The door opens, and Mrs. Moreno squeaks when she sees the grim reaper standing on the threshold to greet her. She never could look directly at me. Not even when my face wasn’t a skull.
"Where is Evangeline?" I demand.
"Eva?" she repeats, her voice too high.
"Bring her to me. Now."
She steps back, nodding fast as her hands begin to tremble. "Of course, Mr. De La Rosa. I'll bring her to you."
She leads us into the sitting room, offering us a drink, to which I don't reply. After a moment, she scurries away in search of her daughter.
"Search the house," I tell Marco.
He nods and disappears while I stand in the middle of the sitting room, scanning the space for any signs of my wife. After a few more moments, the smallest Moreno girl enters the room, eyes cast down, cheeks red.
"Mr. De La Rosa," she grits out. "My mother said you'd like to speak to me."
The mother she speaks of sent her into the room alone, courageous as she is. She's too afraid to face me herself but does not hesitate to send her young child to speak with me. That tells me everything I need to know about the coward of a woman.
"Evangeline." I glance down at her, the little girl much like a younger version of Ivy. This miniature human reminds me of that girl, the one who stumbled into her father's office in tears so many years ago. The one who gifted me a pen and didn't hesitate to look me directly in the eye, unlike most of the people in my life.
Evangeline tips her chin up, squaring her shoulders. "What do you want?"
My lip tilts at the corner, despite the gravity of the situation. She is very much like Ivy, indeed.
"Where is your brother?"
"I don't know." She shrugs. "He hasn't been home since I got here."
"Tell me about the hospital. You went to visit your sister. What happened when you were there?"
She swallows and shakes her head. "Nothing. It was just a visit."
She's lying, and I know she's lying. It only makes sense that Abel sent her. Nobody would think twice about the young, innocent girl coming to see her sister. The hospital staff already knew Abel was not allowed visitation rights. This was his way in. And I am a fool for not considering that he would use anyone, even a child, even at the risk of her own severe punishment. He fed her to the wolves, completely disregarding the consequences for her. It does not inspire confidence that he will have any mercy for my wife.
I study Evangeline for a long moment, considering how to handle this. I don't often deal with children. I know almost nothing about them, except for what I learned from looking after Mercedes. But that was different.
I lower myself to one knee, meeting Evangeline's gaze directly. She sucks in a sharp breath, her eyes moving rapidly over the ink on my face. She does not seem scared but fascinated, and it surprises me.
"I need you to tell me where your sister is. It's for her own safety."
"She isn't safe with you." She glares at me. "I saw her. She was a wreck."
Shame washes over me as I dip my head in acknowledgment. "I know. And I regret that."
Evangeline watches me curiously, her brows pinching together.
"But she isn't safe with Abel either. I know he's your brother, but he has plans for Ivy that you aren’t aware of. He will harm her if you don't tell me where she is."
"He wouldn't." Her lip wavers as she denies it, but I can see the questions in her eyes.
"He would. And I think you already know he's capable of it."
She's quiet for a pause, and when she blinks again, tears splash against her cheeks. "I couldn't tell you even if I wanted to. I don't know where she is."
Marco returns, capturing my attention from the landing. Mrs. Moreno is beside him, watching him with annoyance after he rifled through her belongings.
"I didn’t find anything, boss."
I stand and direct my sharp gaze at Mrs. Moreno. "Anything else you'd like to tell me?"
"I don't know where Abel is," she huffs. "Or Ivy for that matter. Whatever plan they concocted is between them. I am terribly ashamed of them right now, truth be told. If this gets out to The Society, it will ruin us. They think of nobody but themselves."
"Very well." I turn to Marco, gesturing to the little girl. "Take her for collateral. We'll bring her back if my wife is returned alive."
Evangeline looks at her mother, eyes pleading. Mrs. Moreno does not utter so much as a protest.
* * *
Dusk slips to darkness as we drive around the city, searching every place Abel has ever been known to frequent. Using the power of IVI’s connections, we have also traced his phone, only to learn that it’s been turned off. With no other leads, we resort to dispersing my men to every hotel, alleyway, and street corner with Ivy's photo, asking for witnesses and offering a reward.
Still, the results yield nothing.
As the light of morning settles over us, my frustrations grow. She isn't safe, and I can't get to her. I can't protect her.
My wife.
My sweet, infuriating, intoxicating wife.
Doesn't she understand what she's doing to me? I can't be without her. Not now. Not after everything. It's something that's only become painfully clear in her absence. Even when she was just down the hall, stowed away in her room, out of my sight, I knew she was always there. And now that she isn't, the blood in my veins has slowed to
