Part 20 (1/2)
”Okay, that's good. Tell me where you are in Barcelona.” Almonzo glanced at Tabitha. She knew if he repeated everything to her, she would remember it. The woman owned an incredible memory.
”El Gordo.”
Almonzo looked at Natasha and then Tabitha. ”He said El Gordo.”
”Father, how did you get a phone.”
”They...”
”Who? They-who?”
”El Gordo.”
”He keeps mentioning El Gordo.”
Tabitha blinked and he watched the little woman try to search her memory for a better understanding. ”No, Almonzo. El Gordo is The Fat One. He's talking about the lottery. It's called El Gordo. Ask him if he's in Madrid. ” She looked at Natasha for confirmation. ”I think they draw winners in Madrid. I don't know, maybe they have the El Gordo in Barcelona too.”
Natasha stared at Tabitha. ”This is the largest lottery in the world. We can't base where he is on El Gordo. It must have another meaning.”
”Father, are you in Madrid?”
”No, no-Barcelona. Son, listen to me. Listen to me carefully. I know what I say to you. El Gordo. El Gordo. El Gordo. Do not play El Gordo.” His voice trailed off and then the call disconnected.
An hour later, the phone rang. Marion stared at it blankly. ”You answer it. He's not going to be permitted to call back. They'll call for ransom.”
As soon as she said the word, Tabitha held up her hand. ”That's what your father was trying to tell you. El Gordo is the world's biggest lottery, whoever has him will likely ask for a billion plus. That's what he's trying to tell you. He doesn't want you to pay his ransom.”
Almonzo picked up the phone.
”Mr. Spenser, do you know who this is?”
”Sabbat.” Almonzo responded.
A loud chuckle came across the phone. ”No, it would be far too easy for you if you could find a Sabbat with your family papa, yes?”
”What do you want?” Almonzo walked away from the women, motioning for his brother to follow as he moved into the foyer and away from the pod. He set the phone down slowly and hit the speaker phone option. Both men stood waiting to hear the demands of a monster.
The phone line went silent. Deadly with a stillness easily misunderstood. ”We have killed your Papa. We now want you to give us a reason not to take your Mama. Give us one, say, two billion reasons not to take her next.”
Orlando carefully listened to the man's voice, heard the demand, and fell to the bench next to the grand entrance. His hands cupped his face and he began to scream out his agony into sweaty palms. It sounded like a m.u.f.fled, if not quite stifled cry. Agony rode through the room and threatened to claim both the surviving Spenser men as they listened to the man on the other end of the phone.
Almonzo rested a hand on his twin's shoulder as the voice continued to spill from the speaker phone. When the demands and terms were laid out, Almonzo didn't have a lot of options except to call their bluff.
”We want proof our father is dead and then we'll pay you whatever you want but we want the vial of blood you have in exchange for our family's safety.” He shook his head at his brother to let him know he didn't buy it for a minute that the extortionist would honor his terms. ”And just so you know, we'll pay double for the safe return of Samuel Spenser, just in case you are under the misguided impression we wouldn't pay more for his safety.”
Their father drew breath as surely as they both sat there together and Almonzo would bet the two billion they wanted on it. His father didn't die for rogues. He fought hard and it would be one reason many of their own would keep him alive. He'd be live game for those who wanted him dead. Many would consider him a prize catch. More would want to watch him suffer than to see him through the gates of h.e.l.l. Escorting him there proved dangerous because retaliation forced a vampire's hand.
The voice of a true h.e.l.lion meeting his match poured through the phone. ”We'll see what we can arrange. But for the time being, a.s.sume your father is dead.”
”For the time being, a.s.sume if he is, then everything you love from your mortal brides to your unborn children will be at risk. I will protect what I have here in Scotland as I'm sure a man of your stature protects what he holds dear but make no mistake about it. I will kill for my father and mother, and all I hold precious in this life.” Almonzo disconnected the phone.
”Why'd you hang up?”
”I'm not going to get into a p.i.s.sing contest with them. I'll kill their families and their future if they harm one hair on Father's head.”
”He's dead.” Orlando shook his head. ”I feel it.”
”Then your d.a.m.n sixth sense you pride yourself on nurturing just malfunctioned, because our father is alive! d.a.m.n it, brother, they have no reason to kill him. Think about it and think about this too while you're doing something rather useful. If Sabbats were behind this, they would have taken me while they had the chance and they've had several. We have a pending problem and unfortunately, it's getting worse by the hour. I'd like to blame Darian or any other Sabbat but I fear we have a new enemy too.”
Orlando looked at him for a long time before he dared to ask, ”Who?”
”We have no idea who we're dealing with here and when you don't know who your enemies are, you have no other option but to guard yourself from your friends and acquaintances.”
Orlando's lips pursed and he nodded slightly. ”Then we'll stand ready. Father would expect nothing less.”
Chapter 22
Orlando rose to meet his mother and Almonzo as they joined the rest of the family in the pod. The young Spenser women were dressed in black gowns and the rest of the family appropriately garbed in black attire as well. Suits and ties for the men and black dresses for the women and mourning the loss of one of their own came particularly easy. They looked the part.
Almonzo met several elders in the foyer. He greeted them with a handshake, a slap on the back and a polite palm placed easily on their shoulders. He turned them away and then nodded to Tate after they were gone. ”No one comes in here. Everyone pays their respect on the lawn and everyone greets the family there. No one is coming through our doors tonight.”
Tate nodded. ”Understood.”
Marion dabbed her eyes. ”You're sure this isn't real?” She questioned Almonzo first and then Orlando.
”Mother, we're as sure as you are and that's not enough security for any of us but it will have to be enough for now.”
Orlando moved his hand to her back and pressed gently between her shoulders, holding out the other hand to guide her forward. ”Mother, just remember, we need to be believable. We need to grieve openly and we must do it with a keen eye on our family.” He nodded back to Natasha and Tabitha and then slid out the front door.
Almonzo walked over to Constance and took her hand. ”Okay, little one. Stick close.”
Her black eyes looked up at her older brother. ”You look very nice today, Almonzo.” She turned back to glance at Tabitha. ”He looks real purdy.”
Tabitha giggled and brushed her hand across the little girl's cheek. ”You look real purdy too.”
”Don't tempt her with the hillbilly slang, please. Before long she'll be old enough to ride a cowboy, if you know what I mean.” Almonzo grunted against the thought and then pa.s.sed by them.