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At this time, I assumed he’d ordered the flowers over the phone. Hence, the card included hadn’t come in his handwriting like the first one.
“It said…”
The black, bold words pop up in my mind, and now, they have an ominous feel.
SEE YOU SOON FIONA
X
Chapter Twenty-Four
Callum
She’s saved both cards and a bloom from each of the vases of flowers I sent her. She’s going to dry them, compiling them all into a bouquet. I request to see the second card. Wrapping a throw blanket around her naked body, she pads off barefoot to fetch it.
“I’ll just go and get it from my keepsake box,” she tells me, leaving me with a sweet smile.
Quickly, I put my pants back on, sinking into the sofa, waiting for her to return. She comes back, handing it to me before curling up beside me. The moment I see the paper, I know who sent it and why.
The “X” at the bottom isn’t a symbol for a kiss.
It’s for the Hoax.
See you soon Fiona
It’s a warning.
It means they are threatening to make direct contact with her in the near future, maybe even attempt to abduct her. My blood boils at the thought. My heartbeat thrums in my eardrums, my pulse accelerating. I’ll be dead before I let them lay one finger on my Fiona.
I was out of my head the night she and Freya snuck off because I’d had contact with the gang—notecards like this one. Black “X’s” spray-painted on outer walls. For the past eighteen months, while Freya and I have been living here, I’ve been planning with my men, finding a way to weaken them.
They were quiet.
But now, they’re starting to feel more comfortable with my presence. It’s time for my gang to put the plan we’ve been carefully constructing in motion. Would we like more time? Aye. Do we have more time?
No.
The time to act is now. It’s after one in the morning now. We strike tonight.
I’ve only just got her back. I can’t risk losing her now. “Listen.” I take her into my arms. “I’m sorry, love, but you’ll have to stay close to home for a bit.”
“How close?” she asks.
“Inside these walls.”
She tilts her lovely face up to me. “Why?”
“The note,” I say. “I’m afraid it’s a warning.”
“Freya and I just saw Chicago at the King’s Theater, and I loved it so much she’s bought tickets for Wicked for next Saturday?—”
“You shan’t be going. I’m sorry.” I grab her hands in mine. “You’re everything to me. You and Freya both. I won’t see you being put in harm’s way. You’ve taught me patience and love, and now, you’ll have to exercise both.”
“I’ll give the tickets to Kitt and Carol Ann.”
“Thank you.” I cup her face in my hand. “I promise you’ll get to go to all the places you love and see every flipping show on Broadway. Just not right now.”
“I understand.” She brushes a kiss over my cheek. “And thank you for keeping us all safe.”
