Page 83 of Victorious Vice

“Because,” he says, clearing his throat, “Raven is there.”

I cock my head. “Why is she atyourhouse?”

“Her bodyguard had instructions to take her there. Either there or to the safe house, and the only reason I’m mentioning that is because apparently you know all about it.”

“Youknow about it?”

He exhales sharply. “Jared and I don’t have any secrets. Though he came to us through Falcon’s friend Leif Ramsey, I’m the one paying his bills. So when he found out about the safe house that Falcon and Hawk had constructed after Falcon went to prison, I found out as well.”

I scratch the side of my head. “What the hell is your game, Bellamy?”

We walk out of the hotel, where Bellamy’s car waits for us. His driver opens the back seat, and Bellamy gestures me to get in.

Though I don’t trust this man as far as I can throw him, I don’t feel that I’m in any imminent danger. The skin on the back of my neck isn’t icy cold, and my heart isn’t racing.

He slides in the seat next to me and grabs a bottle of amber liquid from the console. “Bourbon?”

I nod.

He pours me a finger as the car begins to roll.

He gestures to the partition dividing us from his chauffeur. “We can speak freely. This is soundproofed, though I trust my driver without question.”

I take a sip of the bourbon. It’s good, smooth stuff. Only the best for the Cooper Steel heir, of course.

Just like only the best for Mario Bianchi.

And his son.

“So where do I start?” he asks, more to himself than to me.

“At the beginning. Start at the beginning, Austin.”

He raises his eyebrows at my use of his first name. “Good enough, Vinnie.” He clicks his glass to mine. “Cheers.”

I don’t return his toast. Hardly seems like acheersmoment.

“You told me the last time we talked, at my office at home, that you had found information on me on the dark web. Records that were expunged when I turned eighteen.”

“Yes. But I don’t hold that against you.”

“I didn’t think you would. Just like I don’t hold against you the fact that you’ve killed. Twice.”

I let out a dull laugh. “So we both do our research. I wouldn’t expect anything less from either of us.”

Bellamy chuckles lightly. “It’s a shame, Vinnie. If you weren’t the grandson of Mario Bianchi, I’d really like you.”

I glare at him. “I can’t say the same, Austin. Anyone who does business with drugs—and God knows what else—isn’t someone I respect.”

This time he chuckles louder. “But isn’t that whatyou’redoing? You weren’t down in Colombia for your health.”

“No, I was down in Colombia to set a plan in motion.”

He doesn’t need to know that I didn’t come up with the plan until I actually got there and found Serena and Daniela.

“So you think you can take out your grandfather?”

“It’s not a matter of whether I think I can do it,” I reply. “It’s necessary. I can’t let this go on. It cost me my brother, my father, and now my mother. It nearly cost me my sister. The woman your son loves.”

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