Children of Vice (Children of Vice #1)(14)

Silence.

“For f*ck’s sake, find your balls and speak!” I hollered.

“I—we—Ivy. I’m sorry,” his bitch ass finally said.

“Ivy, nothing happened before. We were both so sad about you—”

“Rory, do me a favor and shut your f*cking mouth and stop insulting me, you little cunt.” I hissed.

“Ivy!” her mother yelled at me. “We didn’t want you to find out like this but don’t be like this.”

And I just laughed. “Be like what? Pissed? Oh no, Shay, I’m not pissed. I’m motivated. So f*cking motivated I’m shaking with anticipation. Maybe you all have forgotten who the bloody f*ck I am. But don’t worry, I’ll remind each and every one of you—”

“Ivy, I know—”

“I KNOW EVERYTHING!” I screamed, trying to keep calm. “You all know what you did to me. How each one of you betrayed me. We were family, but you betrayed me and now…I’m going to come for you all. I might have been blind when I came here, but believe me, now I see.”

“And what can you do from a prison cell eight hundred miles away?” Cillian asked. They weren’t even scared…I was worth nothing to them. That was what I meant.

“Seven years ago, I told you vengeance knows no boundaries and has no expiration date. I still believe that. So watch your front became I’ll be out real soon.” Slamming the phone on the receiver, I sat clenching my fist.

I want them dead.

I want them all dead.





***





I was already sitting and waiting when she came in. I couldn’t sleep. I just waited, sitting in the darkness, no food, no water. Nothing mattered but this.

“Good morning.” She sat across from me, wearing a long-sleeved, short, gray dress under her gray coat, and her pearls.

“What do I need to do?” I asked directly.

She frowned, accepting her new cup of tea. “The first thing is to politely greet people when spoken to. Manners aren’t just for appearances.”

“Good morning…how was your evening? What do I need to do?”

“Now that you know the truth, you can’t even apologize.” She smirked, taking a sip of her tea. “Which makes you already like so many people in my family.”

“You’ve shattered my whole world…excuse me if I hardly feel thankful.” I snapped, really wishing these damn zip ties were off my hands. “I just feel…so goddamn angry!”

“You are a mess, Ivy O’Davoren.” She smiled and nodded at me. “An angry, impulsive, reckless, lost, and utter mess of a woman. Whose life was ruined not by the people you’ve devoted yourself to hating but your own family. If you didn’t feel angry I’d worry about your sanity.”

“I’m sure you could have phrased that nicer.”

“I could have. But I don’t want you to feel good while you’re locked up like an animal. I want to see if you’re willing to do anything to get out of this hellhole and get justice. Because, Ivy, I can make you one of the most powerful women in this country. Anyone who hurt you both in the past and present will beg for mercy. You will want for nothing ever again. You father will rest assured, knowing the people who killed him and destroyed his family have been so thoroughly punished, it becomes a cautionary tale. But I can only do that if you’re sure.”

“I am. I’m sure. What do I have to do?” I said for the third time.

“Give up your last name.”

It was then that I was sure the devil was an old woman with a spectacular taste in fashion.

“I know that look.” She smirked. “But no, sweetheart, I’m not the worst. I’m just the old woman who’s been tasked to prepare you for the worst. So get scared now, let it out of your system, throw up if you need to, and when you’re done, we’ll get started.”

I swallowed the pocket of saliva in my mouth, sitting up now. “I’m fine.”

“Brilliant.” She opened her purse, taking out her phone to press only one button before looking back up at me. “Things are going to start happening very quickly. Is there anything you need?”

“I need?” I asked her.

She nodded. “Other than the obvious shower, shampoo, condition, wax, and…a lot. I can have them set you up in a private room. At least then you can shower and get rid of those horrid raccoon eyes. Food? Is there anything you want?”

“Food?”

“Please stop repeating everything I say.” She frowned and then shook her head. “Fine. Don’t worry about anything. I’ll let your brain catch up before I ask any more questions. Just make sure to eat and sleep…this you is over.”

She stood up and when she reached the doors, Jimmy ran back over to her like a fox with its tail between his legs.

“Ivy.” Her tone changed…eerily so and much politer. “This is Mr. Keely. Mr. Keely, this is Ivy. I’m re-introducing you to her because whoever she was to you before no longer compares to who she is now. If she stubs her big toe, I’ll blame you. If she’s uncomfortable in any way, I’ll blame you. If anyone knows I came here, I’ll blame you. Am I clear?”

“Yes, ma’am.” He nodded at her.