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)
The two of them are chatting as if they’ve known each other forever.
For a moment, I allow myself to imagine that my life is different. That Raven is my girlfriend and I brought her home to meet my mother, and they’re getting along famously—which they are.
And that later tonight, perhaps I’m planning to propose to Raven. With a large diamond ring in my pocket.
That I have my mother’s approval.
And that the woman I love will be mine forever.
But reality nudges its head back in. Raven and I are not boyfriend and girlfriend. And I’m not proposing to her later tonight. No.
I’m promised to an eleven-year-old girl—an eleven-year-old girl who is being abused and has asked me for help.
I force myself to finish my dinner, and then I sit with an empty plate while Mom and Raven are still chatting as if everything’s fine.
But everything’s not fine. I’ve killed two men. My father’s in prison for killing another—and God only knows how many more he’s killed and gotten away with it. And I’m sure that number pales in comparison to my grandfather’s body count.
And Raven… Raven has been thrown into this. Her attorney is dead because of it.
I clear my throat. “Would you ladies excuse me please?”
“Vinnie,” Mom says, “don’t be rude.”
I tap my right pants pocket. “Sorry. I have to make a phone call and it can’t wait.”
Mom frowns. “All right, but come back quickly. Phyllis made tiramisu for dessert.”
I don’t actually have to make a phone call. I just need to leave the kitchen for a moment. I need to gather my wits, figure out how best to deal with the situation. Raven is here, and all I can think about is getting her up into my bedroom.
I don’t even care that my mother is here in the house.
Of course, there’s always the guesthouse. The guesthouse, which is always fully furnished, complete with a pool and hot tub.
Perhaps I should be living there anyway. I just don’t want to leave Mom alone. Especially since my grandfather has made it clear that every female member of his family—his daughter included—is an expendable pawn in his game.
But my mind still keeps dwelling on that guesthouse…
Raven and I could be alone there. We could make all the noise we want. I could fuck her into the wee hours of the morning.
But would that change anything?
No. Not a damned thing. It would only make it more difficult to let her go again.
She’s made it clear that she’s not going to go easily or willingly.
So I’m going to have to demand it. I’m going to have to hurt her.
God, the thought of it…
I draw a breath as I go back to the kitchen. Mom and Raven have cleaned their plates, and Phyllis is setting out the dessert.
“Raven,” I say, “may I have a word?”
“We’re just about to start dessert, Vinnie.” Raven grabs a small plate from Phyllis. “I believe I’ve told you before that I never turn down dessert. I will never turn down dessert again.”
Yes, she did say that.
I plunk back into my chair and take a spoonful of the tiramisu that Phyllis placed in front of me.
I’m not a big fan of tiramisu, but it’s my mother’s favorite.
Dessert drags on. It doesn’t help that my mother keeps asking Raven questions, forcing her to slow down her eating. I gobble mine up pretty quickly, leaving a trail of cocoa powder all over the table in my wake. But Raven takes her sweet-ass time. It’s like she knows that this might very well be the last time we’ll share a meal together.
Once my mother and Raven are both done, and Raven—thank God—says no to coffee, I rise. “Raven, can I speak with you outside?”
“Of course.” She smiles at my mom. “Mrs. Gallo, thank you for the lovely dinner. Everything was delicious. It was so wonderful to meet you.”
My mom smiles and gives Raven a hug. “It was a joy to meet you as well.”
Finally, I escort Raven toward the French doors that lead out to the large redwood deck. The guesthouse stands in the distance, and I lead Raven toward it.
She glances around and scratches the side of her head. “Where are we going?”
“This is the guesthouse.” I walk her to the front door. “You and I are going to go in, and I’m going to fuck you.”
Her eyes widen. “But I thought—”
I look away from her. “You thought what, Raven? That you would show up here and nothing would happen? That’s bullshit. You came here for this. We both want it. And we’re going to have it.”
Raven swallows. “Vinnie, I—”
I stop walking, grab her shoulders, and force her to face me. “You knew how this was going to end up as well as I did. You knew it when you came here.”
“But I didn’t.” She wriggles out of my grasp. “You live with your mother. I just wanted to see you. I wanted you to say it to my face, Vinnie.”