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)
“Lucy, who is—”
“Mrs. Bellamy,” Lucy, apparently, says. “This gentleman wants to see Mr. Bellamy.”
“Whatever for?” She walks toward me and offers her hand. “I’m Star Bellamy.”
Star Bellamy is a beautiful woman. Her skin is dark, about the same color as mine—different from Raven’s fair skin. She must get that from her father. But the dark eyes, that mesmerizing, beautiful stare, she gets from the woman before me.
“I’m Vincent Gallo Junior,” I say. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Bellamy.”
“Oh?” Her eyes widen. “You’re Savannah’s brother.”
“I am.”
“I’m sorry.” She presses her lips together, looking me up and down. “You don’t look anything like Savannah.”
“No. I look more like my mother. Savannah takes after our father.”
“Well… Welcome to our home, Mr. Gallo.”
“You can call me Vinnie, ma’am.”
“Of course. Vinnie. Austin should be back soon.”
“I’d like to wait, if possible. It’s very important.”
She parts her lips slightly. “Is… Is Raven all right?”
I nod quickly. “Yes, she’s at the hospital. My mother… She had a heart attack yesterday.”
“I’m so sorry. Is she all right?”
“She had a triple bypass this morning. She’s out of recovery and has been moved to ICU. Falcon and Savannah are with her. And Raven is still there.”
She places her hand over her heart. “My Raven… There never was a more caring soul. All that time she was sick and all she ever worried about was how the rest of us were coping.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I’m not sure what else to say. I could tell her what a wonderful woman her daughter is, but she already knows that. What will it do to this poor woman when she finds out her husband may not be the pillar of society that the state of Texas seems to think he is?
But I can’t concern myself with Mrs. Bellamy’s feelings.
I need to make sure Raven is safe. That is, after all, why I told her we can’t be together.
“Is this anything I can help you with?”
“I really do need to speak to your husband, if that can be arranged.”
She looks out a nearby window onto the sprawling Bellamy property. “I’m expecting him back any minute. He went out to talk to a couple of the foremen this morning. But he’s always back in time for lunch.”
“All right. Thank you.” I eye the room and head toward the most comfortable-looking couch. “I’ll just have a seat here and wait for him.”
“Don’t be silly. You’ll join us for lunch, of course.” She turns back to Lucy. “Set another place in the kitchen, please.”
“I don’t want to impose.”
“There’s no imposition.” She lays a delicate hand on my shoulder. “Please, join us.”
“All right. I’ll just sit here until you’re ready.”
She nods. “Lucy will come get you when lunch is served.”
“Thank you again.”
I sit down on the sofa in the elegant living room. A mahogany grand piano sits in the corner. It makes me think of Belinda.
What am I going to do about her?
I probably should’ve gone home to change. God only knows what I look like. I’m sure there are bags under the bags in my eyes. I haven’t slept. And my suit is wrinkled.
Time seems to pass in a warp, and I’m pretty sure I slip somewhere into the gray area between consciousness and unconsciousness. I’m not sure whether seconds or hours have passed when Lucy comes in.
“Mr. Gallo, lunch is served.”
“Thank you.” I rise and follow her into the large gourmet kitchen, where three places are set.
“Mr. Bellamy is just washing up. He’ll be here in a moment.”
“Please, take the seat next to me,” Mrs. Bellamy says. “It’s nothing fancy today, I’m afraid. I hope you like hamburgers.”
I chuckle. “I wasn’t expecting lunch at all. And I love hamburgers. Thank you.”
“What would you like to drink, Mr. Gallo?” Lucy asks.
I smile. “Do you have Orange Crush?”
Mrs. Bellamy smiles back. “That’s Raven’s favorite drink. We always have Orange Crush.”
I stay standing until Mr. Bellamy arrives.
Austin Bellamy. I’ve seen pictures of him. But he’s much larger in person. Tall and broad, with graying blond hair and piercing blue eyes. Fair skin, like Raven. But the rest of her looks she got from her mother.
“Mr. Gallo.” He holds out his hand. “To what do we owe the pleasure?”
“I need an audience with you,” I say.
“All right.” He clears his throat. “Let’s enjoy our lunch first, shall we?”
“Absolutely,” I say with a smile. “I appreciate the invitation.”
“Star always says everyone is welcome at our table.” He gestures to my place. “Please, have a seat.”
He holds out the chair for his wife.
I expected as much.
Austin Bellamy is known as a rancher and a gentleman. From what I can tell anyway. Since Savannah is marrying into the family, I’ve done my research.
Part of me hopes I’m wrong.
But part of me hopes I’m right.
Because if I’m not, someone else was behind the murder of that lawyer. And if it wasn’t my grandfather…