Chapter 6
He picked it up with a gloved hand, reading the label. He went silent for a long time, then typed something into his computer. He walked back, his face pale. “Declan,” he said. “Where did you get this?”
“My mother,” I repeated. “What is it?”
“This is a synthetic compound,” he sighed. “It’s an abortifacient, but it’s not for human use. It’s used in veterinary medicine, specifically for inducing labor in livestock. It’s potent, dangerous, and it has no business being anywhere near a human being.”
My knees felt weak. “What would it have done?”
“It would have triggered immediate, violent contractions,” he said. “It would have forced the baby out. But it wouldn’t have been a safe labor. It would have caused hemorrhaging. If she had swallowed that… the odds of both of them surviving would have been incredibly low.”
I looked at Elodie. She had covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face. I felt a surge of rage so intense it was physical. This wasn't just interference. This was murder.
“I don’t know what she wanted,” Dr. Aris said, placing a hand on Elodie’s shoulder. “But this was intentional. This isn’t something you get at a pharmacy. You have to order this.”
“Can you treat her?” I asked. “Can you make sure they’re both okay?”
“I’m going to run some tests,” he said. “Stress can do almost as much damage as the chemical itself. But she seems okay for now.”
I sat in the corner while he worked. I didn’t feel any better. The anger was being eclipsed by a cold, hard resolve. My mother had declared war. She hadn't expected me to be home. If I hadn’t come back early to build that crib… if I had stayed at the lumber yard another hour…
I felt a cold shiver. If I hadn’t come home, Elodie would have been alone. That thought, more than anything, broke something inside me. But I couldn’t afford to break.
When Dr. Aris finished, he walked over to me. “She’s fine, Declan. You were very lucky.”
“Luck had nothing to do with it,” I said, my voice hardening. “It was a choice. My mother chose to do this.”
May you like
“You need to be careful,” he said. “If you go after a woman like that… she won’t play fair. She has power. You’re playing a game with a shark.”
“I’m not playing a game,” I said, heading toward the table where Elodie was sitting. “I’m protecting my family. And whatever it takes, that’s what I’m going to do.”
