Page 118 of Pink Ink

Abi’s eyes bug like I just accused her of murder. “No, no. God, no. I’ve come to see him once, and it was the most painful experience in my life. I try to avoid him at all costs.”

“Oh.” I can’t say that sounds like the workings of a happy marriage. Maddox mentioned something along the same vein. Their dislike toward each other is a balm on my aching wound.

Shaking her head, she continues and gestures to the building behind her. “My boyfriend studies here.” Her face lightens up at the mention of him. “Brodie and Spencer are on the same football team, and we were hanging out before they went to class.”

“Oh.”

Come on, Reyna. Form a proper sentence.

Hearing that she has a boyfriend has the knot in my stomach unwinding. I’m admittedly less repulsed by the circumstances I’ve landed myself in with Maddox.

“And you don’t want to be with Maddox?” I ask carefully. The answer is obvious, but I need to hear her say it.

“I wouldn’t want to marry him even if we were the last people on earth.”

I tap my finger against my thigh, taking a deep breath of cold air. “You both intend on ending it, then?”

She nods enthusiastically. “He invited me over the other day to assure you that he and I wanted the same thing. When he said he wanted to end our engagement, I almost passed out from relief.” Her perfectly styled hair falls from her shoulder when she shrugs. “He must be taken by you. It’s literally the first time he’s ever approached me for something—actually, I think it’s the first time he’s willingly spoken to me.”

My resolve solidifies with giddy delight. Maddox was telling the truth. He’s picking me.Us.

My shoulders relax as I let out a breath. “Thank you for telling me. I really appreciate it. You have no idea how much I needed to hear it from you.”

“Of course.” She nods. “The sooner you can get him and the Order off my back, the better. I feel guilty pulling Brodie along.”

Huh?“The Order?”

Abi’s bright hazel eyes turn into saucers, widening when they dart to something behind me. I spin around to catch what it was she saw, but there’s nothing but students who I don’t recognize walking around.

“Uh, you don’t—He never told—” She cuts herself off. “Yeah. Yes. Sorry. I was confused for a sec. It’s the name of my father’s, um… what’s it called? Subsidiary companies, or whatever? Like an Order of them? You get what I mean.” She chuckles nervously.

My forehead wrinkles.

She shakes her head and retreats back a step. “Anyway, just… be careful with him.”

My breath catches in my throat. “Why?”

“He… Um, I don’t really know how to put this, and you didn’t hear this from me or anything… but I’ve heard that he can be…” Her throat bobs. “Dangerous.Reallydangerous.”

My heart hammers as I watch her back away slowly. Is she referring to the whole serial-killing thing? Because turns out, I’m pretty accepting of that. Or does she mean the secret society I’m digging into?

“Yeah, thanks for the heads-up.”

She gives me a tight-lipped smile as she turns around and says over her shoulder, “See you round.”

All right. What just happened? Her reactions at the end were off.

What did she call it? The Order?

So now the woman who Maddox is—was—supposed to marry for “business reasons” mentions “our world” and an “order”?

Shaking my head, I put a pin in what she said and continue on my trek to his office. The conversation threw me, but at the same time it makes me feel more confident—about Maddox and my theories. He’s made his intentions clear with someone other than me. It’s exactly the kind of proof I wanted to see. A good first step.

I wipe my sweaty palms on my coat before knocking on his door, attempting not to sound timid.

The ball is in my court, I remind myself. I’m the one making decisions here. If I need more time or decide to walk away, that’s entirely up to me. The worst that could happen is—

The door swings open. Green eyes slam with mine, hard and forceful. Maddox’s nostrils flare when he realizes it’s me.