Page 62 of Volatile Vice

Grandfather’s eyebrows are still raised. “Declan will never go for that.”

I sink into my chair. “Which is why you need to convince him.”

“Convince him?” He scowls. “He’ll think you’re a fucking child molester, Vinnie. We’re lucky we have such a good alliance with the McAllisters at all, considering that your father killed one of them.”

I’m not sure what to say to my grandfather. If I tell him that Declan is hurting Belinda, he won’t care. It’s par for the course in his world.

“I think it would be good for my mother,” I say. “She’s very lonely.”

“And you don’t think Declan would be lonely without his daughter?”

I jump to my feet. “I don’t fucking care if Declan will be lonely. Right now he’s hurting her.”

Grandfather’s expression doesn’t change.

Just as I thought.

“And you know this how?”

I can’t tell him. I can’t tell him that Belinda gave me a note and that I talked to the nanny. If I do that, he’ll go straight to Declan, and both Belinda and the nanny will pay the price.

“Never mind.” I cross my arms. “I’m sure she’s fine where she is.”

“Yes, I’m sure she is as well.” He strokes his chin. “Do me a favor, Vincent.”

“What now?”

“Forget about what you think you might know about the child.” He leers over the desk. “And in return, I am going to forgetyouever brought this up. Do we understand each other?”

I look into my grandfather’s cold, watery eyes. Yes, we understand each other perfectly. He knows what’s going on with Belinda, and he doesn’t care.

And he knows someone breached a confidence, which is howIknow.

So he’ll keep quiet… As long asIlet it lie.

“Yes, we understand each other.” I keep my expression noncommittal.

But inside I’m raging. How can he let a young girl suffer? And am I supposed to do that as well? She asked for my help.

No, shebeggedfor it.

And Natalie is risking her job—and probably her life—by trying to protect her little charge.

That little girl should not be in this situation.

She should be working toward a scholarship to Juilliard. For a career as a concert pianist. All that talent will go to waste. She’s being raised to be a quiet child-rearing Mafia wife.

This life is not fair.

It’s not fair to anyone.

Even to my grandfather. I don’t feel sorry for the old bastard, but watching the love of his life suffer could not have been easy. No wonder he had to let his heart turn to stone.

I’ll have to find another way to help Belinda. Without my grandfather’s—or Declan’s—knowledge.

A plan begins to percolate in my mind.

I don’t know if I’ll be able to pull it off, but…

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