Victorious Vice (Bellamy Brothers #6)

7. Raven

7

RAVEN

“ F ifty million dollars?”

Next to me, Jared’s brown eyes widen as well.

“I figured you’d be pleased,” Emily says.

“Pleased? I’m flabbergasted.” I rub my eyes just to make sure that I’m not hallucinating. “Where did this money come from?”

Emily smiles. “It came anonymously about an hour before you got here. It’s already been wired into our client trust account.”

“I can’t accept it,” I say. “Not if I don’t know who it’s from.”

Jared turns to me. “Raven, I’m just an old military guy, but even I know you don’t turn your back on that kind of cash.”

My trust fund is worth ten times that. I figured I’d put about a hundred million of my own money into this, and Robbie was good for fifty million. Maybe one of my brothers kicked in to cover the rest.

“You have to tell me,” I say.

“I would if I could,” Emily says. “But like I said, the donation was anonymous.”

“Why would they send it to you? The only person who knows?—”

I close my eyes. “Of course. My father. Who else knew that you were meeting with me today?”

“You could ask him, I suppose,” Emily says.

“Or you could just tell me.”

Her face remains still. She’s good. “I said I can’t. It came in anonymously. It could’ve come from anywhere. But you’re right. Someone knew to send it to me.”

Who else could’ve known? Vinnie’s family probably has that kind of money lying around, but he’s in Colombia. And he’s pretty much turned his back on me.

My mind races to the text I received on that burner phone.

Who was that Uber driver? And why would he be telling me I’m in danger?

“If it bothers you,” Emily says, “you can always decline the donation.”

It doesn’t sit well with me. I feel like someone’s poking me in the back of the neck. But Jared is right. I need to think of the people I can help with this money. The research that can be done on leukemia and other blood cancers.

“That won’t be necessary,” I say. “I just wish there were someone I could thank for their generosity.”

“I understand,” Emily says. “But anonymous donors stay anonymous for a reason. They’re not looking for glory. They’re not looking for gratitude. They simply want to help people.”

I nod. “Okay. We should have plenty of money, especially after our gala, to get some grants set up and really start helping people.”

“That’s another thing we need to talk about,” she says. “How do you want to set up distribution of resources? We have to have parameters or everyone in the country will be asking you for money.”

“Anyone with a blood cancer who needs money should feel free to ask for it,” I say. “Treatment is so expensive, and insurance eventually runs out. Not to mention those people who aren’t insured at all.”

“I understand how much you want to help everyone, Raven,” she says. “But even resources as great as yours are going to be limited. Why don’t I come up with some guidelines, and we can look them over at our first board meeting? Do you have any idea of who you’d like to ask to serve on your board?”

“Well, I guess I’ll be on the board. Along with my sister.”

“Anyone else in your family?”

“Normally I would ask my father, but he’s so busy with everything else. Maybe my brother Falcon. He’s the one who donated his bone marrow to save my life.”

“Yes…” She looks down. “But isn’t he an ex-convict?”

“He’s innocent.”

“He may well be. But in the eyes of society, he spent time on the inside and he’s an ex-convict. I believe he pleaded guilty.”

I stand. “He did, but he…had his reasons.”

“I understand.” Emily raises a hand, gestures me to sit back down. “And I understand how close you are to him. But I would advise against having him on your board.”

I sigh. I hate it, but she’s probably right. “All right. Maybe my brother Hawk then.”

“Or someone not related to you,” she says.

I sink back into the chair. “Who do you suggest?”

“I’d suggest maybe someone in the medical field. An oncologist, or perhaps a researcher.”

“I could ask some of my doctors.”

“That’s certainly a good place to start. They’ll be able to point you toward the people who are doing the cutting-edge research in the field.”

I nod.

“Then you’ll want an attorney, of course.”

“Would you like to be on my board?”

She smiles. “I appreciate the request, but you and I don’t know each other very well yet. Besides, it could be a conflict of interest. Because I’m representing you in getting the nonprofit together, I probably should not sit on the board.”

I nod. I hadn’t thought of that. Boy, am I in over my head.

She shifts through some paperwork. “You said your father was busy. You don’t think he’d have the time?”

“I doubt it.”

“I understand, but he’s the Cooper Steel heir, and an excellent rancher in his own right here in the great state of Texas. He would be a perfect addition to your board.”

“All right. I’ll ask him then.”

My father will never deny me anything, which is the reason I didn’t want to ask. He’ll do it even if he doesn’t have the time.

“So, the gala,” Emily says. “Tell me what you envision for it.”

“I’m not sure entirely,” I admit, tugging at the hem of my blouse. “I was hoping you might have a few ideas. I’ve got the venue locked in, but that’s about it, and we’re running short on time. I want it to be grand. Not just another dull charity ball where people stand around in their designer clothes and talk about how much they’ve donated.”

Emily leans back in her chair. “Grand can be achieved,” she assures me. “How do you feel about live entertainment? Perhaps a notable artist or band?”

I nod. “That sounds fantastic. Do you think we could manage that on such short notice?”

“There’s no harm in trying,” Emily replies. “We might even reel in some extra donations if we auction off a private performance or a meet and greet. I’ll put out some feelers right away.”

“Thank you.”

“Think about your guest list,” she instructs me as we prepare to part ways. “The right mix of people can help create the environment you’re looking for at the gala. And it helps if they’re well-connected.”

“I’ve already sent out ‘save the date’ invitations,” I tell her, “since it’s coming up so quickly. The responses have been great. Of course, having my father’s name attached doesn’t hurt.”

“That’s a good move,” she says. “Leveraging your family name will not only attract potential donors but reputable professionals as well. But try to think beyond the immediate, Raven. The gala is a launchpad for your foundation, and you want it to make waves.”

“But why? Isn’t the aim just to raise funds?”

She shakes her head. “Raising funds is certainly one of the goals. But more importantly, we need to raise awareness. People won’t donate if they don’t know about the cause or respect it. Your gala should show them that you’re serious about making a difference.”

A stab of apprehension hits my gut. “I hadn’t really thought about it like that. I’m not sure how to get people to take me seriously.”

“They will,” she says. “You’ve got passion, and that’s more than half the battle won. Now we just need to channel that passion into something tangible and compelling. Your story, your survival, and your dedication to helping others is already inspiring. Now it’s about spreading that inspiration wider.”

I nod, even as a nagging worry tugs at the back of my mind. I hope she’s right, but the fear of failure is hard to shake off. It’s one thing to dream big. It’s another to bring those dreams to life.

“Remember,” Emily says. “You’re not alone in this. We’re going to build a solid team around you, and I’ll be there every step of the way.”

“Thank you, Emily,” I say. “This has been amazing. Is there anything else we need to take care of this afternoon?’“

“I think we’re in good shape,” she says. “Think about board members. We don’t need to fill all the chairs in time for the gala. In fact, the gala itself will be a good place to gauge interest from people who may want to serve. But we need a skeleton board to get started. You, your sister and your father will be a good start, along with someone in the medical field.”

“Got it.” I rise. “Thanks so much.”

“Of course, Raven.” She rises as well, extending her hand to me. “It’s a pleasure assisting you with such a noble cause.”

I shake her hand, and then she escorts Jared and me through the office to the exit.

Once we step out into the humid Texas afternoon, my phone buzzes in my pocket.

My breath catches as I read it.

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