Page 32 of Quadruplets for the Vipers (Never Just One #3)

Leah

T ony’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.

I balk at the suggestion, I have no idea what the medication will do to my body now I’m no longer pregnant. Plus, knowing Tony, there’s no way to know if he’d even do a safe procedure and not some backyard style that could leave me infertile or worse. I have to tell him I lost the baby.

“There is no baby. I found out at the hospital before I saw you that I had a miscarriage,” I admit, my voice breaking along with my heart as the wound freshly opens.

He laughs, enjoying my pain. “Oh yes, of course, you don’t know. The nurse was hired by me. She lied to you. The babies are perfectly fine.”

There’s that word again, babies.

“What? How? Why?” I stutter, struggling to comprehend.

“Because I didn’t want those thugs following you. I figured that they’d knocked you up and the only thing they care about is the pregnancy, a little heir to carry on their legacy. They won’t follow if they think you miscarried. You didn’t think you were special to them, did you? he snarls.

His words hit me like knives, but I can’t help but believe him. I’ve brought nothing but trouble to the Steel Vipers. After this there’s no way they’d want me. They’ll probably be pleased that I’m out of their hair.

“I didn’t—”

“Don’t lie. I know you fucked all four of them like the whore you are. Just because the babies aren’t theirs, doesn’t mean I believe you when you say you didn’t fuck them.”

I decide to ignore his accusations, I don’t want the conversation to get sidetracked by his jealousy. I’m far more concerned with why he keeps referring to the baby in the plural and whether or not he’s telling the truth.

Is it really true? Is my baby alive, and what’s more, am I carrying twins?

“Tony, why do you keep saying babies and not baby?” I ask hesitantly.

“Oh yes, like the prize fucking bitch you are, you’re giving birth to a litter. Not one but four babies. Like an animal.” His eyes land on my stomach in disgust, no doubt imagining how it will look when my bump pops.

I can’t believe what I’ve just heard.

“I’m sorry, did you say I’m carrying quadruplets?”

My knees feel weak, and the room starts to spin. I sit down on the chair in the middle of the room, with my head in my hands.

“That’s right. It seems that your IVF was almost too successful. Not that the little bastards will be around much longer.”

Can it be true? Have I not lost my baby but gained three more?

Horror dawns on me as I realize he’s still planning to kill my babies now he thinks that he can’t use them as leverage.

“Don’t kill them, please!” I beg, my hand flying to my stomach protectively.

His eyes flash with envy and I realize that he’s jealous of my love for them. A love that’s as natural as breathing that I could never give to him. “Why should I let my woman give birth to four, useless bastard children that aren’t even her own?”

“Because you can still use them as leverage against the Steel Vipers. Knox is the adopted son of Zeus and Donna, these babies are his family, he wants them more than anything, they all do.” My voice is high pitched and pleading.

I grab his hand, holding his gaze. My eyes are wide and filled with desperation as I wordlessly implore him to believe me.

He thinks about it for a moment, studying me. He sighs and shakes his head. I stop breathing, my heart plummeting as I think he’s about to refuse me.

“My sweet, innocent girl is still in there, despite what they did to you. I know the truth, you can’t bear to harm these children, even though they’re not yours.

You’d rather birth them and return them to the monsters who forced you to carry them.

You’re an angel. You’ve been through so much.

Those Vipers manipulated you, took you away from me and took advantage.

Do you really want to carry their children? ”

“Yes… please, don’t kill them,” I beg.

He sighs and shakes his head. I stop breathing, my heart plummeting as I think he’s about to refuse me.

“I can’t say no to you, Leah, even when you have treated me so cruelly.

I know that you were under bad influences, and I promise I’ll make them pay for what they’ve done to you.

You don’t need to be afraid anymore, you’re home, you’re safe now.

” He pulls me into his arms, and it takes all of my self-control not to pull away.

I want to scream at him, but I hold that inside.

Psychopathic Tony is terrifying, but when he’s like this, thinking I’m some poor na?ve woman at least he doesn’t hurt me.

And maybe I can use it to my advantage. His moods are like the wind, though, if I can’t continue to manipulate them, I’m in trouble.

Right now, he still sees me as an innocent, mindless doll.

If that changes, who knows what might happen.

“You saved me,” I whisper girlishly, hating the sound of my own voice, necessary though it may be.

My life and the lives of four innocent babies are now in the hands of a madman and the only way I can protect us is by playing his game.

“So, my love, I need you to rest up and focus on birthing those little pawns. I’ve heard quadruplets are born early, so at least we won’t have to wait long.

Perhaps we can even start trying for children of our own once these ones have served their purpose.

” He kisses me on the nose and I simper approvingly.

“But first, you need to shower, you smell like shit,” he says, shoving me away from him.

His mood swings are nothing new. He used to make me feel as if it was my fault, that I was doing something to make him be that way. Now I see it for the manipulation that it is. I say nothing, allowing him to take the lead, just as I always did. Only now I’m not the one being played.

He guides me to the bathroom and instructs me to wash myself.

He stands watching, making cruel comments the whole time about things I need to change.

But mercifully, he doesn’t touch me. My mind goes blank as I just focus on getting through it.

The whole time, one word is rattling around my brain. Babies.

My baby is still alive, no, my babies. I’m having quadruplets.

I’ve made a huge mistake coming here. I’ve put them in danger. Tony might agree to let me keep them now, but he could change his mind on a dime. He’s so unpredictable. I need to find a way to let the guys know. I have to protect these children and get the hell out of here. Whatever it takes.