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)
Leif frowns sympathetically. “Unfortunately, your basic security system is nothing to experts. I’ll get you set up with something better.”
“Right away,” Falcon says.
Leif nods. “We’re going to need to check out your parents’ place too.” He turns to Falcon. “Your place is clean for now.”
Falcon crosses his arms. “Can you guarantee it stays that way?”
“We’ll set you up with the best system. Same as I’m going to do here for Raven. We’d best do it for Hawk and Eagle too, based on…you know.”
“You can speak freely,” Falcon says. “Raven knows everything.”
I swallow again. “I don’t want any of my family in danger.”
“There’s no reason you’ll be in danger,” Falcon says. “You had nothing to do with what happened eight years ago. This thing with Latham can’t be related.”
I bite my lower lip, looking to the ground.
“Ray…” Falcon begins.
I look up and meet his gaze. “There’s something you should probably know.”
“Fuck,” he says. “What is it?”
Mom already knows because she was there during the questioning. She’s probably told Dad by now. I can only imagine how he feels about it. “I’ve been…” I run my hand over my peach fuzz, letting it skim over my fingertips.
As much as I hate my lack of hair, it’s actually a nice feeling. Kind of soothing.
“Raven,” Leif says, “you’re going to need to be honest with us if we’re going to make sure you’re protected.”
I sigh. “I’ve become…involved with Savannah’s brother.”
“Vinnie?” Falcon shakes his head. “For Christ’s sake, Ray. I like the guy, but he’s a freaking mobster.”
I shake my head. “He’s a fake mobster. He’s trying to take his family down. You know that as well as I do.”
“I know, but being anywhere near him puts you in danger. I can’t have that. Not after we almost lost you.” He runs his hand through his hair. “And now that lawyer turns up dead. In your bed, Ray. This must have something to do with Vinnie.”
Leif sighs. “I’ve got to agree with your brother. You’re better off staying far away from Vinnie Gallo. But on the other hand…”
“What?” Falcon says.
“You say she knows everything, Fal?”
“She does. She heard the guys and me talking.”
Leif shakes his head. “She may be in danger anyway, then.”
“No,” I say. “Vinnie took care of it. My father’s guys can’t dig there. The EPA is making them jump through a bunch of hoops.”
“But don’t you see?” Leif says. “That’s the problem. The EPA is now involved. But not just the EPA. Bad guys in the EPA.” He shakes his head again.
Chills course through me.
“I…”
“What is it, Raven?” Falcon demands. “You know I love you, sis, and I’m so glad you’re still here with us, but you have to be honest with us.”
“He left me,” I say succinctly. “It’s embarrassing, but he left me last night. We fell asleep, or at least I did, and when I woke up in the middle of the night, he was gone.”
“He just fucking left you?” Falcon’s hands curl into fists.
“Ease up,” Leif says. “My guess is he’s trying to protect her as well.”
Falcon unclenches his fists, but I can see he’s still rigid.
“I swear to God, Raven,” he grits out. “I will die before I let anything happen to you.”
I shake my head. “That’s not what I want. You’ve been through enough, Falcon. You went to prison to protect our youngest brother. You’ve done your time. You and Savannah deserve happiness. Not to be pulled back into this.”
“I love Savannah,” he says. “And with Savannah comes her family. I knew what I was getting into with her. But you… You don’t need this, Ray.”
But I love him…
The words don’t make it out of my mouth. Besides… Though he claimed to love me as well, he left without so much as a kiss goodbye. I haven’t heard from him at all today despite calling him twice.
“I think it’s probably a moot point,” I finally say. “I guess he got what he wanted from me and took off.”
There go Falcon’s fists again, and this time Leif joins him.
“I don’t mean that the way it sounds. I… I took from him as well.”
Falcon begins to open his mouth, but I hold up a hand to stop him.
“Let me have my say, Falcon.”
He sighs and nods.
“The thing is, during the last couple years I never thought anything like that would happen for me again.” A surge of emotion runs up my throat. I swallow it back. “But Vinnie… He showed me that I’m still beautiful, even without hair—”
“Of course you are,” Leif snaps. “You and Robin are gorgeous, no matter what.”
I resist rolling my eyes at his mention of Robin. Leif and Robin were an item back in high school, and I don’t know exactly how it ended because Robin doesn’t talk about it. Leif is now happily married to a woman named Kelly.