Page 86 of Victorious Vice

“Yes, we’ve met.” Vinnie shakes Jared’s hand.

“Daddy, Vinnie, what’s going on?” I demand, placing my hands on my hips.

My heart is beating a mile a minute just being in Vinnie’s presence again. I ache between my legs for him.

“Jared tells me you want to go back to your house,” Dad says.

“Yes, and I don’t appreciate being held here against my will.” I cross my arms. “Falcon and Leif saw that I had the best security installed.”

“Yes, but Raven, your safety is paramount,” Dad says.

I look at Vinnie, pleading with my eyes.

“You don’t really expect me to disagree with your father, do you?” Vinnie says.

I drop my jaw.

“Well, no… I just guess…”

“Vinnie and I need to talk,” Dad says. “We have unfinished business to discuss. For now, Raven, I’d like you to stay here.”

“Where’s Mom?” I ask.

“She and Robin booked a suite at the hotel for the evening. She knew she’d be tired, and Robin and I thought that was best.”

“Why?” I dart my gaze around the room. “Why can’t my mother be in her home? What the hell is going on here, Daddy?”

“Let’s just all go to bed,” Dad says. “You and I will talk in the morning, Vinnie. It’s been a long night, and Raven, you especially had a big evening.”

“Stop coddling me!” I turn to Vinnie. “And before you say something,youstop coddling me too. You say you can’t be with me for my own safety. Why don’tIget a say in that, Vinnie? Why don’t I get a say in anything? All three of you think you know what’s better for me than I do.” I raise my arms to either side of my body. “I’ve got news for you. I’ve faced down worse enemies than any that are out there. Cancer had a gun pointed at my heart for three years, and I beat it.”

“Oh, sweetheart,” Dad says. “If only it were that simple.”

I scoff. “Do you think anything about living with cancer has been simple?”

“You’re forgetting something, Raven,” he says. “You lived with it. It ravaged your body. You were the one who was sick in bed. But your mother and I lived with it too. For those three years, your cancer ate away atourbodies, too. Either one of us would’ve taken your place in a minute.”

“I fail to see what that has to?—”

“Raven,” Vinnie interrupts this time. “I understand what your father is saying. He’s saying he would’ve died for you in an instant, and so would I. And so would Jared.”

“Jared is paid well to protect me.”

“Doesn’t matter. He would still take a bullet for you. Cancer is anything but simple, but at least you had a chance against it. And you beat it.” He crosses the room, takes my face in his hands. “You don’t have a chance against a literal gun pointed at your heart, Raven. Or pointed at your head. Not with someone who’s ready to shoot. Who’s been paid to do a job.”

I slap his hands away from my head. “I’m still standing. No one has shot me yet.”

Vinnie sighs. “You know what? Your father’s right. We all need a break. Please. Go to bed.”

“I won’t sleep in that room,” I say.

“No,” Vinnie says. “Sleep in a guestroom. With me.”

My father steps forward then, his fists clenching. “You’re not going to sleep with my daughter in this house.”

“Fine.” Vinnie rolls his eyes. “Your house, your rules. But I agree with you. No one’s in any immediate danger here. Let’s call it a night. We can all figure things out in the morning. But I have a phone call to make first.”

“Vinnie…” I grab his arm.

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