Page 120 of Victorious Vice

He follows me down the hallway to my father’s room.

Dad’s eyes are still open, and Mom is wiping his forehead with a cool towel. His head is bandaged.

“I’m back, Daddy,” I say. “Vinnie is with me.”

“Thank you.” Dad tries to clear the hoarseness from his throat. “I need to talk to Vinnie alone.”

“Daddy…”

“Go, Raven.” He looks at Mom. “You too, Star.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Mom says.

“Please,” Dad says. “It’s only for a minute. Please.”

Mom stands, gulping. She looks at me, her forehead wrinkled, her eyes sunken and sad. Is she looking for reassurance? I have none to give.

“Come on.” I take Mom’s hand and lead her out. “Everything will be okay.”

Mom grabs a tissue and dabs her eyes. “How could he do this, Ray? Why would he do this?”

I don’t reply.

Because I have no answer.

42

VINNIE

Bellamy’s skin is pale, but he otherwise looks strong. His physique is still muscular, and but for the bandage over his head, he looks okay.

“I’m here, Austin,” I say.

“Thank you, Vinnie.”

“For what?”

“For what I’m about to ask you to do.”

I raise an eyebrow. “And what’s that?”

He grits his teeth. “Finish what I started.”

I drop my jaw.

Did I hear him right? He just asked me to kill him?

“Before you say no,” he continues, “I know all about you. I know what you’ve done. What you will do.”

There’s no way he knows about the plan in the works for Agudelo, Vega, McAllister, and the others.

So what the hell is he talking about?

“Yes, you’ve made it clear you’re aware of my past. But the answer is no. And you knew damned well it would be no.”

“It’s the only way I can save my family,” he says.

“Look. I know what you’ve gotten yourself into. You may not have had a choice. You mayhavehad a choice but got seduced by the money.”

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