Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 73042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
“You didn’t text them?”
She shrugs. “I guess I forgot. I was focused on…something else.”
I can’t help a churlish grin. “So they’re keeping tabs on you, huh?”
“Yes and no.” She frowns. “I mean, yes they are. Because of what I’ve been through, they’re worried about me. But normally they wouldn’t. We were all raised to be strong and confident people, independent people.”
“I understand. They’re just concerned. They don’t want to take any chance of losing you.”
“I know.”
“I’ll drive you to your parents’ house.”
“You sure you don’t mind?”
Is she kidding? At this moment, I’d buy the moon for her if I could. “No, I don’t mind.”
“The good news is that it’s on the way. You won’t have to go out of your way like you did to get here.”
I chuckle lightly as I stroke the length of her arm. “Raven, none of that matters to me. I’ll take you to your parents’ house. Then I’ll go home to Austin. I’ll be home by about two a.m. Trust me. I’ve gotten by on much less sleep.”
“You know what?” She swings her feet to the side of the bed. “You don’t even need to do that. I can text my mom now and tell her I’m staying with Falcon.”
“No. If anything happened to you while you were here alone, I could never forgive myself.” I grab her hand and squeeze it. “Don’t lie to your mom, Raven. Don’t lie period—even when it seems like a simple white lie. Because lies? They tend to mushroom. One lie begets another bigger one. It just keeps growing.”
She looks at me, her lips parted. “Vinnie? You okay?”
I nod, knowing full well my affirmation is a lie. I’m so far from okay. But I won’t add to her weight to bear.
What I said about lying is true. I saw lies in action growing up. I’ll continue to see them now. Now that I’ve come back to the family fold. The lies will grow, just as my duties will grow.
Killing Giacomo Puzo is just the beginning. I’ll kill others.
Others I have no personal beef with.
I’ll kill if I have to.
And one day…
I’ll kill my own damned grandfather.
23
RAVEN
Vinnie and I get dressed in silence, and I can’t help but notice that my panties are no longer wearable. No big deal. I throw them in the trash can next to my bathroom and slide on my jeans commando.
Such a stark difference from when we undressed. That was quick and frantic and primal.
Now we’re acting as if we’re dressing to get ready to go to work. Slowly and methodically.
And silently.
I hope Vinnie doesn’t regret what happened between us, because I certainly don’t. The sex was phenomenal, and it was with a man who is probably the most handsome man I’ve ever laid eyes on—and that’s saying a lot considering my brothers are all extremely good-looking and I’ve had more than a few boyfriends who were bona fide hotties.
Vinnie Gallo is in a category all by himself.
He could be walking runways in New York and Paris, modeling the latest fashions from top designers.
It’s funny that he doesn’t look a lot like Savannah. They have something of a sibling resemblance, but Savannah’s skin is fair, and she has a spray of freckles across her nose. She’s pretty in a best-friend’s-sister kind of way. I have no idea what their other brother looked like—and I could never ask to see a picture. That would be bringing up memories for Vinnie and Savannah that I’m sure are better left buried.
But Vinnie himself…
He makes those men on People Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” covers look average.
And his body…
Damn.
Shoulders so broad and muscular and a chest so hard, with nipples like dark brown coins that respond every time I touch them.
His abs. The perfect sixpack, leading to a black bush framing a big beautiful cock.
His ass—perfectly formed and leading to hard thighs and thick calves and big feet with perfect square nails.
There’s just nothing wrong with that man at all.
And he wanted me.
Granted, I was considered quite a beauty in my day, but right now I’m thin. Too thin. And I have no hair.
But for some reason, Vinnie wanted me. I will be thinking about this encounter with him long after today.
I’ll also be breaking that date with Brick Latham.
Not that I expect Vinnie to ask me out. But it wouldn’t be fair to Brick when my thoughts are elsewhere.
Maybe I’ll call CJ. She wants to get together on Sunday, but I’d like to see her before then. I’m not supposed to be driving, but I can always take a rideshare or a cab. Maybe I could get Mom to drive me, although driving all the way into an Austin suburb is a two-hour project.
I’ll take a rideshare.
When we’re finally dressed, Vinnie reaches his hand to me, and I take it. We walk in silence through my house to the doorway, where he opens it for me. I lock up, and we walk to the car where he opens the passenger-side door for me.