Children of Vice

by J. J. McAvoy

  “What are you trying to say?” she said calmly, though her blue eyes glared at me in rage. “I’m a spy? Are you fucking insane?”

  “I’ve agreed to marry a woman with almost nothing to offer.” I leaned in, our faces barely an inch apart. “My sanity must be questioned. Just as your loyalty must be.”

  “No,” she replied, doing her best to push me away. However, I didn’t budge.

  “Your father was a liar—”

  SLAP.

  “Call my father a liar to my face and I will slit your throat!” she threatened, breathing through her nose.

  “Your father was—”

  SLAP. “Shut up!”

  My cheek burned. However, I ignored it, grabbing onto her wrist before she’d make her third mistake.

  “Your father—”

  “My father loved my mother the same way your father loved yours!” She snapped, and I froze, just staring at her, so annoyed, I wanted to bash her head in.

  “Don’t ever…” I squeezed her wrist. “EVER. Put my parents on the level of yours.”

  “Why?” She stood up to me. “Because they were rich, famous, and powerful? While mine were poor, typical, and insignificant? Did it matter, though? My mother died suddenly like yours—”

  “I’m warning you!” I grabbed onto her throat. However, she didn’t back down. She held her head higher.

  “And my father was heartbroken like yours. He died with her and left me walking around with a shell of a person until he finally died too…at least you know your father went on his own terms.”

  “ENOUGH!” I slammed her into the door.

  She just glared at me. “If you got a message from your father and he told you the person who killed your mother wasn’t who you thought it was…but was someone else, would you question it? My father loved my mother, and he’d rather die than lie to me. The moment I saw that video I knew it was the truth. I knew it with every fiber of my being. I just couldn’t accept it. At first because it meant he allowed me to hate the wrong people. He allowed me to trust the wrong ones too and that is how my whole life was ruined! For the last seven years I’ve been in hell because he let me trust them. Because they were family. Do you know what that feels like? Believe me, it hurts much more than being slammed into the door by you.”

  Letting go of her neck, I took a step back. She inhaled deeply and then walked toward the vanity mirror, wiping the corners of her eyes and inspecting her neck.

  “You don’t trust me, fine,” she whispered, reapplying her makeup. “But I’m sure the only reason you chose me is to stop the rebellion that’s growing…so I’m not worthless. And I’m here because I want Cillian, Elroy, Rory, Shay, my dad’s old friend Michael, along with a guard at the prison dead. That is my list.”

  Annoyed with her and myself, I lifted her chin up to see her neck.

  “This won’t happen again.”

  “I don’t care,” she shot back. “My list. Can you do it or not?”

  I simply nodded, lifting my arm for her to take. She glared at me before linking arms.

  “I should have believed you the first time. You’re not romantic at all,” she muttered when I opened the door…only to be met with Toby’s confused stupid face as he glanced between us.

  Just then his words came back to mind. “You have a tendency to come off…cold, daunting, and threatening.”

  I didn’t come off as anything…I simply was. I had to be.

  IVY

  The cameras were nearly blinding as we walked down the grand staircase, forcing me to grip onto him tighter until we reached the last step where we both posed for the photographer. Forcing myself to smile, I remembered what Nari had said about queens smiling even when they wanted to scream. Who’d think I’d have to do that so soon. I could feel everyone staring, whispering…

  “Ivy, you look beautiful.” His grandmother, Evelyn, was the first to approach us when the photographer moved aside, dressed in a champagne-colored gown. She hugged me, forcing me to release Ethan.

  “Thank you. I’m so glad I’m worthy to be seen in your presence,” I whispered, hugging her back. When we pulled back the corners of her lips turned up in a small smile.

  “Do I get hello, Grandmother? After all, it is my birthday.” He drew her attention to that, and Evelyn rolled her eyes.

  “Always the attention king.” She made a face at him.

  “Of course, I learned from you,” he replied, leaning in to kiss her cheek and when he stepped back, I put my arm back around his arm. I noticed once again he stiffened and then relaxed.

  “And here I thought you learned from me?” The goddess that was Donatella stepped up next, dressed in black. “I tried so hard to be the show stopper. Ivy, you’ve stolen my thunder.”

  “Thank you, Donatella, I’m sure once everyone has gotten over the novelty of me you’ll take your rightful place as the center of attention,” I replied and our eyes locked.

  She stared me down what felt like hours but were truthfully seconds before she laughed.

  “You’re forgiven. Ethan, bring her out more so she isn’t so new and shiny anymore.”

  “I’ll take note. Wyatt?” he asked, and both women gave him a look, and he dropped it, moving forward, taking me with him.

  We met his cousins, Nari standing among them in a red floral print dress.

  “We aren’t worthy!” Darcy and Sedric, who both wore velvet suit jackets, mocked, bowing their heads at him.

  “At least you know.” Ethan smirked at them.

  “You know we meant it as a joke but…” Darcy started to say.

  “But now you kinda feel shitty?” Sedric finished, nodding his head.

  “Yea.” He nodded, obviously feeling it too.

  “Me too.”

  I laughed. They were cute. “Forgive him. He can’t help himself.”

  “Forgot him, forgive me,” Darcy replied, taking my hand and kissing it. “I thought I was hallucinating, but here you are a real life angel among us mere mortals.”

  I couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear even though it was so corny.

  “Sorry.” Sedric put his hand over his heart. “What did he say? I couldn’t hear him over the sound of my heart exploding at the sight of you.”

  Darcy rolled his eyes and again I laughed. “Bravo, I’m thoroughly flattered, guys.”

  “Do either of you have any other one-liners you’d like to use on my fiancée or are you satisfied?” Ethan questioned them, his eyebrow rising.

  However, Darcy and Sedric glanced at each other and then back at him. “His fiancée.”

  “Helen, Nari, get your brothers before I do.”

  I hadn’t noticed Helen, who wore a strapless midnight blue gown, the bottom of which was covered in gold. Her curly brown hair stopped at her shoulders.

  “The point of them being adults now is I don’t have to worry about them as much.” Helen sighed and then looked at me. “So you’re the one.”

  “I guess I am.”

  “Welcome to the family.” She hugged me, which I didn’t see coming. When she backed away she replied, “I’m counting on you.”

  “For what?”

  “To make sure Ethan answers calls.”

  “Helen, not even Jesus himself can make me sit and listen to you talk about heuristic evaluations and noncontiguous data structures,” Ethan replied automatically, making everyone laugh, with the exception of Helen, who pouted, and me, who was lost. But I smiled anyway.

  Nari came up to both of us and looked at Ethan first. “Our parents have already sent gifts. Grandmother says she’ll present them to you, to make sure everyone knows all the family knows.”

  “Knows?” I said, and she nodded.

  “The reason everyone else is waiting is because Ethan is officially introducing you to the family. Everyone has to welcome you,” she replied.

  “I’m waiting for my welcome then.” I grinned at her.

  “Why do I have a feeling I’ve created a monster?” she mut
tered when she hugged me.

  I didn’t say anything in return.

  “So when do we eat?” Sedric glanced around for the food, and Darcy followed. One by one they left us, and I turned to him.

  “Why does it feel like they are looking for reasons to leave us?” I muttered to myself.

  “Because they are.” He faced me, his hand reaching up to tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear. “They’re making way for other people to congratulate us. So smile.”

  “Haven’t I been?”

  He thought for a moment. “Correction, look as though you’re in love with me.”

  Again I forced myself not to smile, saying, “What does that look like?”

  “That.” His gaze moved to the Jessica Rabbit look-alike, with the red hair and dress, walking up to us with a few others.

  “Ethan!” She sounded a little peppy. “Happy birthday!”

  “Thank you. Ivy, this is Klarissa Moretti,” he introduced us. “Klarissa, my fiancée, Ivy O’Davoren.”

  “Nice to meet you, Klarissa, thank you for coming,” I said, knowing full well it would annoy her.

  “Of course. Ethan and I go way back.” Her eyes flickered to him and then back to me. “Congrats. It’s not easy being the new Mrs. Callahan.”

  “Maybe for some. For me it was love at first sight.” I leaned into him more, and her jaw clenched.

  “You’re a lucky man, Ethan. It’s a pleasure, Ms. O’Davoren,” one of the men beside her spoke, followed by another.

  “You’re an absolute vision.”

  And another.

  “Your dress is gorgeous.”

  They circled us like sharks would a beach full of seals, speaking and laughing all at once, complimenting me left and right to the point that it became repetitive.

  “Ethan,” Klarissa spoke up, and whoever she was, people lowered their voices, allowing her to speak, “your gift.”

  She nodded for someone to come over and handed her champagne to one of the maids, as the box was handed to her. “Came in from Paris an hour ago.”

  “From Paris? I’m excited.”

  I turned to him, unlocking our arms for him to open it.

  Stepping forward, he flipped the tabs open to reveal…

  “A pistol of Napoleon I,” she said proudly, as Ethan lifted the thing from the padded box.

  “La victoire appartient aux plus persévérants,” he read with a perfect French accent, and she smiled, nodding.

  “Victory belongs to the most persevering,” she translated as he put it back into the box.

  “Thank you, Klarissa, I’m sure we’ll find a place for it,” I said, lifting the box from her hands and turning to the same person who’d brought it to her. “For now, have the butler store it in Ethan’s study, please.”

  He nodded, taking it, and when I faced her I could feel the rage flow off of her in waves and so I smiled.

  “I couldn’t help myself. I love gifts, and I peeked at many of the ones that came early. All of you are so gracious, my gift pales in comparison,” I lied through my teeth and they ate it up…with her royal pain in the ass Klarissa, who was doing her best poke at me.

  “Oh, don’t tease us. What did you get the man who can get anything?” POKE…poke. Poke...that was what each word felt like.

  And they all waited to hear, even Ethan, who was doing absolutely nothing to help get his groupie off my back. “It’s slightly embarrassing…”

  “Oh, thank God,” a man cheered, drinking. “A Callahan should be embarrassed every once in a while, just for the sake of our egos.”

  “Don’t say I didn’t warn you all. I’ll be right back.” I stepped away from them, trying to think quickly, until I saw the small orchestra in the corner, ’cause you know rich people, and walked up to the director, whispering the song to him. He looked over at me and grinned, which in return made me grin.

  Thank you, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!

  One of the butlers took the microphone stand and moved it all the way to the damn staircase even though no one had asked his ass! And I wanted to throw my shoe at him. But instead I walked over to it.

  “Ladies and gentlemen…” It was already silent. “The celebrant has asked for my gift, and I, like many of you, wondered…what in the bloody hell am I going to give to a man who lives in a house like this?” I said and thankfully they laughed. “Since being engaged...”

  Aka since Monday.

  “I’ve thought of my father often. He’d call me Birdy, because while I was quite terrible at a lot of things, I could sing my lungs off, and so tonight, I offer this song to you, Ethan. Happy birthday.” I nodded at them, took a deep breath, and prayed that my father wasn’t lying!

  ETHAN

  What in the hell are you doing? Was my first thought when she left my side.

  If you truly embarrass me, you’ll regret it. Was my second.

  And then she began to sing…and I couldn’t think anymore. They’d called her an angel, a vision of beauty before, and I merely thought Nari did well. But the more I listened, the more…I…the more captivated I became. She gave me chills, made my throat dry, and my whole body ached for her…and not just me. Everyone was beyond transfixed. They were…we were paralyzed by her magnificence.

  The way her blue eyes sparkled under the lights of the chandelier as she looked only at me, the way her body swayed, because even she couldn’t stop herself from being taken away by the song she sang, and each time she moved my eyes followed every curve of her body, from her hips to her breasts. Even the lips tempted, with every word she spoke.

  Every time she said the words take my heart, it truly felt as if she were holding it up for me to take, and so I, who’d never once displayed any form of public affection, walked up to her when the ballad came to an end, stepping onto the stairs beside her, wrapped my arms around her waist, pulled her to me, and kissed her…with all the passion she’d just bestowed on me. Enjoying the way her body melted into mine and the taste of her tongue in my mouth, I wanted more…much more. The dress she wore frustrated me even more.

  “Get a room!” The familiar voice of Darcy snapped me out of it.

  Only our lips parting, I stared down at her, and she looked at me as if she had no idea what I was doing, like she hadn’t caused this.

  “And now you all see why the wedding is so soon.” My grandmother laughed, saving us both. “Congratulations to you both on finding the other half of your heart,” she added, clapping, which caused the rest of them to clap as well.

  I felt her try to step back…however, I didn’t let go.

  My third thought finally came to me…

  Mine. It was childish and simple, but sometimes one word was enough.

  Ivy O’Davoren was mine, and now the whole world would know.

  Luckily, between my grandmother, Dona, and her, most of their eyes were off me. Glancing over my shoulder, Greyson nodded, and I excused myself from their side. I walked with him toward the private section of the house. Parties like this were often used whenever other important business needed to be taken care of.

  I stopped in front of Lisandro Castiglione’s The Redemption of Icarus, the painting my mother had commissioned for my grandmother, apparently to replace a painting she’d destroyed. Icarus flying at night above a sleeping world, the painting was simple…however, that was the point.

  Reaching behind it, the small light of the scanner moved as it looked over my finger, before the painting slid to the right along with the door. Stepping through it, I saw all three of them waiting in my private den, sitting on my couch, drinking my wine, and smoking my Cubans, just laughing among themselves.

  “Thank you for coming, gentlemen,” I said, taking a seat at the large chair, unbuttoning my jacket. “I’m sure you are all aware why I called you here—”

  “Before we do, on behalf of us, many congrats on your wife. You did well with an Irish woman,” Frank McShane cut me off, grinning at the Italian man sitting across from him, sucking onto his pipe as if
it were an oxygen mask.

  “Fiancée,” Savino Moretti, Klarissa’s father, corrected.

  It caused old man Mahoney to laugh, sitting up and blocking my face to say to them, “Look at that, boys, he’s all butt hurt, he ain’t get—”

  Grabbing his glass, I slammed it against his fucking head. The glass shattered everywhere and blood dripped down the back of his head and even got on my hand. He grabbed the back of his head and moved back into his fucking place.

  “Have I got your fucking attention now?” I looked them over…each one of them silent. Mahoney held on to the back of his head. “If you ever sit up in front of me again, I will rip your tongue from your mouth and have it shoved up your own ass.”

  My eyes shifted to Frank. He took the pipe out of his mouth slowly.

  “Let this be known and known well. My marriage does not bias me to either the Irish or the Italian families. The fact that you think a woman would be enough to influence me hurts, Frank, and when I hurt, everybody’s got to hurt.”

  “I’m sorry—”

  “Fuck your sorry and shut up.” I snapped, then turned to Savino. “Ivy O’Davoren, for all intents and purposes, is my wife. Which means you’ve insulted or threatened me. Either you believe I’m so fickle minded that I’d throw away women whom I’ve claimed, or you believe the woman I have claimed will not be around long enough to become my wife. Which I don’t see possible unless someone would try to do something very stupid. Are you planning on doing something very stupid, Savino?”

  “No, sir—”

  “Are you saying that I’m fickle?”

  “No, I—”

  “Then she’s my wife and you will respect that or you’ll end up in a much worse state than Mahoney here.” I looked back at Mahoney and the blood dripping down his neck. “Mahoney, you do know it’s rude to bleed on another man’s furniture, correct?”

  “I’m sorry—”

  “I don’t give a damn about your sorry. I want you to stop bleeding on my couch.”

  He thought for a moment before taking off his jacket and draping it over the couch. When he was done I sat back.

  “Can I continue what I was saying when I came in or would anyone else wish to disrespect me this evening?”