Page 76 of Victorious Vice

Even the raven can’t fly forever. Sooner or later, it comes home to die.

“Ray? You okay?”

Jared comes toward me. “Raven?”

I grab his arm. “I need to go home. Now.”

“All right.” He furrows his brow. “But I thought you wanted to?—”

I shove the velvet box at him. “Read the back.”

He fingers the pendant in his large hands, and his eyes widen. “Yeah. We’re out of here.”

“Ray?” Robin’s eyebrows are arched.

“Everything’s fine,” I say. “Just… Tell Emily I wasn’t feeling well. But I have to leave.” I grab her hands. “I love you, Robbie. Thank you for everything for tonight.”

“What am I supposed to tell Mom and Dad?”

I glance around the ballroom. It’s after midnight now, and about half of the guests have already left. Those who haven’t areeither still on the dance floor, paying for their auction purchases, or still seated at their tables, my mother among them.

I don’t see my father.

“The same thing. That I’m not feeling well. I’ll be in touch.”

Jared ushers me through the ballroom. I glance around, looking for Vinnie. He seems to have disappeared again.

Jared’s hand on my back is steadying as we navigate through the maze of tables. A million questions whirl in my mind, none of them with any clear answers. The engraving on the pendant continues to throb in my thoughts.

Finally, we reach the hotel lobby and walk out the grand entrance, where the limo waits. Jared helps me into the car.

The ride home is quiet, punctuated by the rhythmic hum of the engine. I grip the velvet box that holds the pendant in my pocket, my mind exhausted and whirling at the same time. The limo stops, and Jared ushers me into an SUV, climbing in next to me and hissing directions at the driver. I don’t have the energy to listen to what he says.

My mind is racing, and I don’t realize how long we’ve been driving until Jared nudges me. “We’re here.”

I jerk back to reality, expecting to see my home on the Bellamy property.

But no.

“No!” I cry.

We’re back at the safe house.

“I can’t,” I say. “I can’t be here again.”

Jared’s eyes soften. “It’s the only way we can be assured that you’re safe.”

“Safe?” I scoff. “I’m never safe, Jared. Not anymore.”

“Raven…”

“Just drive,” I snap. “Tell him to drive anywhere but here.”

Jared closes his eyes and takes a deep breath in. “Fine.” He nods to the driver.

I close my eyes again, and when the car stops, I open them.

And again.

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