Page 13 of Veiled Vengeance

“No. I’m from Los Angeles. I got pregnant with August soon after that.”

This isn’t making sense. “But how?—”

She answers me before I can get the question out. “Anthony had a client—I guess you can call him that—that Anthony said called me his favorite. He didn’t use a condom like he was supposed to. Anthony almost killed me for getting pregnant—like it was my fault. But he didn’t because he discovered some men have a fetish for pregnant women. I was just a teenager, but Anthony has always gotten plenty of business because of me.”

My stomach rolls, and bile threatens to come up from my stomach. She was forced into this life and had no way out. “You’re still only nineteen.”

Dahlia’s half-smirk brightens her face. “At times, I feel much older than that.”

Duh, Spencer. Way to put your foot in your mouth.

“I’m sorry you got hurt because?—”

She shakes her head. “It’s not your fault. I knew what I was doing when he sent me to you back in January. I knew what I was risking by not following all of his rules.”

Shit. She’s a better person than most. “Is your son going to be okay?”

A special strength flashes in her eyes. “Yeah. Anthony won’t hurt August. He knows he can’t control me if he does.”

Ireallydon’t want to go down that line of questioning.

We lapse into silence because there’s nothing else to say. I’ll probably have a million more questions once we get out of here, but for now, she’s given me what I need to continue trusting her.

Calling her by her real name will be weird and take some time to get used to.

How many different aliases has Anthony made her take on? How many Spencers has Dahlia had to spy on?

I know the answers won’t bring me comfort, and they won’t help us get out of here.

Rio and Zane need to hurry the fuck up.

CHAPTER 5

SPENCER

Idrift off to sleep when the adrenaline finally leaves my body, and a small headache squeezes my head, forcing my eyes closed. The sun finally set, and I should be on guard, but I haven’t eaten, and I haven’t slept yet since we were taken. My body can only go without so much.

Sleep doesn’t cradle me for long before a bang from the metal doors jerks us all awake. The sun is shining directly in my eyes, keeping my vision blurred. I peek at Asher, his face is grim as he looks at whoever has entered. A thump reaches my ears as the sound of footsteps on pavement get closer to my chair. Despite the warmth, a chill snakes up my spine, and goosebumps break out across my arms.

A form blocks the sun, and I blink rapidly, allowing my eyes to adjust. Pierce Murphy’s gleeful face swims into view.

“My Lily, I’m here.” He squats down, grabs my face, and kisses me. His touch is hard and punishing. “We don’t have long to do this.” He looks deep into my eyes. Adoration glistens in his eyes.

The urge to retch claws at my throat. “What are you talking about?” I search the room for an escape even though I’m stilltaped to the chair. I spot the man who was standing guard at the door. He’s lying unconscious on the ground.

Fuck.

With his hands still on my face, his thumbs swipe across my cheekbones. “We can finally be together.”

Is he serious?

My mouth opens and closes repeatedly. “Pierce, I?—”

“I see the way you look at me—the way you’vealwayslooked at me. You want this just as much as I do.” His eyes wander down to the front of my dress and dip into my cleavage. “Anthony is busy in the city; this is the only time we have.”

“What?”

“Don’t you fucking touch her!” Asher thrashes about, and the chain around his hook clanks loudly.

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