Chapter 19

Two Months Later

The mountains are quiet, yet so full of life.

I could have been happy here, if I were born someone else.

“You need to eat,” Lance tells me.

“Why? I’m only going to puke it all out.”

“Stop back talking and eat.”

Lance talks a big game, but he’s just a big teddy bear with a heart of gold. He worries over me constantly, asking if I need anything and making me whatever I want to eat.

Not that I have a taste for much.

Because I don’t want him worrying, I finish my eggs and bring my plate to the sink, but as I’m about to go back to my room, Lance stops me.

“You need to get dressed.”

“Why?”

“You’re going into town.”

I blink at him, wondering what this could mean. Ever since I came here, I’ve been kept at his cabin without any contact from the outside world.

“Be ready in a half an hour.”

“Are we going to a doctor?” I ask, wondering if he’s arranged prenatal care.

When he doesn’t answer, I go into my room, hoping my life doesn’t get any worse.

From inside my room, I hear the front door open. I press my ear to the door and hear someone gruff speaking, but I can’t make out his words. All I know is it’s not Mateo.

Tears threaten to escape down my cheeks, but I hold them back, knowing they’ll do me no good. Mateo thinks I’d wanted to kill him, which I had. If only he knew how he’d changed my heart.

I get dressed, as instructed, and go back to the main part of the house.

Lance gestures to a man who looks as mountainous as himself. “Ivy, this is Brock.”

I force a smile. “Hello.”

“He’s going to be taking you into town.”

Anxiety needles my turbulent mind. “Why?”

“Because he’s in a better position to protect you.”

“Protect me? From whom?”

“From your own people.”

My heart races in my chest. “I don’t understand.”

“Go with Brock,” Lance says. He exits the cabin before I can reply.

“Go get your things,” Brock says.

“I don’t have things,” I tell him, which is the truth. I’ve been wearing Lance’s oversized clothes for weeks now, because he refuses to buy me anything, saying people will be suspicious.

I follow Brock to his truck, looking back at the cabin one last time, because I’m sure I’ll never see it again.

“Why are you driving me?” I ask as we make our way down the mountain.

“Because I can ensure your safety.”

“How so?”

“Have you ever heard of the name Davenport?”

While I’m sure several people share that last name, there is one notable family that comes to mind.

“Davenport Industries?”

“The one and only.”

The Davenports make at least as much as the Rossi’s, though their line goes back centuries.

“What’s going to happen to me?”

“I haven’t been told, but you’re not to come to any harm, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

Over the last few months, I’ve wondered what my fate would be. Obviously, Mateo wants our baby, as it’s the key to his inheritance. But what comes after that? Will he kill me? Have me tortured? Lock me away in a prison?

Perhaps today I’ll find out.

“Why today, after so long?”

“It took your husband a while and a lot of research to find out what he was up against.”

“Somehow, I doubt he’s prepared.”

Ignoring what I said, he pulls into the parking lot of a diner named Dotties. “Let’s get this over with.”

We go inside, and I immediately notice several men in black suits seated around the diner. Then, I notice my mother seated across from my husband.

Mother nods over to me and Mateo looks over his shoulder and smiles.

Is that joy I see in his eyes?

It can’t be.

Brock pushes me toward the table. Knowing I have no choice, I obey.

Mateo gets up, wraps his arms around me, and plants a kiss on my cheek.

I pull away, confused.

“Is that how you treat your husband after months apart?” Mateo chastises.

When I say nothing, he gestures for me to sit.

We settle into the table as Brock sits far away, facing us. Mother smiles at me, but I can tell she’s terrified.

“I took the liberty of ordering for you,” Mateo says.

“Thank you,” I reply, my stomach turning when I see the burger and fries.

“How has your stay with Lance been?” he asks.

I shrug. “He’s been kind.”

“Good. I’m paid an arm and a leg for him to keep you, so he better be nice.”

Unable to stand the tension, I ask, “What’s going on? What are you going to do to me?”

“Well, first we’re going to eat. Then, we’re going to talk. And finally, I’m going to take you home.”

“Home? What home?”

“To my penthouse. The one you’ve yet to go to.”

“But…” I look at my mother, but her eyes are glued to the table. “What’s going on?”

“It took me a while, but I’ve arranged a meeting with one of your Web’s ‘Sacred Mothers’. She should be here shortly.”

I gasp. “Are you kidding! She’ll have us all killed.”

The door jingles and Mateo looks over his shoulder, his brow knitting in confusion.

I look too, and see Mateo’s mother walking toward us. When she takes a seat next to my mother, Mateo says, “What the hell are you doing here?”

I already know.

She sighs and lifts her sunglasses onto her head. “What the hell do you think?”

“I’m trying to…” Mateo’s voice trails as he works out what his mother’s presence means. “You’re a part of all this, aren’t you?”

“I am, but I admittedly do very little.”

“But…how?”

“It’s what I was born into,” Bella says. “I didn’t want Maria to have to carry the burden, so I retired, but given my status, I was offered a role as a Sacred Mother.”

“And my father?”

“He was a terrible person, Mateo. I did what I had to do with him, and I don’t regret it.”

Mateo looks at me, my mother, then his own. “And me? Did you do what you had to do with me? Were you okay with having me killed?”

Bella chuckles. “No, never.”

“Then why?” He looks at me, clearly confused.

“Because your granddad was too impatient for his own good, and I had no chance to meet your blushing bride before you walked her down the aisle.” She glares at me. “When I found out she was a Sister, I knew I had to find out where you were staying, so I could form a plan to ensure you came out unscathed. Then, you disappeared.”

“I found out who she was on my own,” Mateo says.

Bella folds her hand over her son’s. “You can’t turn her over to the police.”

“I don’t intend to. She’s my wife and will remain by my side.”

“Even though she intends to kill you?” Bella chuckles. “I raised a damn fool.”

“I would never kill Mateo!” I insist.

“Bullshit!” Bella snaps.

“I wouldn’t. I’ll admit to it being my plan, but it changed when I got to know your son.”

“She’s lying!” Bella insists.

Mateo takes out his phone and hands her a set of earbuds. “Put these in.”

She does as she’s told, listening for several minutes. Then she takes the earbuds out and sets them down on the table.

“What now?” Mateo asks.

Bella looks at my mother. “After hearing you plotting to kill my son, I ought to kill you.”

“I didn’t know,” Mother says weakly. “They never told me!”

“Not many know, I’m afraid, and our secrecy is what led to this.”

“When did you find out?” Mother asks.

“It was just a feeling I had when I met Ivy at your wedding. Afterward, I looked at her profile, and she had widow written all over her, but by then, there was little I could do. I pleaded with the other Sacred Mothers, but nothing like this had ever happened before.”

“Why was I given the new poison if he were your son?” I ask.

“Some Widows demanded your daughter go through with her job and were furious at the accommodations being discussed. They tried to take matters into their own hands and went to you behind the council’s back.” Bella smiles sardonically. “They are now being dealt with.”

“What’s going to happen to me?” Momma says.

“Some want you killed because of how you reached out to arrange this meeting, but I’ve reached an agreement. You’re going into retirement. I’ll have you set up in an apartment, and all your needs will be taken care of, but you are never to speak of the Sisterhood again.”

Mother nods. “Understood.”

Bella looks at me next. “And you, if you try to murder my son, I will make your death last decades.”

“You don’t have to worry.”

Bella nods. “You’re released from your obligation, but it cost me. A lot.”

“What do I owe you?”

“A lot of fucking grandkids.”

“I’ll work on that.”

Finally, she looks at Mateo. “I can’t believe you let your goddamn grandfather talk you into marrying a goddamn black widow.”

“You taught me and Maria to take our inheritance seriously.”

“But I didn’t want you to get killed over it.”

“Then maybe you should have been more forthcoming with your goddamn secret life.”

“That meant putting you in danger.”

Mateo chuckles darkly. “How’d that work out for you?”

“Enough pointing fingers,” Bella says. “It’s time we discuss what the hell is going to happen.”

“I’m going to kill every last spider I find,” Mateo says.

“No—you’re not,” Bella snaps, pointing an authoritative finger at her son. “The Web is allowing you to go back to the family tower and continue on as if nothing has happened.” She looks at me. “You’re no longer a part of the Sisterhood, and you’re never to speak of it again. Do you understand?”

I nod.

“Good.” She looks over at my mother. “Ride with me back to the airport.”

Mother hesitates.

“Look,” Bella huffs, “if I were going to kill you, you’d already be dead.”

Mother exits the booth with Bella, and they leave without another word.

Mateo places his hand on my thigh. “I’m sorry about all this.”

“I’m the one who should be sorry.”

“Nonsense. You were willing to give up everything for me, risking your very life, and I didn’t trust you.”

“Do you now?”

“Yes.”

“Can I ask a question?”

“Yes?”

“How long did you know?”

“I was told right before the wedding.”

Surprised, I ask, “Why did you go through with it?”

“Because I didn’t want to be married, but I needed a baby. I figured I could get you pregnant, then turn over the evidence I had to the police.”

“What stopped you?”

Mateo looks down at the table and sucks in a breath. “Love. Love stopped me.”

“Love?”

“I fell for you, Ivy. Hard. Even knowing what you were and what you intended for me—I fell.”

“I feel things for you I didn’t think possible,” I confess. “Feelings I didn’t believe were real.”

Mateo pulls out my pink collar and fastens it to my neck, where it belongs.

“I never want to see this off of you again.”

Smiling, I say, “Agreed.”

“Good, now let’s get back to the family tower so we can put this mess behind us.”