A Villa in Sicily: Orange Groves and Vengeance by Fiona Grace

Author:Fiona Grace [Grace, Fiona]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fiona Grace
Published: 2021-06-06T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The sun was sinking behind the city as Audrey made her way into the orange grove, shadows growing long, each one looking like a person, watching her. Even though it was still as hot as Hades in the valley, she shivered. Knowing someone had been murdered here, and that the murderer was still on the loose, was worrying enough. But the fact that Piccolo, who seemed nice enough, might be lying to her, was even worse. Not to mention that the neighbor was gun-happy. It gave the bright, citrus-filled valley a sinister quality.

Well, at least this time, you were invited, she thought as the tiled roof of the villa came into view.

She stopped and straightened when there came a faint rustling behind her. Turning, she noticed the leaves of a low, scrubby bush, rustling in a way that was too violent for the meager breeze. She took a step back. Please be a squirrel.

It stopped for a moment, and she was just about to turn and head on her way when the leaves parted.

Crouching there, staring at her with a curious look, was Nick.

“Nick!” she whispered harshly. “What are you—did you escape the clinic? How did Concetta—”

She gave up as he leapt over to her, clearly fine. He started to pull on his bandage, eager to get it off.

“Way to shake it off, Bub,” she said, crouching and reapplying the bandage as best she could. “But you should still wear this. You don’t want the wound to get infected. Come on.”

The moment she dropped Nick’s foot, he gave up with the bandage and started to head off on his own, after a fallen piece of fruit.

Audrey patted her thigh and whispered sharply, “Nick. Don’t run off. Stay close. We’ve already proven this place is not safe for you, not with Mr. Crazy next door, wanting to make you into his next meal.”

Dutifully, he fell in line behind her, staying at her heels as she made her way down the stony path, toward the house.

Moments later, she arrived at the stone archway with the gate to the main courtyard. As she stood there, wondering if she should knock or let herself in, she saw three men, striding through the courtyard. They were wearing dark suits, despite the hot day. They stopped right in front of the fountain she and Rafael had eaten in front of, only yesterday.

She hesitated there, feeling terribly out of place, wondering if she should be there at all. It felt like she was witnessing a business meeting, and she was completely underdressed, not to mention, not there for business.

One of them men turned to say something to another, wagging his finger in a slightly threatening manner. He had longish, dark hair, feathered on the sides, and black sunglasses. When he moved aside, Audrey saw a smaller, bald man, who had a face that looked as if it’d been in one too many boxing matches. The other man was Rafael. He threw up his hands and shrugged. He didn’t look upset, but he did look rather concerned.

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