Page 57 of Volatile Vice

He doesn’t so much as flinch. “I can have three goons in here in the next second if you even attempt to try.”

I don’t doubt his words. Still, the other day, I grabbed him by his collar and pulled him toward me, threatening him, and he didn’t call his goons.

Which means he doesn’t consider me a threat.

He should reconsider that stance.

“So go ahead and try, Vincent,” he goads me.

“Stay the hell away from the Bellamys and I won’t have to.”

He cocks his head. “You expect me to stay away from them, yet you don’t. The lovely Ms. Bellamy showed up at your mother’s house last night.”

“She did.” I don’t bother to lie. He’s obviously having me watched. “But she came of her own accord.”

“You didn’t make her leave.”

“No, I didn’t.” I stand up again. “I’m not a fucking asshole. She had dinner with Mom and me. And Mom loved her, by the way.”

He scoffs. “Your mother is useless.”

“My mother is your only child, old man.”

He doesn’t reply.

Why should he? We both know she is.

We both know he was disgusted that his wife could only give him one child, and a girl at that.

“My mother is still my mother,” I say. “And you will treat her with respect.”

“Whether I deem her worthy of my respect depends on you, Vincent.”

“Why would your respect for my mother have anything to do with me?” I ask. “She’s your child, damn it. She gave you three grandchildren. That alone should make her worthy of your respect.”

He shrugs. “We’ll see, Vincent. We’ll see.”

“Fine. Hate my mother. Hate the whole fucking world for all I care. Just stay away from the Bellamys.”

He raises an eyebrow. “If you stay away from them, so will I.”

He wants me to say it. He wants me to stay away from Raven. I’ll try like hell, but I can’t control what she does. That woman does whatever the hell she wants. I wish I could be annoyed by her stubbornness, but I actually find it a pretty attractive trait.

I narrow my gaze at my grandfather. “So that’s the deal? You leave them alone ifIdo?”

“That’s the deal.”

“I don’t buy it, pops. Savannah is a Bellamy now. And I’m not staying away from my sister.”

He frowns. “Then don’t expect the Bellamys to get a free pass. Savannah made her choice. Now you need to make yours, Vincent.”

Chills skitter over my flesh.

I’m used to my grandfather making demands of me. I’m used to his serpentine horror. I’m used to him ordering me around, and I’m used to him not trusting me.

Has he truly turned his back on Savannah?

And what about his daughter? And her husband, my father?