Page 21 of Volatile Vice

“Shut up, Vincent. You’re younger than I am, stronger than I am, maybe even smarter than I am. But I’ve got something you don’t have.” He narrows his cold, dark eyes. “The wisdom of a lifetime lived. I’m about to share some of that wisdom with you.”

“Fine,” I huff, resisting an eye roll.

“I was young once. Younger than you. There was a time, believe it or not, when I wanted to leave the family.”

I open my mouth to speak but he holds up a hand.

“Please. Let me finish.”

I widen my eyes. Did my grandfather just say please?

“So,” he continues, “I decided I might be the one to leave. That I might be the one to break away. And you want to know why?”

“Not particularly.”

“Jesus Christ, Vincent. Believe it or not, I’m trying to help you here.”

“Fine. Go on. I won’t interrupt you again.”

“Damn right you won’t.” He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath before continuing. “I was promised in marriage to a woman much younger than me. Your grandmother. I was in a situation much like you find yourself in now, although I was younger than you are. I was twenty-five years old, and my betrothed was fifteen. We were to marry when she turned eighteen. But during those years, I was young. Young and full of life and—to put it crudely—horny as hell.”

Oh God. Do I really have to hear about my grandfather’s sex life?

“I met a young woman. Her name was Serena Deville. She was twenty-two years old, had just finished college, and had a vision. She wanted to change the world.”

Change the world? Who the fuckdoesn’twant to change this world? But I stay silent.

“She was so vibrant and full of life. Beautiful too, with the palest blond hair and the brightest blue eyes I’d ever seen.”

Grandfather closes his eyes then, and a look of—is it serenity?—crosses his face. I can’t imagine my grandfather ever being serene. But something softens his face.

“Our meeting was anything but romantic. She was walking down the street, not looking where she was going with her nose in a book, and she ran into me. Her book fell to the ground. I reached down, picked it up, and handed it to her.”

“Is this a real story or a scene out of a romantic comedy?”

He ignores me.

“When I looked into her eyes… I just knew.” His eyes soften in a way I’ve never seen them before. “She was someone I needed in my life. Then she smiled at me, thanked me for picking up her book, and apologized for running into me. I knew I shouldn’t, but I had to see her again. So I asked if she’d like to get a cup of coffee.” He pauses.

Just when I’m about to say something he starts talking again.

“My father found out we were seeing each other. He told me to let her go. I told him it was just sex. I was using her. After all, I couldn’t touch my intended until she turned eighteen. It was not as if I was expected to remain chaste until our wedding. But your grandfather?—”

“You’re my grandfather.”

He clears his throat. “Yourgreat-grandfather knew. He knew it was something more. He knew I had developed feelings for Serena. Feelings that got in the way of the business we did. Feelings that threatened my place in the organization.”

He stops again.

Already I know what’s coming.

“I refused.” His entire body deflates slightly. “And I suppose you can guess what happened next.”

“She was taken care of?”

“Worse, Vinnie. Much worse.”

I wait, expecting him to go into detail.

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