Page 82 of Vendetta
I didn’t respond. I just stood there, trying to get my legs to work, as memories of his uncle’s bee-stung face crept across my mind.
‘When Felice Falcone gives someone a sample of his black-ribboned honey, it means he’s going to come back for the jar.’
I tried to swallow the tightness in my throat, but it was unyielding.
‘And when he does, he brings his gun. That jar of honey is the Falcone Gift of Death.’ Luca shifted his gaze again, pinning me beneath his stare. ‘Let that be your final warning. Get out of here while you can.’
I blanched, my mind whirling frantically. I had all the pieces, I just had to make them fit. ‘But what are—?’
‘Talk to your uncle, Gracewell,’ Luca cut in. ‘Or should I say,Persephone?’
Before I could respond, he was slamming the door in one deafening bang, leaving me shaking from head to toe.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOURTHE INTRUDERS
I started home, pulling out my phone and dialling my uncle’s number. It rang and rang and went to voicemail.Come on. I could have smashed my phone in frustration. I called four more times in a row and still, nothing. I left two voicemails and finally I sent a text:
I know what the honey meant. We need to talk about the Falcones. Call me ASAP.
I was almost home when my phone started ringing.
‘Jack,’ I answered. ‘I think I’m in danger.’
‘Sophie, I just read your text. Is everything OK?’ His voice was edged with panic, and it was taking hold of mine too.
‘Where the hell have you been? I’ve been calling you!’ I exploded.
‘Focus, Sophie,’ he snapped. ‘I’ll explain all that later. Where are they now?’
‘I don’t know,’ I said. There were so many of them they could be anywhere, doing anything. I told him about Luca’s threats, about the blood debt and the honey, my words catching between breathless gasps as I spoke.
‘Where are you now?’ he asked once I had finished.
I skidded up my driveway. ‘I’m home,’ I said.
‘Go inside, lock all the doors. I’m sending someone for you.’
‘Uncle Jack?’ I was struggling with my keys. I only had three on the chain, but they kept escaping from my shaky grasp. ‘Are they going to hurt me?’
‘No,’ he answered too quickly. ‘Of course not,’ he added after a beat.
‘What’s going on?’ The million-dollar question, and I still hadn’t put all the pieces together.
‘There really isn’t enough time to explain, Sophie.’ I could hear him barking orders at someone in the background.
I slotted the right key into the lock. The click inside flooded me with relief. ‘If you knew I’d be in danger, why would you take off like that?’
Now that my fear was ebbing away, I was getting angry. Jack had been avoiding Cedar Hill like the plague for his own safety, and he hadn’t bothered to tell my mother and me to do the same. So much for that promise he had made to my father. I made a mental note to call my mom after I was done with Jack. She was in the city at a series of bridal fittings until tomorrow evening, but I knew she’d freak out at being left out of the loop. Especially this one.
‘Sophie,’ Jack was saying, his words edged with one big,constant sigh, ‘they’re not going to hurt you. I wouldn’t have left you behind if I thought that. Those boys are just shooting their mouths off. That family love the sound of their own voices.’
‘They want revenge, Jack.’ I slammed the door behind me and fixed the chain in place. ‘They want a blood debt for what Dad did. Luca told me himself!’ I skirted into the kitchen and climbed on to the countertop. I clamped the phone between my shoulder and my ear so I could lock the windows shut.
The phone line buzzed with Jack’s defiance. ‘Ignore what Luca said. He’s just trying to frighten you.’
I slid off the counter. ‘But why?’
‘Listen. The Falcones’ problem is with me.Justme. Not you.’
