Page 94 of Volatile Vice

“Absolutely,” I say with a smile. “I appreciate the invitation.”

“Star always says everyone is welcome at our table.” He gestures to my place. “Please, have a seat.”

He holds out the chair for his wife.

I expected as much.

Austin Bellamy is known as a rancher and a gentleman. From what I can tell anyway. Since Savannah is marrying into the family, I’ve done my research.

Part of me hopes I’m wrong.

But part of me hopes I’m right.

Because if I’m not, someone else was behind the murder of that lawyer. And if it wasn’t my grandfather…

Who the hell was it?

“We don’t stand on ceremony at lunchtime,” Mrs. Bellamy says. “Just help yourself. Guests first, of course.”

“Obliged,” I say. I grab a burger from the plate and place it on a bun. I add some lettuce, tomato, and just a tiny bit of onion. Then some ketchup and mustard.

I wait until Mr. and Mrs. Bellamy serve themselves, and then I take a bite.

“Delicious,” I say after I wipe my mouth with my napkin.

“Bellamy beef. It’s the best,” Mr. Bellamy says.

“You might be right about that, sir.”

He laughs. “Please, call me Austin.”

“Of course. And you may call me Vinnie.”

Austin takes another bite of his burger. “So, Vinnie. How are you finding the state of Texas now that you’re home?”

“It’s hot,” I say.

Austin laughs. “It is that.”

“When I left for Europe, our family was still living on Long Island. Texas is new to me. But I like what I see so far. It’s a beautiful state.”

“It is indeed. Everything is bigger and better in Texas, as they say.” Austin takes a bite of his burger.

“Would you care for fruit salad, Vinnie?” Star hands me a crystal bowl filled with a mixture of cantaloupe, watermelon, grapes, raspberries, and blueberries.

“Thank you.” I scoop some onto my plate and hand it to Austin.

“We can’t thank you enough,” Star says, “for what you’ve done for Falcon.”

I resist the urge to lift my eyebrows. How much do they know about what Falcon went through at the hand of my family?

“All I need to know is that Savannah loves him,” I say.

“Good man,” Austin says.

I simply nod and take another bite of my burger.

Good man. Will he be saying the same after he and I have our talk?

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