Children of Vice (Children of Vice #1)(3)

The phone slipped out of his hands as he tried to turn. Pulling the knife out, I watched as his red robe got darker and darker as the blood came out.

“What…what…what did you…?”

“This.” I stabbed him over and over again, anywhere I could, his huge body fell backward, trying to grab onto the desk but falling to the floor.

“Aww, man!” I groaned at my now broken knife. “I just got this one too!”

Sighing, annoyed, I picked up the phone, which was already disconnected. Stepping over him, I grabbed the wires and pulled and cut them.

“Mon…mon…”

“Monday?” I turned back to him.

He was trying to crawl, but to where I didn’t know. “Mon…”

“Monkey?”

His belly rose and fell, rose and fell. He was in shock, I think. He was staring at me in shock. His blue eyes shone with tears, not sad tears. Or forgive me tears. Just another liquid coming out of his body.

“Monster,” I said to him. “That’s what you want to call me, right? This week in school they made us read Frankenstein. It was cool. I liked it. I like books that make me think. That’s why I’m in the advanced class. My favorite part is when the monster looks at Dr. Frankenstein and tells him it’s his fault. It kinda reminds me of now. You called me a monster. I walked way. Then you threatened the monster. And so if it comes down to you or me, I have to pick me.”

“Go to—”

Taking out my second knife…well, Wyatt’s knife, I stabbed him in the throat and pulled it out. When I did, blood went everywhere. Wiping my face, I moved to the window that was stained glass too, trying to see what he was looking at before.

“Ethan?”

Turning around, it was my dad’s guard. He looked between me and the guy in red…I wasn’t sure if he was cop or priest. Pulling out his phone, he dialed one number before speaking.

“Dozen Lilies delivered to my location,” he said, walking closer to us.

“From Ethan,” I added.

He just stared at me, and so I stared back.

“Yes, that’s right. A dozen lilies from…the second. Let the boss know.”

“Let them all know,” I whispered mostly to myself, staring at both of the knives in my hands.

Rule 103: always have a knife.





ONE


“Begin, be bold, and venture to be wise.”

~ Horace





ETHAN


It was only when my lungs began to burn, begging for air, did my eyes open again. When I did, I could see figures walking up to the edges. Sitting up from the bottom and swimming till my head broke the surface, I brushed my hair back, inhaling the cold air through my nose.

“Good mornin’, boss,” all four said.

Two to my left and two to my right.

Replying to none of them, already at the edge, I lifted myself out of the water, walking over to the shower to wash off. A maid, who was trying her hardest not to look at my cock as I rinsed off, dropped sandals at my feet once I stepped out. However, before I could reach for the towel, she made a move to dry me. Toby, saving her life, reached out and grabbed her wrist, gripping tightly as I took the towel for myself and tied it around my waist. When I looked up again I scanned her and then behind her, at the chair where my breakfast was waiting.

“Where is the second towel?” Toby demanded her, releasing her arm.

“Second…what?” She stared wide-eyed and back at me as I moved to my chair. “I’m sorry, sir. I only brought one.”

Ignoring her, I sat down, lifting the cover from my food only to wish I hadn’t. Annoyed, I dropped the cover back onto the plate.

“I’ll get another one—”

“Get out,” I spoke under my breath, speaking up for the first time, reaching for my phone and rising back from the chair.

“Sir?” She leaned in.

Scrolling through my messages, I started walking toward the elevator. “Toby, tell the head maid that if she ever tests my patience with halfwit maids again, it will be her who will be seeking new employment.”

“Noted.” He nodded for her to leave, which she did as if she’d seen the devil himself, forgetting the bloody tray she’d brought in, the idiot.

“Today there is another Chicago City Honorary Brunch. Your grandmother wanted to remind you your sister will not arrive until tomorrow, so you’ll have to do the speech,” Greyson, the second in line of my men behind Toby, informed me as we entered the elevator. “The speech has been emailed.”

I’d already begun to read it before he spoke.

“Next.” I waited.

“Mr. Downey…he’s here.” I gazed up from my phone. He nodded, adding, “It’s starting just like you said it would.”

“Brilliant.” I couldn’t help the smirk that spread across my lips. “Let’s not keep the traitors waiting.”

Exiting the elevator on my floor of the family mansion, there were only two doors on opposite ends of the hall, and neither of them followed me as I reached my own. Pausing, I glanced back at them. Both of them stood shoulder to shoulder, as positive as either of them could be. Grey’s short orange Irish hair and large frame, and Toby’s shoulder-length brown hair and slimmer build.