8. Vinnie

8

VINNIE

"H ey, Vinnie," Falcon says into the phone.

"Hey, got your text. What do you need?"

"Can you come over to my place?"

"Now?"

"Yeah. It's important."

"Is Savannah okay?"

"She's fine. I have a lot to tell her. And you."

"Your text said you needed my help."

"I do." His sigh whooshes into my ear. "I need help with…"

"With what?"

"Just come over. I don't want to say anything more over the phone."

"Yeah, sure. Of course. Whatever you need." I end the call and leave the library quickly, my heart racing.

It's not enough that I have to off some guy. Now I'm getting involved in whatever my brother-in-law is tangled in.

And I don't have a good feeling about it.

In fact, I recall a conversation I had with Falcon when I first returned.

* * *

"Did Diego Vega work for your family?" Falcon asks me.

"He did at the time I left," I say.

"If you talk to your father," he says, "you'll probably find out that Diego Vega disappeared about eight years ago. Into thin air. Along with a truckload full of merchandise."

Savannah's eyes go wide. "Falcon?"

"There's a lot more to my story than a young rookie cop getting accidentally killed," Falcon admits.

"Oh my God," she says.

Savannah's mouth is agape, and she's looking at Falcon.

Just what the hell kind of man is my sister involved with?

"Before I go any further," he says, "I need to talk to my brothers."

* * *

Fuck.

Diego Vega.

There's a blast from my past, though I didn't say anything to Falcon at the time.

Whatever Falcon needs, though, I'll help if I can. I owe my sister that much.

The drive takes a couple hours, and I leave Fred and Elmo at home. I arrive, pull into the gravel driveway, and walk to the door.

Before I can even knock, Savannah greets me at the door with a hug.

"How are you holding up, Vinnie?" she asks.

If only I could be honest with her. Gee, Sav, great. Our esteemed grandfather wants me to kill somebody. Some guy who lives in a giant house in the suburbs, has a young nanny, and who apparently is dealing with some drug cartel south of the border. He might also be the reason why we're getting into human trafficking. Oh, and before that? He wanted me to off your sister-in-law. You know, the one who just recovered from cancer.

Nope, can't say that.

"Good," I say.

She looks at me, raises her eyebrows. "Good?"

"Yeah. I knew what I was getting into."

I did indeed know. I knew seventeen years ago, which is why I left. But that was selfish. So now I'll do anything for my sister. She's the only sibling I have left. I only wish I could turn back time and save Mikey from his fate as well.

"Come on in."

I follow her into Falcon's house. She leads me down into a large family room, where Falcon himself is standing behind the black lacquer bar. His two brothers, Hawk and Eagle, are there. Eagle is looking… Well, I don't know the guy, but he doesn't look good.

But then I drop my jaw.

Sitting in a recliner with a can of Orange Crush is Falcon's sister Raven.

She's so beautiful. And to think… If my grandfather had his way, she'd be dead. Dead, as some kind of warped message to Falcon about interfering with our family.

Not if I have anything to say about it.

I'll kill off all the assholes my grandfather wants me to if it means keeping this woman safe.

Her hair is black peach fuzz, but the lack of hair doesn't make her any less gorgeous. She's tall with dark eyes. No eyebrows or eyelashes, but on her none of that seems to matter.

Her cheeks are rosy, though. Falcon's bone marrow has taken hold, and she's recovering, according to Savannah.

No way would I ever take her life. Hell, I don't want to take anyone's life.

"Vinnie," Falcon says from behind the bar. "What's your poison?"

"Scotch. No. Make that bourbon."

"I've got scotch. Some great Macallan twenty-five year."

Fuck. Macallan is my grandfather's favorite. Which means I won't touch the fucking stuff, no matter how much like mother's milk it is.

"Bourbon's good."

Falcon pours me two fingers and hands me a glass. I take a quick sip, letting the smoky liquid slide down my throat. Just the right amount of burn. This is good stuff.

"All right," I say. "What's going on here?"

"You know my brothers, Hawk and Eagle."

Hawk, who looks a lot like Falcon except he's taller and has blue eyes, stands, walks over to me, and shakes my hand. "Good to see you again, Vinnie."

Eagle doesn't rise.

"Eagle," I say.

He raises his head out of his hands, his eyes bloodshot and sunken. "Hey," is all he says.

"I'm sure you didn't ask me here just for a drink." I look at each of them in turn, ending with my sister. "Sav, what's going on?"

Savannah swallows. "To tell the truth, Vinnie, I'm not even sure I know. Raven and I… We're kind of innocent bystanders here."

I turn to my brother-in-law. "What the fuck, Falcon? Are you in some kind of trouble? And you got my sister and yours involved?"

"Savannah will be my wife," he says. "I don't want to have any secrets from her. As for Ray? Well, she was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

This time Raven stands, stalks toward her brother, and sets her can of pop on the bar. "Hey, it's not my fault you guys were talking in our kitchen where anyone could've overheard you."

"You didn't have to threaten to go to Mom and Dad."

Raven turns to face her brother, her dark eyes fiery. But then she softens and places a hand gently on his upper arm. "Look, I get that you saved my life. You know how grateful I am for that. But if you're in trouble, Fal, let me help. You saved my life, and I want you to let me help you with yours."

I can't help staring. Such inner strength emanates from this woman.

"But Raven…" Falcon starts.

She cuts him off with a stern look that could put anyone in their place. "I'm not avoiding the fights anymore, Fal." Her tall figure looms over her brother, even as he stands behind the bar. "I've been on the sidelines long enough. You've all tried to protect me because I was sick. Well, look at me now!"

I do just that.

Who could help but look at her?

The room seems to shrink around her, pulling us into her orbit. Her dark eyes gleam with an intensity that draws me in, makes me feel vulnerable in her presence.

"I almost died," she says quietly after a moment. She returns to the recliner. "You saved me, Fal. But now it's time for me to stand on my own two feet."

Savannah turns to look at me, worry etching lines into her face. But it's not for Raven. It's for Falcon and the potential danger he's in. A knot forms in my stomach. I don't want my sister involved in any of this. Raven either.

Falcon runs a hand through his hair. "Raven, you don't understand?—"

"No, you don't understand!" she shoots back, standing again. "I'm not your responsibility anymore. I won't let you treat me like a fragile piece of glass."

Hawk sighs. "You're right, Raven. And we're sorry."

Falcon opens his mouth but Hawk holds up a hand.

"You saved her life," Hawk continues. "But we can't keep treating her like she's weak. She can handle herself. We need to trust her."

Eagle, who's been silent until now, rubs his face and nods. "She's here now. Thanks, Ray."

Raven sits down, this time next to Eagle, and grabs his hand.

They're close, maybe closer than Raven is to either Hawk or Falcon. Something's eating at Eagle, and I'm pretty sure it's why we're all here.

"You're right," Falcon finally says. "I just worry about you, Raven."

Raven gives a small smile. "And that's why I love you, big bro. But it's time for me to step up."

Savannah is next to me now, her body trembling slightly as she wraps her arms around herself. She's scared, but she's also relieved. I nod to her, hoping it eases whatever's got her frightened.

"All right," Savannah finally says after a moment of silence. "Now that we have that out of the way, I think it's time we get down to business."

She looks to me, her eyes pleading. Of all the people in this room, she knows I'm the one most versed in the dangerous games our families play.

"Vinnie," she starts, her voice shaky, "Falcon is mixed up in something."

My mind races with possibilities. Drugs, arms dealing, mafia ties? I can deal with that. "What is it?"

Falcon doesn't answer right away. He pours another two fingers of bourbon and downs it in one go before he finally breaks the silence.

"I'm an innocent man," he says.

"I've always known that, Fal," Raven says. "You went to prison to protect someone. I know who, but Vinnie doesn't."

Falcon pours himself another drink, but Savannah walks over to him and pulls the glass away. "Just tell us, babe. Please. You've already done your time, and you protected who you felt you needed to protect. What's going on now? Isn't this finished?"

Hawk draws in a breath. "Unfortunately, no it's not."

I down my drink the way Falcon just downed his. "Maybe you'd better start at the beginning."

"No!" Eagle shouts. "No starting at the beginning. We just need you to get rid of a body, okay? No need to know the details."

Savannah and Raven both gasp in unison, and Raven trembles, still holding onto Eagle.

"See?" Falcon shakes his head. "This is why I didn't want you involved, Ray. This is too much for you."

But Raven looks at her brother, and already I know she's made of sterner stuff. Her body may be weak, but mentally, she's fortitude personified.

Beauty personified as well.

I clear my throat. "I'll hear you out. And I'll help you if I can. But before I do anything—especially getting rid of a body—I want the whole story. You'd best start at the beginning."