Because we are bound.

And he will keep his promise. He will kill me. But not before I am begging for it, begging for mercy in death.

One gloved hand comes to my face, and I wonder if he can feel the tears he’s smearing away. I think he can. And I know how much he likes my tears.

“No, sweet, Poison Ivy. You didn’t hurt me,” he says, voice dark and low. “But I will surely hurt you.”

9

Santiago

"How are you feeling?" Angelo asks, his eyes moving over the case of scotch on my desk.

My fresh paranoia would be difficult not to notice. Since my return home, my vigilance has swung to the extreme end of the spectrum. Antonia's apparent happiness to see me soon disappeared when I ordered all the food and beverages in the house be tossed. She seemed horrified by the prospect, considering her menus had already been planned for my arrival. But her frown only deepened upon my informing the staff that I was having cameras installed in every room, along with daily security checks.

The atmosphere has been noticeably gloomy since I've resumed my post in my study, refusing the food I'm served and subsisting on mostly a liquid diet. It isn't doing any favors for my temperament either, and it hasn't gone unnoticed.

"I'm fine," I reply to Angelo’s question in a flat tone. "Nothing some good scotch won't cure."

He sighs and bites back what would probably be some advice about my situation, knowing better than to offer it.

"I'm sorry I couldn't visit you in the hospital," he says. "I couldn't get in without being seen. They had it locked down."

"I wouldn't have made for very good company anyway," I remark dryly.

"I don't suppose so."

I tug an unopened bottle of scotch free from the case and offer it to him, but he declines. I shrug and take another drink for myself from the one on my desk.

"Any progress on the investigation into the poisoning?" he asks, skirting around the mention of Ivy.

It's become common knowledge throughout The Society that my own wife tried to poison and kill me. I don't doubt many of the member's wives are silently in agreement with her, pitying her for being wed to the likes of myself. But they know better than to speak those thoughts aloud, and as far as they are concerned, Ivy has already been shunned from their inner circle. This is the way things work. Loyalty will always lie with the Sovereign Sons.

"No news, but I didn't expect any surprise developments on the matter. I have all the information I need."

Angelo nods, a dark expression tightening his features. "So, what will you do with her?"

"What will you do with the traitor in your own life?" I arch a brow at him in return.