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)
He doesn’t have to talk to me.
And I’m okay with that.
Once we’re done, we start walking back toward the elevator.
The elevator opens and—
“Vinnie!”
Vinnie stands there, still looking rumpled but luscious.
He blinks a few times, rubs his eyes. “Raven.”
I run into the elevator and squeeze him around his waist. “You’re not leaving, are you?”
He draws in a slow breath. “I have some business to attend to.”
“Is your mother okay?”
“She’s still asleep, but Falcon and Savannah are staying with her.” He gently wriggles out of my grasp, his eyes darkening. “Plus my grandfather is still up there.”
“Where are you going?”
He doesn’t look at me. “I told you. Business. And no, you can’t come along.” He walks out of the elevator, not looking back. “Goodbye, Raven.”
My heart shatters. He still wants nothing to do with me. I realize that it’s out of concern for my safety. I’m not an idiot. But the animal part of my brain is still sad that I can’t be with him, snuggle up in bed with him, enjoy a normal life together.
I take a step out of the elevator. I guess there’s no reason to stay now. I’m here for Vinnie, and if he’s not here…
I whip my hand into the elevator as the doors begin to close. I get back inside, and Jared follows me.
I’m not sure why I’m doing this, but my gut is telling me to stay in this hospital.
“Why are we still here, Raven?” Jared asks, giving voice to my thoughts. “Vinnie has left, and he’s the only reason you were—”
“Because his grandfather is here,” I say.
Jared’s eyes widen. “You’re not going near him.”
I roll my eyes. “He’s an old man, Jared.”
“An old man who is responsible for God knows what.”
“Yes,” I say. “And he’s the reason Vinnie can’t be with me. I want to find out why.”
30
VINNIE
I walk briskly to the parking lot where Fred is waiting in my car. Elmo is with him.
I need them both for what I’m about to do.
My heart dropped when I walked back out to the waiting area and found Raven and her bodyguard gone.
But I was also thankful. Seeing her would make it harder to do what I have to do.
And then of course… I had to see her when I came out of the elevator.
I should’ve known she wouldn’t go quietly.
I looked back right as I was about to leave. I saw her getting back on the elevator.
My first instinct was to turn around and ask her why she wasn’t leaving. After all, she told me the only reason she had come to the hospital was to be there for me.
So why is she going back up there? Maybe to check on Falcon? I don’t know, and I can’t take the time to dwell on it. Right now, I’m driving to the Bellamy Ranch.
I will talk to Austin Bellamy. And I will figure out what’s going on.
Fred steers up the driveway into the Bellamy’s large ranch house.
Everything looks the same as it did when I dropped Raven off here last week. No one can tell a crime was committed on these premises.
I don’t trust my grandfather as far as I can throw him, but I believe him. My intuition tells me he had nothing to do with Brick Latham’s murder.
And he’s right about one thing. If someone got to Brick Latham, thinking they were getting to Raven…
None of it makes sense.
Except it does in a warped way.
I’m beginning to believe that Austin Bellamy is not the same man he’s made out to be.
I get out of my car.
“Sir?” Elmo says.
I hold up a hand. “Stay here for now. I’ve got my phone. Be on alert. I’ll let you know if I need you.”
I walk to the door. Ring the bell.
A woman answers. “Yes, may I help you?”
“I’m here to see Mr. Bellamy.”
She cocks her head. “Do you have an appointment with him?”
“I don’t, but I think he’ll see me.” I hold out my hand and give her my card. “I’m Vincent Gallo Junior.”
She reads the card, her forehead wrinkled. She looks back into the house. “I’ll need to check and see if he’s in the house. Sometimes he’s in the barns. But I know he’s on property today.”
“Good. Find him. I’m sure he’ll see me.”
“All right.” She takes a few steps inside and gestures down the foyer. “Would you like to come in and wait in the living room?”
“Yes, that would be fine. Thank you.”
She holds the door open for me and I walk in. The house is huge. A great big ranch house. Much different from my parents’ home in Austin, though just as large.
She gestures to the living room. “Have a seat. Can I get you anything to drink?”
“I’m fine, but thank you for the offer.”
The woman I recognize as Raven’s mother walks in. She narrows her gaze when she sees me.