Children of Ambition (Children of Vice 2)

I turned and politely said, “You have two options. Option one: you may ask for a favor and be in my debt. Option two: you may send a representative on your behalf to do what you need while I am there, preferably a female one. Preferably.”

“See you eight minutes.” I looked over to the ladies.

DONATELLA

I looked at the paper in Ethan’s hand.

“What account do you need the money from?”

“Tobias’s,” he answered, looking up at me. “We just found where he was hiding the money the other cartels were paying him; great timing, wouldn’t you say?”

“Or a set up,” Wyatt added, not looking at me.

“Well, should I leave this to you or not?” Ethan asked. Now he was asking me when he should or shouldn’t act like a giant asshole.

“I’ll handle it,” I muttered, reaching over to take the paper before heading to door.

“Looks like someone really wanted to go,” Helen muttered then pretended to be interested in the detailing on her silverware when I turned to glare at her.

Ignoring them all, I headed towards the front doors, which were already open. Gabriel leaned against a chrome and black motorcycle, the make of which I didn’t know. The handlebars were high and there was just barely enough room for two.

“You may want to consider changing,” he said, looking down to the black Christian Louboutin peep-toe spike heels I was wearing which matched perfectly with my high-waisted black trousers, white crop-top, and chain necklaces. “Not that you don’t looks stunning, as always.”

Rolling my eyes, I turned to see one of the maids waiting, and I outstretched my hand to her. She looked confused.

“Hair-tie,” I finally said.

Nodding, she took her red hair out of the bun, picking off the strands on the band before giving it to me. Reaching up, I pulled my dark hair into a tight ponytail as I walked down the front stairs of the mansion, up to Gabriel and his bike.

“Let’s go. You’re on a time crunch, aren’t you?”

His eyebrow rose. “You aren’t going to argue? Demand to ride your own bike?”

“No matter how many times I tell you, you seem to think I am idiot,” I said, brushing him out of my way and throwing my leg over the bike before looking back at him. “I don’t know where we are going and if anything goes wrong, I’ll simply abandon you and there won’t be any trace that I was there. Let’s get this over with.”

“You look so beautiful,” he said randomly before sighing, “and yet I hardly notice because of all the venom coming out of your mouth.”

“Me and my beauty don’t exist for you or anyone else to notice,” I reminded him.

He grinned and I didn’t know why. He didn’t explain, instead handing me a helmet that I didn’t take it, much to his annoyance. He didn’t comment, instead throwing the helmet to one of the butlers. He took out two pairs of aviators, putting one on me and then himself before lifting his leg over and taking a seat in front of me.

“Don’t say hold on tight… It’s cliché,” I said into his ear, wrapping my arms around his torso. Even through his leather jacket I could feel his hard stomach. His whole body was nothing but solid muscle. I didn’t know why I noticed; it’s not like he didn’t look strong. But I did notice. Just like I noticed he smelled like peppermint.

“You don’t have to hold on tight,” he said, revving the engine. “You just have to make sure I can feel your breasts pressed up against my back.”

Before I could speak, he kicked off and we were on our way, gravel kicking up as he went around the fountain, then out the gates and on to the street. Like a bullet, we cut through wind. I could feel my heart pumping in my chest, though not from fear. I liked how he rode—fearlessly, dangerously, speeding faster and faster. He swerved through traffic, not stopping for anything or anyone. When others slowed down as

the light turned yellow, he sped up. If I wasn’t holding on as tightly as I was, I would have flown off long ago. I was thankful my heels fit my feet like a glove, because one wrong move and they’d come off before I did.

The wind and his speed made it impossible to speak, and I didn’t need to until he suddenly reached up and placed his hand over mine. He slowly moved our joined hands to the spot right over his heart. I wasn’t sure what he was trying to pull until I felt it. His heartbeat. It was racing just as hard as mine…and…and each beat came right after mine. My heart would beat, then his, and then mine, as if—as if they were having a conversation. I was so awed by it, I didn’t realize he wasn’t holding my hand there anymore… I was willingly leaving my hand over his heart.

Once I did realize, I dropped my hand back down to his torso, which made the bastard laugh. I couldn’t see his face, but his body shook and in return shook me.

He’s so annoying, I thought as I saw the W logo of Wilson bank on the glass tower up ahead. He didn’t slow down, and within a few seconds we passed it. Driving a couple blocks over to the new Obelisk Hotel, one of the tallest buildings in the city, he waved something to the guards as he drove into the underground parking garage. Not a single vehicle was there. Slowly, he pulled up in front of elevator, then stopped, parking, He cracked his neck and checked his watch.

“We don’t have much time,” he said seriously, much more serious than he’d been when he talked about this.

“This isn’t the bank,” I stated as I stepped down, brushing off my clothes.