Page 218 of Salvatore

He pulls out two encapsulated tablets and pushes one from its compartment, the crinkling plastic loud in the almost empty bunker. “Abortion pills.”

I stop breathing.

“You’re a sick fucking son of a bitch.” Salvatore struggles through the words. “If I were you, I’d quit wasting time on her imaginary kid and figure out what you’re going to do when my brothers arrive.”

“If the child is imaginary, then these won’t matter, will they?” Gabriel holds out the pill to me.

I stare at his palm, unable to look away as my pulse trips violently.

I’m sure I could live with the loss of a fetus. It’s only been a few weeks. It’s barely a life at all… so why does it feel like a part of my soul is being ripped out of me?

“Ivy,” Salvatore warns, voice strained.

I can’t look at him. Can’t meet the brutality that will stare back at me.

He wanted this baby from the moment he knew it existed. No hesitation. No doubts.

“Ivy.” This time it’s a demand, guttural and raw.

“Take it.” Gabriel inches his hand closer, acting as if I have a choice.

“No. Salvatore has a knife protruding from his ribs. He won’t last twenty-four hours.” My words are weak. “Release him now, and I can prove I’m not pregnant with a pregnancy test.”

Maybe if I buy some time—a few minutes, a few hours…

“I’m done humoring you.” Gabriel grabs me around the neck, his fingers digging in as he raises the pill to my mouth. “Take it.”

I attempt to yank away. “No.”

“Youwilltake it.” He fists my hair, jerking my head back. “Hold her,” he orders my brother as he digs vicious fingers into my jaw, forcing my mouth open.

“Stop,” I wail, thrash, my wrists captured by Alonso, his punishing fingers wrenching my arms behind my back.

“No,” Salvatore roars, his rage booming off the walls, his chains rattling. “I’ll fucking kill you.”

“His anger is proof enough for me,” Gabriel sneers in my face, forcing my mouth wider, shoving the pill inside. “You’re my greatest disappointment, Isabella.”

I try to shake my head. To free my arms. But he forces the pill farther, past my tongue, down my throat.

I gag, choking while his fingers remain embedded. Retching. Gasping for air. I struggle through seconds of suffocation as Salvatore’s anger rings in my ears. Then I’m released, left to fall to my knees in a limp heap, my chin covered in saliva, my eyes blazing.

“Keep the pill down or we do this again.” Gabriel steps back, staring down at me.

I look away. Scrunch my nose. Sniff.

I want this to be over. For Salvatore’s suffering to end. For mine, too.

“Mi reina,” Salvatore croaks. “Look at me.”

“Mi reina?”Gabriel cackles. “Why am I not surpri?—”

A blast rocks the bunker, the force knocking me onto all fours as debris hurtles through the air.

I clamp my eyes shut, throwing my arms over my head as gunfire erupts outside.

“Go,” Gabriel shouts. “Help the men manning the gates.”

Boots pound the ground, a thunderous staccato echoing through the bunker.

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