He turned around and pantomimed a telephone with his hand while he lip synced, "Call me."
I nodded my head before I blew him a kiss.
My own flight to Miami International Airport left in a couple of hours. I parked the Range Rover in short term parking, called Darby to come retrieve it from the airport and grabbed my own suitcase from the trunk.
It was a simple, black hard-shell carryon that along with my stylish Kate Spade leather handbag would be the only items I was taking with me on board for the flight.
What I failed to mention to Max was I'd already spoken privately to Angelo. As a matter of fact, we'd been communicating since he and I had to flee Northern Nevada. I'd kept my uncle abreast on the situation the whole time so if at any part of the operation I felt like Max might double cross me, I had backup.
I loved him with all my heart but until the shooting incident with his mother before we left Florida, I couldn't say I completely trusted him.
Angelo had given me updates the whole time about what he'd done when he wasn't in my presence. Every time I acted casual and inquired about his activities when we weren't together and he'd told me the truth, I felt more and more like shit for not believing him in the first place.
Of course I knew Angelo was really my mother's half-brother and my uncle. I also knew about Max's role in watching over me during the whole twelve years I'd been abducted. I couldn't really fault him too much at the beginning; he was a kid himself at eighteen and sent on an assignment he had absolutely no power to control.
I understood how those very set of circumstances could have turned me not into just a ward he had to look out for but someone he wanted to own and control. It also made sense why he looked familiar to me but I couldn't place him. I'd seen him talking to Brad and Nel on multiple occasions over the years but he always wore blacker than black Ray-Bans and we were never introduced.
Max had confessed one night how there was no such thing as a coincidence. I'd been confused why he brought it up at all until he told me it was Mila who'd suggested to Dimitri he should work with the Saints and go after Abandonato in the first place. His mentor had become extremely interested in why his wife had a hard on for toppling Angelo Abandonato, and why Mila insisted with such clear, unwavering conviction.
Mila and Angelo had been close at one time; in fact, he'd supposedly considered leaving his wife for her-though this part I found hard to believe because no woman would ever convince my uncle to leave Aunt Rose-but apparently my mother had talked him out of it. In fact, she spoke to Rose and within a day, not only was Mila out on her ass at whatever strip club she'd been working in Vegas at the time but she was on a flight to Miami where she eventually met Dimitri in the first place and the rest was history.
My mother and father died because Mila Koslakova held Sophia Abandonato-Reynolds responsible for not being able to run away and marry Angelo Abandonato.
Maybe Max could forgive the bitch that'd put this whole plan into action-she was his mother after all-but I couldn't. No one would harm my family and get away with it . . . ever.
Angelo called me right before my flight was announced and I immediately answered the call on a Samsung Galaxy burner.
"Max is on his way to me now," he replied without greeting.
"Okay. Make sure to keep him busy and away from his phone. Suggest he use burners at all time, even when he contacts me. I don't want that bitch to be able to warn him. She's fucking dead, Angelo. That's all there is to it." My voice was so low, it was merely a whisper only he heard.
"After you finish your vendetta in Miami, I want your ass on a plane to Lake Tahoe. Rose is expectin' you. She was pissed I allowed you to do this by yourself-she wanted to come and give you a hand but I told her you were good."
I laughed out loud. "This'll be a piece of cake."
"Yeah, I know, sweetie, but that don't mean I'm happy about it." Angelo sighed. "All those wasted years, watchin' you grow, knowin' what was bein' done to ya and yet, I couldn't do shit. I'll never forgive myself for that shit, Magnolia."
"It wasn't your fault, Uncle." I smiled although I knew he couldn't see it. "You know, sometimes we gotta let bad shit happen just so all the dominoes can fall into line. We built a solid case against Dimitri but it still isn't enough. The Saints'll pull their weight and once we know it's ironclad, we'll strike. My parents will not have died in vein, especially since their death will be on his hands along with a laundry list of crimes we can pin on him. No defense lawyer in the country will be able to save him."
"Call me when you get to Miami and have a safe flight, honey. Remember, sangue per sangue. Onore per la famiglia prima di tutto. La vendetta è il vostro da execute. Buona fortuna."
Blood for blood. Honor your family above all. Vengeance is yours to execute. Good luck.
"Grazie ma non avrò bisogno di fortuna quando il diavolo possono vedere tutti."
Thank you but I won't need it when the devil sees everyone.
"That is true, my angel."
I ended the call and slid the smart phone into my handbag.
"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. American Airlines, Flight 1266, non-stop from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport to Miami International Airport would like to welcome all first class passengers for boarding at this time," an attendant announced at the front desk next to the gate.
I stood, dressed in a pair of dark indigo jeans, a cream cashmere sweater and a pair of UGGs. I would change into something better suited to warm weather when I arrived in Miami. For now, I looked like every other wealthy snow bunny fleeing cooler temps for sunny weather.
"Welcome aboard," the attendant greeted after she scanned my ticket.
I nodded, and walked past her with my head held high and strength in my posture.
Mags Reynolds might not have been much but Magnolia Abandonato didn't take any shit. For once, I wasn't cleaning up someone else's crap but handing out a little old school vengeance of my own.
Revenge tasted so sweet but nothing came close to carrying out a vendetta.
I doubt anything ever would after I reaped my reward later that night.