Page 15 of Volatile Vice

“I can’t believe something like this would happen at their house, though. Why didn’t anyone call me?”

“Mom and Dad called Hawk to pick me up at my place this morning. I guess they didn’t want to bother you. I mean, you’ve been through so much and all.”

“Fuck…”

“But you’re right. I’m okay. Mom and Dad are okay.” My stomach twists into a sailor’s knot. “I can’t say the same for Brick Latham.”

“I’m on my way.”

“No,” I say. “Please. You and Savannah need to?—”

“Damn it, Ray, I’m still a member of this family. I’m coming over.”

“Fine. Come over. In fact, call Leif. I need a favor.”

“What for?”

“I’ve been back at my house the last couple of days. Trying to get ready to move back in.”

“Already?”

“Yeah. I need to get back on my feet. But the issue is…”

God, how do I even say this?

“Yeah?”

“I need Leif to come take a look. Do a sweep. Make sure no one has been… I don’t know…”

“Raven, do you think someone’s watching you?”

“Maybe. Someone killed Brick, and Brick was coming to see me. And last night I had a feeling… You know that feeling you get when you feel like you’re not alone?”

“Yeah, I know it all too well. You learn how to be hyperaware when you’re in the slammer. Believe me.”

“God, Falcon… This is why no one wanted to call you. You’ve been through enough.”

“Hey, it’s over. And thanks to Vinnie, we have time to deal with everything else so that I don’t go back.”

Goosebumps erupt on my body. “Should we even be talking like this? On this line?”

“Probably not. Tell you what. I’ll get Leif, and we’ll meet you at your place. About an hour. Will that work?”

My mother will no doubt question me about where I’m going, but I want this done as soon as possible. “Yeah, that will work fine. See you then.”

4

VINNIE

“It’s done,” I say to my grandfather as soon as I sit down in the chair facing his desk in the morning.

“Yes, I got word.”

I keep my eyebrows fixed, resisting the urge to let them fly off my forehead.

Don’t show surprise.

Never show surprise to my grandfather. Of course he was watching me. I’d be a fool to think otherwise. That drone last night at Raven’s place? That was all him. When I texted him to call it off, it went away.