Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 75699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“I have a meeting.” He looks at his watch. “And then I want you to join me for lunch.”
I sigh. “Fine. Where and when?”
“At the McAllister house. We will be joined by a special guest.”
“Fine. Who?”
He smirks. “Your intended. Declan’s daughter, Belinda.”
7
RAVEN
By lunchtime, Leif and Falcon have a security team at my house. It will take them the rest of the day to install the top-notch security system. I fix us a lunch of turkey and avocado sandwiches. At first I thought I’d heat up the leftovers from my date with Vinnie last night, but the marinara from last night is ruined.
“I want you to have someone here living with you,” Falcon says.
“You mean like a live-in maid?”
He shakes his head. “I mean like a live-in bodyguard.”
I open my mouth to protest, but then I think about it. It’s probably not a bad idea.
“You have someone in mind?” I ask.
“I can get you a guy,” Leif says. “I’ve got contacts. Plus I’ve done work as a bodyguard myself.”
“I’d feel a lot more comfortable with you, Leif,” I say.
“I think we’d all feel more comfortable,” Falcon says, “but Leif’s a newlywed. I don’t think Kelly would relish him moonlighting as your bodyguard.”
“No, I guarantee you she wouldn’t.” Leif nods. “Don’t you worry, Raven. I’ll find you someone just as good—or better—than I am.”
I sigh. “When are you going to do Mom and Dad’s house?”
“Probably tomorrow,” Falcon says. “And I don’t want Mom around for it. It’ll just freak her out. I want you to get rid of her for the day.”
“How am I supposed to do that?”
“I don’t know. Ask her to take you into Austin for shopping. Or if you don’t want to go that far, say San Antonio. You’re not supposed to drive longer than twenty minutes, right?”
“Shopping? I don’t need anything.”
Leif laughs. “Since when does a woman need anything to go shopping?”
I dart him a glare. Robin may have been the tomboy when we were growing up, but she’s the shopper now. I hate shopping. I hate going out in public looking the way I do.
But whatever. I’ll do what I need to do.
“Fine,” I relent. “I’ll ask Mom to take me shopping tomorrow.” I scratch the side of my head. “What should I say we’re looking for? Buying clothes would be stupid when I’m finally putting back some of my weight.”
“Nix the shopping then,” Falcon says. “Tell her you want to spend some time with her. Go into San Antonio for lunch. Maybe see a movie.”
I think for a moment. “There is that new Matt Damon movie I’ve been wanting to see. We could catch a matinee.”
“There you go,” Leif says. “Perfect.”
“How long do you need?” I ask.
“At least four hours,” Leif says. “Your parents’ place is bigger than this place, so it’s going to take a little longer. My guys are excellent, as you can see.”
“All right. Lunch in San Antonio and then a movie. I think I can get Mom on board. Right now she’s going to do anything to keep me happy and secure and safe.”
“Right,” Falcon says, “and she won’t want you driving to San Antonio by yourself.”
“Yeah. That’s probably how I’ll have to put it. I’m planning to go into San Antonio for lunch. And to see a movie, and she won’t want me alone.” I let out a short laugh. “Her helicopter parenting has now been put to good use.”
“She’s only worried about you, Raven.”
“She didn’t helicopter you while you were in prison.”
“My life wasn’t in danger in prison.” Falcon’s gaze darkens. “I made sure of that. And it’s not like she had a choice. They don’t just let your mommy come to jail with you.”
I can’t help another laugh. For having been through so much, Falcon has kept his sense of humor like a pro.
“Why don’t you go ahead back to Mom and Dad’s, Ray,” he says. “You can start working on Mom about tomorrow. I’ve got this covered for you.”
“Don’t you have to get home to Savannah?”
“Savannah’s good. She’s busy checking out law schools online.”
“That’s great! She can finally fulfill her dream.”
Falcon smiles. “I hope she can figure out a way to do it. It would probably require driving to Austin every day or if not, doing everything online.”
“That’s the way of the world these days,” I tell him. “I bet there’s a way she could drive in a couple days a week and then take the rest of her classes online. Maybe I’ll go back to school myself.”
Falcon raises his eyebrows. “I thought you were set on your nonprofit?”
Nausea crawls up my throat. “After Brick…”
“That’s not your fault, Raven.”
I close my eyes and swallow. “He was coming to see me. How do I know that I wasn’t the target? And that he was just killed as a message?”
“I don’t know,” Falcon says. “We’re going to make sure everyone’s taken care of.”