Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 77126 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77126 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Vinnie looks at me, at my father, and then back to me. “I think…I should stay somewhere separate tonight.”
I grab his arm. “Vinnie!”
Dad nods. “You won’t get any pushback from me on that one. Vinnie, you can stay in Raven’s old room. Jared, I’ll show you where you can bunk.”
I shake my head. “I’m sleeping with Vinnie.”
“Raven.” This from Vinnie. “Let’s not tempt fate. You know you’re safer without me.”
I scoff. “This place is a fortress. Falcon and Leif installed the best—”
He puts his fingers to my lips. “Things are going on that you don’t know about, Raven. It’s better that you remain in the dark.”
“Better for whom?” I demand.
“Better for everyone.” From my father.
But Vinnie doesn’t disagree.
I open my mouth to balk at all of it, but a huge yawn splits my face.
I truly am exhausted.
So I won’t fight it. They can have this battle. I’ll be victorious in the end.
Without further argument, I make my way to the guestroom. I peel the dress from my body, hang it in the closet, and head to the bathroom to take a shower. I wash the product out of my short hair, scrub my face free from the makeup and false eyelashes, and then just stand under the shower, letting it pelt me. We’re into the next day already. It’s after two a.m.
And as much as I want to know what’s going on, what I want more than anything at this moment is a soft pillow under my head.
30
VINNIE
Bellamy walks toward me but I hold up a hand. “You don’t have to say anything. I’m not going near her tonight.”
“That’s not what I was going to say. I just want you to know that I mean it when I say that I love my daughter.” He runs his hand through his hair, sighing. “I love all of my children.”
“Did I say otherwise?”
“No, but I see it in your eyes. You wonder how I could let them be in danger like this. All I can tell you is that there are things at work that you don’t know about.”
I swear to God, this guy needs to learn a new tune. If I hear one more time that there are “things at work” with no further context, I may collapse in on myself.
“I know everything my grandfather knows.”
“You don’t, Vinnie.” He places a hand on my shoulder. “But you will.”
“Because you’re going to tell me?”
“Because I won’t have to.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
But Bellamy says nothing more. He simply leaves, shows Jared where to bunk down, and then he returns.
Without continuing our conversation, he shows me to Raven’s old bedroom.
I peel off my tux, lay the garments on a chair, strip myself of the rest of my clothing, and head into the en suite bathroom for a shower.
Once I’m clean and dry, I put my boxer briefs back on and slide between the sheets.
Will I sleep?
Doubtful.
But at least I know Raven is safe several doors down the hallway with both her father and Jared looking out for her.
It should be me, but it can’t be me.
I have a wife. Sure, she’s my wife in name only, but she is someone else I am responsible for. She’s been great through all of this. She left the gala pretty early to go home and take care of Serena. I brought in a discrete staff when we got home, but Daniela has taken the role of caretaker seriously, and Serena seems to adore her.
Tomorrow.
Tomorrow I go to my grandfather.
I bring him to the house. And I give him Serena. His lost love.
In exchange for all his power—and the control I need to do what must be done.
I have no doubt that he will meet my demands.
And I—
The door cracks open, interrupting my thoughts.
“Who’s there?” I whisper.
“Who do you think?”
Raven.
Sweet Raven.
“You need to go back to bed.”
“I’m not asking you to fuck me, Vinnie. I’m not asking for anything. I just want to lie next to you, sleep with your arms around me. Because that’s the only place I truly feel safe.”
Her words haunt me. Slice into me like a dagger. Because though I want more than anything to be her safe place, I’m anything but.
“I’m glad I make you feel safe, Raven. But if that were truly the case, we would be together.”
“That’s what I want, Vinnie. And don’t try to tell me it’s not what you want.”
“I’m married.”
“And I never thought I’d say this,” she says, “but I don’t care. I don’t care that you’re married. Because I know you don’t love her. I know you love me.”
She speaks the truth, and she knows it.
I sigh, and I hold the sheet up, beckoning her to me.
We already made love, or rather a quick hard fuck, in the dark conference room at the hotel.
She’s wearing nothing but a large T-shirt that probably belongs to one of her brothers.