16. Vinnie

16

VINNIE

"I suppose it could be nothing," Falcon says. "Maybe there really is a reason for the EPA to be involved."

I scratch my chin. "I don't know. I haven't seen the property."

"Do you want to see the property?"

"Yeah, I probably should at some point. I'll be in touch when it's possible."

Grandfather expects to see me at the office early every morning, but I'll tell him I have an appointment. If he asks who with? I'll tell him it's none of his fucking business.

Weakness is not something my grandfather tolerates. Showing my strength, while it may annoy him and anger him, will ultimately lead to him respecting me.

"So what about the ladies?" I say. "Do we tell them what's going on? Or do we just let them think everything's taken care of?"

Falcon shakes his head, rubbing his hands over his stubbled cheeks. "I don't like keeping things from your sister. Or my sister. But damn, I wish Ray weren't even involved. She needs her strength. She needs to focus on healing. She's got this idea of starting this foundation. In fact, she met with an attorney yesterday and is getting things set up for it. I get that she needs something to focus on, take her mind off of the last several years. But what she really needs is to be resting."

I hold up a finger. "Actually, this foundation may be something good for her. It will help keep her mind off the rest of this. So while I agree with you that I don't like lying to either of them, I think let's keep it between us for now."

Falcon nods. "Agreed."

"Hey, you guys," Savannah yells down from up in the kitchen. "Dinner is served."

I finish the rest of my Scotch and soda and set the glass on the bar. I follow Falcon up the short stairway and into his and Savannah's giant gourmet kitchen, where Savannah has set four places at the solid oak kitchen table.

I noticed yesterday when I came over that they have a huge formal dining room across from the living room and off the foyer as you walk into the house.

Looks like it could seat about twenty people. It's similar to the dining room in my grandfather's house.

Fuck. Once he dies, that will be my house.

Ever since I returned to the States, I've wondered which will come first. My takedown of the family crime circuit from within, or my grandfather's natural demise.

It's more likely that my efforts will outlive him, and I'll still have my work cut out for me once he does die.

But the fucker's in remarkable health for a man over eighty. He could be around for another ten years. Hell, I wouldn't put it past him to round out a full century out of spite. I have seven years before Belinda McAllister comes of age. If I haven't taken down the family by then, I'll be forced to marry her.

"You sit here, Vinnie," Savannah says, gesturing to the seat across from Falcon.

On my right side is Savannah, and on my left, Raven.

And it's hard not to stare at her. She's so damned beautiful. Those dark eyes, I swear to God, could see inside a person's soul.

I feel like if I let her look at me, she'll see all my secrets. Everything that happened to me. So much I don't want her to know.

Sure, the worst thing that has ever happened to me occurred back in Long Island, in my grandfather's study.

But Europe wasn't exactly an oasis.

Once we're seated, Savannah passes around the salad bowl and a plate of garlic bread. The lasagna sits in the center of the table. It smells wonderful, and the aroma takes me back not to my time in Italy, but to my childhood. When Serafina made the best lasagna ever.

Savannah and Raven are both beaming.

They think everything has been taken care of.

I hope to God they're right.

"Vinnie," Savannah says, "Falcon and I can't thank you enough for taking care of this."

I lift my eyebrows at Falcon, and he nods slightly at me. "I'd do anything for you, Sav. I only wish I'd been here to save you from what you went through."

"We've been over and over that," she says. "You did what you felt you had to do."

I close my eyes then, thinking about my younger brother. About how he might still be alive if I hadn't left.

"Let it go, Vinnie," Savannah says. "Mikey's in a better place now."

"I suppose." I take a bite of bread. The garlic and buttery goodness slide across my tongue.

"Raven made the garlic bread," Savannah says.

I swallow. "Did you? It's delicious." I smile at Raven.

A luscious pink pops up on her cheeks. "I'm glad you like it."

"It's great. How did you make it?"

"Well…" A playful grin spreads across her gorgeous face. "I mixed some garlic with butter, spread it on some bread, and put it in the oven."

Savannah laughs. "Well, it is delicious, Ray."

Yeah, I'm an idiot. Everybody knows how to make garlic bread. It is delicious though. All garlic bread is.

But this garlic bread, crafted by this beautiful woman, takes the cake. My face warms as I grab another piece, hoping Raven doesn't see how red I'm getting.

What makes me act like a stupid schoolboy around this woman?

Damn, I've got it bad.

I don't say much more as I finish my bread and salad. Then Savannah serves each of us a huge chunk of lasagna.

I take a bite, and it's delicious. Not quite as good as I remember from my childhood, but every bit as good as anything I ate in Italy.

"Sav, it's wonderful."

She beams from across the table. "Glad you like it, Vinnie."

Raven gushes then, "Oh my God, I think this is the best lasagna I've ever tasted. It's elegant."

Savannah laughs at that. " Elegant? Now I know you're pulling my leg, Raven."

"Well, since the last lasagna I had was hospital food…" She shrugs. "And like I told you. Everything tastes better now. It's like my tastebuds have exploded or something."

I smile at her then. She's so vibrant and full of life. She's looked her life in the eye and come out on the other end ready to live the hell out of it. I'm filled with the need to get to know this woman. To find out what makes her tick. And my God—those full pink lips.

What might they feel like against my own?

For a moment, I imagine her naked. Her body devoid of all hair. Only her pink pussy visible.

"Vinnie?" Savannah says.

I snap out of my daydream. "Yeah?"

She chuckles lightly. "You've been holding that piece of lasagna on your fork halfway to your mouth for like a minute now."

I quickly bring it to my mouth, chew, and swallow. "Just thinking."

"I know." Savannah pats my hand from across the table. "You're back now, back in a life you never wanted. I'm sorry for that, Vinnie."

I'll let her think that's what I was thinking about. I suppose she isn't wrong. I have a lot on my plate, and I'm not talking lasagna.

"So Falcon," Savannah says, "did Raven tell you she has a date Friday?"

That bite of lasagna I swallowed turns into a cannonball in my stomach.

Raven has a date?

"I don't ever like to think about my sisters having dates," Falcon says. "But that's great, Raven. Who are you seeing?"

Raven swallows the bite of lasagna in her mouth. "This lawyer who helped me today. His name is Brick Latham."

I nearly choke on the sip of wine I just drank. "Brick?"

"Yeah, that's his name."

"I suppose he has a brother named Stone and a sister named Marble?" My tone is more pointed than I intend.

"Uh…" Falcon clears his throat. "Our grandfather's name was Brick. Brick Bellamy."

I put my fork down, avoiding eye contact with Raven in the process. God damn it. Now I feel like an asshole. I shouldn't have made fun of the name in the first place. I didn't mean anything by it. I was taken aback that Raven has a date.

Why shouldn't she have a date? If I see how beautiful she is, why wouldn't another man? She doesn't need hair to be beautiful.

And her hair will grow back. It's already growing back. She's got a raven-black buzz cut now, and damn…

"I'm sorry." I wipe my lips on my napkin. "I don't know what just got into me. It's not like Vincent is the greatest name in the world. Or Vinnie."

"It's Daddy's name," Savannah says. "But I like the name Brick. It sounds strong."

"The name Vincent is associated with strength and victory," I say. "It's derived from Latin, meaning to conquer."

And why the fuck did I just say that? To my sister of all people?

Raven looks at me, and damn, those eyes… They pierce me.

And as she looks at me, I can't tell if she's angry or ready to burst out laughing.

Either reaction would be warranted. I'm being a dick.

I had my fair share of women while I was overseas. I never got serious with anyone, but I had a lot of sex with a lot of hot babes.

Now, for the first time in a long time, I've met a woman I actually like. A woman I'd like to get to know. A woman I'm extremely attracted to.

And what do I do?

I make fun of the name of her date. A name that her grandfather shares.

God, I'm back in high school…

What a fuck-up.

Raven takes a sip of her water. "I think Vincent is a lovely name."

I widen my eyes at Raven. Did she really just say that?

"So is Raven," I say. "It's a beautiful name, and it fits you."

She smiles at me then. Raven Bellamy smiles at me. So I clear my throat. "I apologize. I shouldn't have made fun of your date's name. Your grandfather's name, though I didn't know he shared it."

"You don't need to apologize. You were making a joke." She smiles again. "Jokes are funny. Jokes make people laugh. People don't laugh enough." She wrinkles her nose like an adorable little bunny. "When you look death in the face, all you want to do is go back to a time in life when you were laughing. When life was good, and you were happy."

I stop my jaw from dropping.

I hardly know this woman. But in that moment, I fall a little bit in love with Raven Bellamy.