Page 33 of Victorious Vice

Falcon continues showing me around. The house has three bedrooms. He demonstrates how to properly shut the blackout curtains in each room.

“Don’t allow any light in, Ray,” he says.

“Guess I’ll have to get a spray tan before the gala.”

“For Christ’s sake, I know you don’t want to be here, but would you take this seriously?” Falcon sighs. “Each bedroom is equipped with a wall safe as well, for storing important documents or sensitive materials. I’ll leave a couple grand in cash in each one.”

He then shows me a large closet that houses medical supplies, and the security room, which has access to telemedicine. Attached to each room is its own en suite own bathroom facility with a shower, toilet, and basic toiletries.

And of course, the most important thing?—

“The house possesses a massive backup generator in case of interrupted powers or power outage,” Falcon says. “We’re in Texas, after all, and keeping the house cool is necessary.”

“What about candles, matches, everything else?”

“It’s all here,” Falcon says. “Hawk and I put a lot of thought into this house. You have to remember, Ray. I was in prison. I didn’t have a whole hell of a lot to do.”

I gesture to a door off the kitchen. “Where does that lead?”

“Basement,” he says. “It mostly serves as an underground bunker, but there’s also a home gym and a shooting range.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Shooting range? Really? Won’t that alert people around that someone is here?”

“The house has been fully soundproofed and has extraordinary measures to prevent any kind of eavesdropping.”

So no one will be able to hear me if I scream. Lovely.

“Escape routes and safe exits are built in, allowing you to leave discreetly in case of emergency.” Falcon hands me a notebook. “They’re all outlined in here.”

I flip through a few pages of the notebook. The details are extensive, to say the least.

“Is the house staffed with any security personnel?”

Falcon shakes his head. “The fewer people who know we’re here, the better.”

Already I feel isolated.

Goosebumps pop up and down my arms. “Falcon, I don’t think I can do this. After all those years I spent going from one hospital to the next, and then when I was home, isolated in my room. Not able to go out, unable to see the sun.”

Falcon wraps his massive arm around my shoulders. “I know, Ray. I’m sorry. But we can’t take the chance. Not with these threats you’ve been getting.”

“But why would I be getting threats?” I pace the area. “Vinnie and I aren’t together anymore. He left me. He’s in Colombia doing some deal.”

“Vinnie may have left you,” Falcon says, “but that doesn’t mean his feelings for you went away. Right now, the Gallo enemies see you as a way to control Vinnie. It’s not fair, and I hate it with every cell in my body. But it’s the way it is, Raven. I almost lost you once, and I won’t do it again.”

“Fine.” I sit down on the loveseat. “I’ll do what you think is best. But Iwillbe out of here in time for my gala. You say Savannah and Robbie will do the footwork. My attorney Emily can help. CJ can help as well.”

“Christ, Raven, you told CJ you were here?”

“No.” I sneer at him. “I didn’t tell anyone. I’ll just tell them all that I’m not feeling great, and my doctors told me I need to rest. And that I need some people to help with the footwork.”

Falcon nods. “That’s smart, Raven.”

“It’s awful.” I cross my arms. “Robbie will freak out about it, I’m sure. She’ll be afraid I’m getting sick again. I’ll have to tell her some bullshit story about trying to do too much too soon.”

“That could easily be true,” Falcon says. “Youhavebeen overexerting yourself, Ray.”

I shake my head. “It’s not true. And I haven’t done anything that I wasn’t fully capable of handling. I made a promise to myself when I got well, Falcon. I promised I’d watch the sunrise and the sunset every day. Smell every flower I came across.” I look around the windowless room. “How can I do that in here?”

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