Page 24 of Volatile Vice

“At least four hours,” Leif says. “Your parents’ place is bigger than this place, so it’s going to take a little longer. My guys are excellent, as you can see.”

“All right. Lunch in San Antonio and then a movie. I think I can get Mom on board. Right now she’s going to do anything to keep me happy and secure and safe.”

“Right,” Falcon says, “and she won’t want you driving to San Antonio by yourself.”

“Yeah. That’s probably how I’ll have to put it. I’m planning to go into San Antonio for lunch. And to see a movie, and she won’t want me alone.” I let out a short laugh. “Her helicopter parenting has now been put to good use.”

“She’s only worried about you, Raven.”

“She didn’t helicopteryouwhile you were in prison.”

“My life wasn’t in danger in prison.” Falcon’s gaze darkens. “I made sure of that. And it’s not like she had a choice. They don’t just let your mommy come to jail with you.”

I can’t help another laugh. For having been through so much, Falcon has kept his sense of humor like a pro.

“Why don’t you go ahead back to Mom and Dad’s, Ray,” he says. “You can start working on Mom about tomorrow. I’ve got this covered for you.”

“Don’t you have to get home to Savannah?”

“Savannah’s good. She’s busy checking out law schools online.”

“That’s great! She can finally fulfill her dream.”

Falcon smiles. “I hope she can figure out a way to do it. It would probably require driving to Austin every day or if not, doing everything online.”

“That’s the way of the world these days,” I tell him. “I bet there’s a way she could drive in a couple days a week and then take the rest of her classes online. Maybe I’ll go back to school myself.”

Falcon raises his eyebrows. “I thought you were set on your nonprofit?”

Nausea crawls up my throat. “After Brick…”

“That’s not your fault, Raven.”

I close my eyes and swallow. “He was coming to seeme. How do I know that I wasn’t the target? And that he was just killed as a message?”

“I don’t know,” Falcon says. “We’re going to make sure everyone’s taken care of.”

“I don’t want to live my life like that, Falcon.” I run my fingers over my fuzzy head. “I… I’m finally free of my disease. And who knows if it might recur? I want to live every day to its fullest, and that does not mean imprisoning myself inside a house.”

Falcon stares at me.

“Oh, God… I shouldn’t have used that word. Imprison.”

Falcon frowns. “You don’t have to walk on eggshells around me, Ray. I spent eight years in the joint. Everyone knows it. God knows I’ll never forget it. But I’m out now, and I get what you mean exactly. Every day is a gift. I don’t want to be locked up any more than you do.”

I sigh. “I just can’t allow these people to scare me. If I stay away from Vinnie, maybe they’ll let me go.”

“Do youwantto stay away from Vinnie?”

Leif is talking to one of the security technicians. Only my brother will hear my answer if I care to give him the truth.

I bite my lip. “I’ll be honest with you, Falcon. No, I don’t want to stay away from Vinnie.”

Falcon rubs at his forehead. “Do you want to stay alive? Because you almost lost your life once, Raven, and none of us are prepared for that to happen again.”

It’s an interesting question. One that is killing me slowly. Vinnie Gallo may indeed be the love of my life. I’ve certainly felt things with him that I’ve never felt before. I’m nearly thirty years old. I’m not a little girl. I’ve been around the block several times, and I’ve never felt what I’m feeling with Vinnie.

On the other hand, I just got my life back. I spent the last few years wondering if I would live to see another day, and now that I know that I will, I don’t want to give that up either.

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