Page 99 of Victorious Vice

Dad shakes his head gravely. “I have no idea. After your grandmother died, we placed her jewelry in a safe deposit box.” His hands tremble. "Someone must have taken it out and gotten it engraved.”

I place a hand over my mouth. “I didn’t make any bids. I thought it was kind of a conflict of interest, you know? So when they called my name…” I shake my head.

“You didn’t know this was in the auction?”

“No. I really only knew about the big-ticket items. Robin and Emily made most of the arrangements for the silent auction. I figured this item was just something that had fallen through the cracks. But Daddy…”

“What, sweetheart?”

“This isn’t the first time I’ve gotten this message.” I grab my phone, pull up the requisite text, and show it to him.

He glares at it, his hands curling into fists. “Now do you understand why I want you here? Safe?”

I gulp as I nod.

“Damn that Vinnie Gallo,” Dad says. “He’s been nothing but trouble.”

I don’t respond.

I don’t know how to.

I love Vinnie. I love him with all my heart and soul. So much that I’m not sure I can ever love another man.

I’m destined to become an old spinster.

Eventually moving back home with my ageing parents.

Hell, I’m here already.

I can’t let my life become this.

“I want to go home, Daddy.”

“Raven, not an hour ago, you said you would stay.”

I sigh. “Yes, and I will. I don’t want you and Mom worrying about me. Doesn’t change the fact that Iwantto go home.”

“I understand, sweetheart.” He puts the pendant back in the box. “I need to take this. Have my investigators look at it. See if we can pull any fingerprints off of it.”

“Sure. Of course. I didn’t pay for it.”

“Somebody did and put it in your name. Did you happen to see what the final bid was?”

“I didn’t look. Since I technically won it, I didn’t have to check out. They all know I’m good for the money. It’s my nonprofit, after all.”

“I need to look into this,” he says. “Is there anything I can get you?”

“How about?—”

“An Orange Crush?” he finishes for me.

I sigh, nodding. “Yes, please. I could use a drop of sunshine right about now.”

34

VINNIE

I’m still in the office when Phyllis peeks through my cracked door. “Mr. Gallo? Your grandfather is here.”

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