enough to know that once the babies are born, they’ll be useful leverage against the Steel Vipers. Of course, I could use them as leverage now, but I’m not about to give you up.”

What is he talking about? Babies? He doesn’t know about the miscarriage, should I tell him? No, hiding it buys me some time before he touches me. My bulging stomach repulses him.

He studies me and shakes his head. “I’m disappointed in you, Leah, hiding things from me already. Tell me what you’re hiding?”

There’s no use lying, he’ll know, and he’ll beat it from me. I have to tell him something. But pretending the baby is still alive keeps me safe. If I can pretend the guys and I aren’t romantically involved, perhaps he won’t try to hurt them. It’s in his interest to keep them alive now, but I know eventually his jealousy will get the best of him and he’ll go after them. Telling the truth about the baby’s parentage will keep them safe.

“I was telling you the truth when I said I wasn’t sleeping with any of the Steel Vipers. I haven’t been with anyone but you, ever,” I lie, willing him to believe me.

“Oh so you’re the virgin fucking Mary? Or do you expect me to be stupid enough to believe that those brats are mine?”

“No. Of course not. I’m a surrogate, the pregnancy was by IVF. I was working for Zeus and Donna, the president of the Steel Vipers and his wife. They wanted me to be a surrogate for their dead son’s child.”

Mercifully, he believes me. A huge grin breaks out on his face. “Well, I have to say that it’s a relief to know you didn’t get knocked up the old-fashioned way, as much as I don’t like you being pregnant, at least the father is dead. Though it does mean that the babies aren’t as useful to me to use for leverage since their family is all dead. I’ll make the arrangements for the abortion as soon as possible.” He says this cheerfully, as if he’s discussing something perfectly reasonable rather than the forced termination of a woman he’s kidnapped.

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