Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 77126 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77126 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
I drop my jaw.
“Well, no… I just guess…”
“Vinnie and I need to talk,” Dad says. “We have unfinished business to discuss. For now, Raven, I’d like you to stay here.”
“Where’s Mom?” I ask.
“She and Robin booked a suite at the hotel for the evening. She knew she’d be tired, and Robin and I thought that was best.”
“Why?” I dart my gaze around the room. “Why can’t my mother be in her home? What the hell is going on here, Daddy?”
“Let’s just all go to bed,” Dad says. “You and I will talk in the morning, Vinnie. It’s been a long night, and Raven, you especially had a big evening.”
“Stop coddling me!” I turn to Vinnie. “And before you say something, you stop coddling me too. You say you can’t be with me for my own safety. Why don’t I get a say in that, Vinnie? Why don’t I get a say in anything? All three of you think you know what’s better for me than I do.” I raise my arms to either side of my body. “I’ve got news for you. I’ve faced down worse enemies than any that are out there. Cancer had a gun pointed at my heart for three years, and I beat it.”
“Oh, sweetheart,” Dad says. “If only it were that simple.”
I scoff. “Do you think anything about living with cancer has been simple?”
“You’re forgetting something, Raven,” he says. “You lived with it. It ravaged your body. You were the one who was sick in bed. But your mother and I lived with it too. For those three years, your cancer ate away at our bodies, too. Either one of us would’ve taken your place in a minute.”
“I fail to see what that has to—”
“Raven,” Vinnie interrupts this time. “I understand what your father is saying. He’s saying he would’ve died for you in an instant, and so would I. And so would Jared.”
“Jared is paid well to protect me.”
“Doesn’t matter. He would still take a bullet for you. Cancer is anything but simple, but at least you had a chance against it. And you beat it.” He crosses the room, takes my face in his hands. “You don’t have a chance against a literal gun pointed at your heart, Raven. Or pointed at your head. Not with someone who’s ready to shoot. Who’s been paid to do a job.”
I slap his hands away from my head. “I’m still standing. No one has shot me yet.”
Vinnie sighs. “You know what? Your father’s right. We all need a break. Please. Go to bed.”
“I won’t sleep in that room,” I say.
“No,” Vinnie says. “Sleep in a guestroom. With me.”
My father steps forward then, his fists clenching. “You’re not going to sleep with my daughter in this house.”
“Fine.” Vinnie rolls his eyes. “Your house, your rules. But I agree with you. No one’s in any immediate danger here. Let’s call it a night. We can all figure things out in the morning. But I have a phone call to make first.”
“Vinnie…” I grab his arm.
He shakes his head. “It’s your father’s house, Raven. Please. Get some rest. Despite what’s been going on for the past couple hours, your gala was a huge success. Revel in that. You did it.”
“Robin and Emily did it,” I say. “I was stuck in the safe house.”
“We all know who did all the behind-the-scenes work, honey,” Dad says. “Vinnie is right. You need to rest.”
“Then I want Vinnie to stay with me,” I say adamantly.
My father shakes his head. “You know what? I’m too exhausted to fight you on it. You’re both adults. I’m too tired to care at this point. There are so many other things on my mind.” He looks toward Vinnie. “Do whatever you think is best. All I really care about right now is Raven’s safety.”
I absolutely hate that Dad is making this Vinnie’s decision, not mine. Taking the advice of a mob boss’s grandson over his own daughter’s. But I’ll take the win. And there are other concerns at hand.
“What about Mom and Robin? What about their safety?”
“They are safe. You don’t think I have security on them?”
I bite my lip. Of course he does. My father would not leave anything to chance.
He seems different, though. He’s always been an intelligent and self-assured man, but tonight he seems troubled. And not troubled in the way he was when I was sick.
No.
Something else is going on.
Vinnie has excused himself to make his phone call. He returns a few moments later.
“Come on.” He takes my hand. “Let’s get you to bed.”
“I’ll show you where you can both sleep,” Dad says.
I furrow my brow at him. “Daddy, I grew up in this house. I know where we can sleep. I’ll stay in the guestroom I used after Brick was killed.”
He sighs. “Fine. Vinnie, will you be staying with her?”