“Don’t be stupid,” he says, looking at me again. Eyes dead again.

“No, you’re right. That was stupid. I’m going to warn you now, though, if you ever raise a hand to our sister or try anything like that with her, I will kill you. I will murder you with my own hands. Do you understand me, Abel?”

He laughs. Well, sort of. It’s more of a snort. “Once Dad dies, I’ll take over guardianship of her. And do you know what I will do with her? I’ll sell her to the highest bidder.”

“You ca—”

“Don’t worry, I’ll wait until she’s of age. And when I do, there won’t be a damn thing you can do about it. So, go visit Dad. Hurry. Maybe your words will bring him back.”

“I’m going to kill you.”

“Only if your husband doesn’t kill you first.”

His words take me by surprise, and I waver.

Someone knocks on the window, startling me. I turn to look and find a tall man in a dark long coat and blond hair standing outside. He nods to Abel.

“That’s James. He’ll take you home when you’re finished. You have one hour.”’

“One hour?”

“I would have given you all day, but you’re not being very nice, are you?”

I open my mouth, but he puts up a hand.

“Don’t, Ivy. Just don’t. Go before I change my mind altogether.”

Is he going to steal this from me too? “Please, Abel.” I feel my eyes fill up again.

“Please, Abel,” he mimics, making his voice higher than it is.

I give him the finger and push my door open. I have one foot out the door when he calls my name.

“Ivy.”

I turn.

“It’s tomorrow tonight.”

“What’s tomorrow tonight?”

“The big day.”

“What?”

“At midnight.”

“Tomorrow?” Cold washes over me.

He checks his watch. “Fifty-seven minutes.”

“I hate you,” I tell him and step out of the car, then pass James, who follows me through the sliding glass doors into the hospital.

8

Santiago

“Dominus et Deus.” Abel utters the forced show of respect for my rank as he bows before me in greeting.

My study at De La Rosa Manor is dark, all the monitors on the wall turned off for the day. But even so, I can tell as I glance down at Abel Moreno, he is not a man who likes to bow to anyone. He feels he deserves better, and I’m certain his ego insists on it. I’ve always detected a hint of his resentment, even as he offers his respect.