Page 108 of Volatile Vice

I sigh. My brother is no doubt right. The nanny knows and has been trying to help her for ages, I’m sure. Social services would have been her first call.

But it just pains me to think of what may be happening to that little girl.

Why does he dress her like that? She’s eleven. Not seven.

“Are you ready, Raven?” Jared asks.

“Yeah. Let’s go home.”

* * *

I don’t stopat my parents’ house on the way home. Instead, I instruct Jared to take me to my own home. It’s time I move in and get on with my life. I’m perfectly safe here with the state-of-the-art security and, of course, Jared.

Once I’m home, I tell Jared I’m going to my room to do some work on my foundation.

Brick got me started, but now it’s time for me to use my name and make some phone calls.

I need funding, and I want to begin with a big gala.

I’ll foot the bill myself from my own trust fund.

It’s time to let Vinnie go.

And concentrate on my own life, what’s important to me.

He has his job to do.

And so do I.

36

VINNIE

Iget back to the hospital, and my grandfather and Declan McAllister are no longer there. Falcon is sitting in the waiting area.

“Just you?”

He looks up at me, his gaze wary. His tone is artificially even as he speaks to me. “Savannah’s in with your mother. She’s coming in and out of consciousness. I’m sure she’ll be happy to see you.”

I walk back to my mother’s room.

Savannah is sitting next to the bed, holding onto my mother’s frail hand. “Hey, Vinnie,” she says.

“Hey.” I squeeze her shoulder. “Why don’t you go? I’ll sit with her for a while. I’m sorry I was gone for so long.”

“She’ll be happy to see you.” She lets out a light laugh. “She was even pretty happy to see me.”

“She loves you, Sav. You know that.”

“I know. I just have to accept the fact that women aren’t as valuable as men in her world.”

I lean in and lower my voice. “Her world won’t be around for much longer if I have anything to say about it.”

She lets go of Mom’s hand and rises. “I’ll go sit with Falcon for a while in the waiting area. Let me know if she wakes up or if you need me for anything.”

“Will do.” I take the chair where Savannah was sitting. “And Sav?”

She turns in the doorway. “Yeah?”