Alone (Bone Secrets, #4)(89)

Ice grew in Victoria’s gut. Facing her, Trinity couldn’t see behind her but Victoria’s expression must have alarmed her. Her eyes filled. Both women looked at Jason. The boy appeared stunned.

“Dad, what are you doing?”

“I want you to take them to the shed.”

“No, why—” began Jason.

“Don’t question me, boy!” he snarled.

“Jason,” Trinity started. “Why—”

“Quiet!” roared his father. “Move them, now!”

“No,” stated Trinity. Jason’s father slammed her in the head with his shotgun muzzle, and she cried out, making Victoria cringe. Seth started in Trinity’s direction, but Victoria grabbed his arm with her good hand, locking gazes with the younger gunman. Fear and anger shone from his eyes.

He’s crazy.

She held tight to Seth.

“Get back.” Leo separated Trinity and Jason. “Stand with the girl,” he ordered Victoria.

Every cell in Victoria’s body screamed not to leave Seth. She let go of his arm, holding his gaze. She felt like she was being ripped from her foundation. As long as she stayed by Seth she was safe. She turned her head so neither of the gunmen could see her lips move. “There’s a gun in the console,” she whispered. She usually kept the small handgun in her duffel for boating, ever since she’d been accosted by transients at the waterfront one morning. She’d moved it to her console when she emptied the duffel last week. Seth’s eyes widened the smallest bit and he gave a small nod.

“Leo!” shouted Abbadelli. “What are you doing?”

“What I should have done a long time ago. I’m taking control of this family. You served long enough. It’s time for new blood.”

Abbadelli’s jaw dropped. “Leo?”

“Do you think you’re the only one who can have power?” Leo stared at his father, a challenge in his eyes. “I’ve been watching you all my life. I’ve learned from the best.”

Victoria cringed. Leo’s hatred for his father shone on his face. What had the man done to his son?

She joined Trinity, whose tears streamed down her cheeks. Her hand was pressed to the side of her head where Leo had hit her. Blood oozed between her fingers, mixing with the rain that drenched them all. The blood was a dark stain against her light hair. She silently met Victoria’s gaze.

She was terrified.

What had they walked into?

“Lock them in the shed.” Leo dug in his pocket and held out a key to Jason. “Careful opening the door, the other one might try to get out. Bring me back the key.”

Other one?

Leo looked at the two dripping women. “I’ll come give you instructions in a minute.”

No one moved.

Leo moved behind Jason and punched him in the kidney with the butt of his weapon. The boy gasped and fell to his knees. He moaned and collapsed into the mud. Leo kicked him in the other kidney with his boot. “Next time do what you’re told!”

Seth took one step in Leo’s direction only to come face to face with the muzzle of his shotgun.

“Don’t move!”

Seth raised his hands. And froze.

“Now!” Leo bellowed at Jason. Jason lurched up from the ground, resting his hands on his thighs, and then took a few shaky steps, his back hunched in pain, to take the key from his father’s hand. His father pulled a pistol out of the inside of his coat and held it out toward the boy. “Use this.” Jason took it with weak hands.

Jason turned to the women, meeting Trinity’s gaze. I’m sorry, he mouthed at her. Trinity simply stared at him.

“Go that way,” Jason directed, pointing to the right of the house with the pistol. Victoria and Trinity looked at each other and back at Jason. Neither moved.

“Move or I’ll shoot her brains out,” Leo said calmly, pressing the muzzle of his shotgun into the back of Trinity’s head. She gasped.

Victoria grabbed her hand and tugged her in the direction Jason had indicated. Trinity followed. Victoria glanced over her shoulder at Leo. Disgust exuded from his gaze. She nearly tripped in alarm.

Why did he hate them?


Seth watched Victoria and Trinity walk away, fighting every instinct to grab the barrels of Leo’s shotgun and deck him with it. But Leo was watching him. Closely.

When Leo stuck his son, the shock hit Seth.

They were in trouble. Big trouble.

The old man on the porch. Abbadelli. He looked just as shocked by Leo’s actions. He now leaned against one of the porch rails, his focus with the shotgun not as precise as minutes before.

“Looks like you surprised your father,” said Seth to Leo.

The thin man jerked and glared at Seth. “Shut up.”

Seth raised a brow. And said nothing. Both sets of fathers and sons were at odds. That was clear.

“You’re the one who Victoria talked to on the phone, aren’t you?” Seth injected an amazed tone into his voice. Butter him up.

Leo sneered.

“You posed as your father to get her out here, why?” Seth pressed.

“It was time. He’s let her go on for too long and not done anything about it,” Leo answered. “Move to the porch.” He waved his shotgun in Seth’s direction.

Seth raised his hands and walked toward Abbadelli, where he waited on the porch. The old man was breathing hard, his face red below his white hair. “Your father doesn’t look too good, Leo. Your chest hurt?” he asked Abbadelli.