“And you just spread your legs for that bastard like a whore! Fuck you, Ivy. This isn’t how this was supposed to go, but you just keep fucking things up!”

I jump when he kicks the wall beside me, and I see the effort it takes him to stop. To force in an audible breath. He’s angry, so angry, and out of control.

He mutters a curse as he walks to the door and opens it.

“Abel?” I call out once because I have to know.

He doesn’t stop.

“Was it you? The poison?”

That makes him stop. And I know it’s stupid to ask. I shouldn’t ask it. Not now. But I can't help myself.

I shudder when he turns slowly, face expressionless, eyes dead. And I know the answer. I knew it at the safe house too. As soon as I found that lipstick, I knew.

A moment later, without a word, he’s gone.

I don’t get up when I hear the front door open and close. I don’t get up when the motion detector goes on outside of my window and I hear the engine start, the car whining as he reverses too fast off the driveway. I remain where I am, feeling sick for what is to come. For the mistake I’ve made. For the terrible cost.

3

Santiago

Marco pulls his car up beside mine in the empty parking lot of a strip mall that's long since closed for the night. I stopped here to get my bearings and rack my brain for any other place I might check.

I've been back by the hospital and Eli's room twice. I've checked her old apartment building. Her school. The few people outside of the Society who she spoke to in passing. Her family's house is under watch. They are all under watch. And driving the streets without any particular destination is only serving to exacerbate this insanity looming in the darkest parts of my mind.

Abel hasn't shown his face anywhere, which can only mean he must be with her. And all I can think about are my sister's words. The conversation she overheard.

He said he would sooner rot than let you impregnate Ivy. And if you did, he would cut the baby out of her himself.

My eyes feel raw when I blink and try to shake away that thought. I can't go there. Thinking about it won't do me any good. Not until I find her and fix this once and for all.

"I've got the situation with Hazel handled," Marco informs me. "Two guys are watching her place for the night."

"Good." I nod at him, staring out at the street.

"We have men everywhere," he says. "If she's anywhere on any of these streets, I can promise you we'll find her."