Page 48 of Victorious Vice

“Perfect. If you’re done, I’ll pack up, and you can be on your way.”

“Yes, the gala is in San Antonio. Not quite as far away as Austin.”

“I’m sure it will be a lovely affair.”

I can’t help myself. I walk swiftly toward her and give her a hug. “Thank you. Thank you for helping me to remember that I’m beautiful.”

“You’re radiant,” she says. “You have lovely thick dark hair, and fine features. But even if you didn’t have that, your radiance comes from inside, Raven. Anyone can see it. And no one can cover it up.”

Once the stylists are gone, I take another look at myself.

I’m glad she thinks I’m radiant. All I think and think about is that I haven’t seen the sun for so long. When I got to leave that bunker this morning, I just wanted to stand in the daylight and do nothing.

That’s what I’ll do tomorrow. After the festivities.

No way am I going back to that safe house. I’m going to lie in the sun all day.

Someone knocks on my door. It’s Jared, of course. No one else is here. I open it.

His dark eyes widen. “You look amazing.”

“You’re not so bad yourself.” He fills out his tuxedo perfectly with his muscled body.

“Your brother has arrived.”

“All right. I’m ready.”

Hawk is maybe the most handsome of all my brothers. The tallest of the three at six foot five, he’s the only one to inherit our father’s eyes. With his tanned skin tone and black hair, they stand out in a brilliant sky blue.

His tux is jet black, of course, with silver button covers, and around his neck is an emerald-green bow tie.

“No bolo?” I tease him.

“God, no. I hate those things. I can’t believe Dad still wears them.”

I giggle. “Well, he’s a Texan through and through.”

He smiles at me. “You look gorgeous, sis.”

“Thank you. I wasn’t sure the stylist would be able to do much with my hair, but I’m amazed.”

He squints. “And your eyebrows, they’re all grown back.”

“Pretty much.” I take out a compact and admire them. “Just a little help from an eyebrow pencil.”

“And are those your lashes?”

“Falsies,” I say. “But mine are coming back in strong.”

We leave my house, and a black limo stands out front.

I turn to my bodyguard, raising a penciled-in eyebrow. “You’re not driving us, Jared?”

“Nope,” he says. “Your brothers insisted that you go in style tonight.”

“That’s wonderful,” I say. “You can come with us. That way you don’t have to drive.”

He smirks. “I know what my job is, Raven. You won’t be out of my sight all night, and that includes the drive. I’ll be right across from you.”

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