Children of Ambition (Children of Vice 2)

She left like fire was under her feet. As she was leaving, Marco and his friends began to cheer and make faces.

“Do I need to make show out of you all, too?” I asked and they immediately shut their mouths, looking down. It was silent, so I took the opportunity to address them all. “Most of you do not know me personally. Consider yourselves blessed. Because if I have to get involved personally, I will not only embarrass you and your whole family, I’ll make you wish you lived in a hole so deep you’d never see the sun, let alone my face. So take note, these are the things I get personally involved with: one, people abusing my family’s generosity; two, people disrespecting my family or my heritage; and three, people causing trouble for my family. I’m sure you all can see the running theme here. If not, please let me know?” I asked politely again, looking around.

“Brilliant,” I said, flipping the mental switch in my mind to kind and gentle as I spoke now. “I’m glad so many of you were able to enjoy today’s breakfast. Please let anyone and everyone you know who plan on coming tomorrow that unfortunately my family and I will only be serving those affected by this horrendous terrorist attack. Of course, those of you who are suffering financially, our city’s poor and needy, will always be welcome. It truly means so much to me. As you know my grandmother was one of the victims of this horrendous act and I want to make sure no-one is overlooked. The Mayor has also said he’ll be allocating funds to help with any children who have been displaced either by the loss of guardian - and my heart goes out to those - as well as those of you whose parents are being treated at the hospital. I wish you could stay here, but we’ve been told by emergency services that this building isn’t suitable for temporary housing. My cousin Nari will give you more information tomorrow. Thank you so much for your support and understanding.”

I nodded to all of them before walking forward towards the double doors, my cobra-skin Gucci heels clicking on the floor as I tried to exit. I’d just made it into the hall when I heard the doors open again behind me as someone called out.

“Ms. Callahan!”

Pausing, I took a deep breath before turning back to Marco, he glanced up at me and blanched before looking back down. Toby’s eyebrow raised and he glanced over at me, that small grin on his face again.

“Are you going to thank me or are you going to keep admiring the tiling?” I asked Marco.

“Uh…thanks. I mean thank you! Uhh…” he said this while looking directly at me and then rubbed the back of his head, trying to think of what else to say. I just nodded and was about to walk away when he said, “I wanna work for you!”

I paused, observing how grown up he was trying to make himself seem. Standing up taller, he stuck out his chest as if he were enlisting in the army…he kinda is.

“What is it you think I do, Marco?”

He blinked like I’d just slapped him, and then tried to think.

“You’ve got no idea,” I answered for him.

He frowned, regaining his grown-up stance, “No, I got no idea. My pa says you guys run a lot of businesses and are really important people, so you’ve got guards because people always hurt you. I can fight! You saw. I could protect—”

I cut him off, “I protect myself, Macro. And besides, I’m just Ethan Callahan’s little sister; you should speak to him—”

“No.” Under his breath he muttered, “I don’t want to work for the Irish.”

I stared at him for a long time before moving over to Tobias. I flip open his jacket, reaching into the inside pocket and pulling out the pen. Hearing me walk over to him, Marco swallowed and took half a step back.

“Give me your arm.”

“Why?” he eyed me carefully, putting his arm behind his back.

Rolling my eyes, I held onto his chin while he bunched up his face, closing his eyes like he was getting ready for a punch he couldn’t avoid…or praying. Clicking the pen, I brushed his hair out of the way before writing directly on his forehead.

“Only the best work for me. So, if you want to join me, you’re going to need more than your fists, you’re going to need this.” I used the pen to tap the top of his head before clicking it again. “And I’m going to need certification that you’ve used it. So that’s after high school and college. Once you do all of that, call this number.”

“High school and college?” he stared me like I was insane. “That’s forever!”

“That’s ten years; good luck.”

I gave him the pen before moving to leave.

“What happens if this number isn’t working!” he yelled after me.

“It will work,” I hollered back at him, stepping out into the wind as it blew in between the buildings. Toby opened the door to my car as it pulled up to the front of the building.

“Poor kid,” Toby sighed, shaking his head, “He’ll never find a girl that will live up to his first crush.”

“Are you speaking from experience?” I questioned.

“Are you thinking you’re my first crush?”

“I don’t care either way,” I told him honestly as I sat inside. “She wouldn’t be able to live up to me even still.”

“Would it kill you to be jealous once in a while?” He muttered something in Italian to himself, closing the door before I could reply.