Vicious Minds (Children of Vice #4)(73)

“Don’t speak. You only make yourself look imprudent,” Evelyn snapped at her on screen before putting the tablet down in the middle of the table.

I ate and watched as her soul broke in half. I wished I could zoom in so I could see her face clearly. It truly was like watching someone from the inside out. I’ve never seen such a thing happen to a person without certain drugs; it was interesting. “Wow…she truly trusted her family.”

“It’s not a bad choice for most people,” Ethan added, a bit calmer now. “However, if she thought about it sooner, she would have put it together herself.”

“She didn’t want to think about it. She’d rather rot than be betrayed,” I said, disgusted with her. “She was amusing at first, her grit, her fighting, but now seeing how much of a broken little puppy she is. I’m no longer interested.”

“Speaking of puppies,” he said, getting my attention, “you got Gigi two?”

I nodded happily. “Aren’t they cute? They have same eyes as her. I told her I found them, but I had them crossbred.”

“Why?”

“So, she knows something living that looks like her.”

He frowned. “You’re afraid she’s going to get bullied and you decided it was best to throw her a softball and make her feel good?”

I turned fully in my chair to look at him. “I’m sorry, are we about to have a parenting dispute right now?”

“You should have talked to me—”

“I got our daughter puppies because I fucking wanted her to have pets. They are a good way to teach a child discipline and responsibility. Furthermore, those pets are not going stay cute little furry puppies; they are going to be bigger and stronger than Alaskan timber wolves. Have you seen what an Alaskan timber wolf can do to a man? Not pretty. They are weapons she’s going to learn how to control. I, out of the kindness of my mommy heart, added the eye colors as a small gift for our daughter. Now where is it you want to start this fight?” I asked him, putting my wine down.

“At least let us have the fight before you end it.”

I smiled. “Or we could skip the fighting altogether and you can agree with me.”

“Keep dreaming,” he answered. “Nevertheless, at least tell me beforehand. Just because I’m not there does not mean I don’t want to know about what is going on.”

“Yes, boss.”

He gave me a look, but it was interrupted by the voice on the screen. “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.”

“Looks like she’s in.” I nodded, turning off the feed.

“It seems so,” he said, sending a text message. “I have people in the jail that will watch out for her for now, and when she’s out Nari can fix her, preferably better than the third runner up at the local Miss Illinois Sweet Corn Festival.”

I laughed at that again. “With the work she’ll need you’ll most likely not see her until your birthday.”

“I’m so heartbroken,” he muttered, sending out another text.

“Now it’s up to you,” I said, drawing his attention. “You have to make them truly believe you’ve fallen for her, or that you’ve always loved her. The more they believe it, the better for us.”

“If she doesn’t talk much. I’ll just replace her face with yours,” he said nonchalantly as if he didn’t just complain about how he couldn’t act with her.

“And Klarissa?”

“She won’t live to see next Monday, I swear it, especially after the line she crossed,” he replied clenching his fist.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to take care of it? This might scare your new fiancée away.”

His eyes were stern, and all humor was gone as he spoke directly to me. “Do not lower yourself for this. It was my oversight. There is only so much embarrassment you or I can take before we start firing at each other.”

I put my bowl of kettle down on the centerpiece. “I’m glad you know. If it is not handled—”

“Do you not trust me?”

“Fine. I’m going to go take a shower before I catch my flight to Boston.” I stretched as I got up from the chair, cracking my back. “You should head back.”

He nodded, getting up and taking his jacket already walking towards the door. I could tell he was beginning to plot already. He didn’t look back at me which was a bit irritating.

“Ethan,” I called to him when his hand reached for the doorknob. He paused, looking back to me, confused. “Vieni qui e baciami. (Come here and kiss me.).”

His eyebrow rose but he didn’t argue. He came to me and I reached up grabbing his dark hair as he kissed me and like always, his hands drifted down to my ass, cupping it. When we broke apart, his hand was still there. He glanced down at me with heated eyes and he reached up to undo the first button of my shirt.

“I have a flight to catch,” I told him.

“I’ll get you a new one. Ti voglio (I want you.),” he told me. I hesitated, but realized it might be a while before we’d get another chance.

Taking his hand, I led him towards the bedroom. I was most definitely missing that flight.