Page 92 of Volatile Vice

“I’m here to see Mr. Bellamy.”

She cocks her head. “Do you have an appointment with him?”

“I don’t, but I think he’ll see me.” I hold out my hand and give her my card. “I’m Vincent Gallo Junior.”

She reads the card, her forehead wrinkled. She looks back into the house. “I’ll need to check and see if he’s in the house. Sometimes he’s in the barns. But I know he’s on property today.”

“Good. Find him. I’m sure he’ll see me.”

“All right.” She takes a few steps inside and gestures down the foyer. “Would you like to come in and wait in the living room?”

“Yes, that would be fine. Thank you.”

She holds the door open for me and I walk in. The house is huge. A great big ranch house. Much different from my parents’ home in Austin, though just as large.

She gestures to the living room. “Have a seat. Can I get you anything to drink?”

“I’m fine, but thank you for the offer.”

The woman I recognize as Raven’s mother walks in. She narrows her gaze when she sees me.

“Lucy, who is?—”

“Mrs. Bellamy,” Lucy, apparently, says. “This gentleman wants to see Mr. Bellamy.”

“Whatever for?” She walks toward me and offers her hand. “I’m Star Bellamy.”

Star Bellamy is a beautiful woman. Her skin is dark, about the same color as mine—different from Raven’s fair skin. She must get that from her father. But the dark eyes, that mesmerizing, beautiful stare, she gets from the woman before me.

“I’m Vincent Gallo Junior,” I say. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Bellamy.”

“Oh?” Her eyes widen. “You’re Savannah’s brother.”

“I am.”

“I’m sorry.” She presses her lips together, looking me up and down. “You don’t look anything like Savannah.”

“No. I look more like my mother. Savannah takes after our father.”

“Well… Welcome to our home, Mr. Gallo.”

“You can call me Vinnie, ma’am.”

“Of course. Vinnie. Austin should be back soon.”

“I’d like to wait, if possible. It’s very important.”

She parts her lips slightly. “Is… Is Raven all right?”

I nod quickly. “Yes, she’s at the hospital. My mother… She had a heart attack yesterday.”

“I’m so sorry. Is she all right?”

“She had a triple bypass this morning. She’s out of recovery and has been moved to ICU. Falcon and Savannah are with her. And Raven is still there.”

She places her hand over her heart. “My Raven… There never was a more caring soul. All that time she was sick and all she ever worried about was how the rest of us were coping.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

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