Children of Vice (Children of Vice 1)

“Victory belongs to the most persevering,” she translated as he put it back into the box.

“Thank you, Klarissa, I’m sure we’ll find a place for it,” I said, lifting the box from her hands and turning to the same person who’d brought it to her. “For now, have the butler store it in Ethan’s study, please.”

He nodded, taking it, and when I faced her I could feel the rage flow off of her in waves and so I smiled.

“I couldn’t help myself. I love gifts, and I peeked at many of the ones that came early. All of you are so gracious, my gift pales in comparison,” I lied through my teeth and they ate it up…with her royal pain in the ass Klarissa, who was doing her best poke at me.

“Oh, don’t tease us. What did you get the man who can get anything?” POKE…poke. Poke...that was what each word felt like.

And they all waited to hear, even Ethan, who was doing absolutely nothing to help get his groupie off my back. “It’s slightly embarrassing…”

“Oh, thank God,” a man cheered, drinking. “A Callahan should be embarrassed every once in a while, just for the sake of our egos.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you all. I’ll be right back.” I stepped away from them, trying to think quickly, until I saw the small orchestra in the corner, ’cause you know rich people, and walked up to the director, whispering the song to him. He looked over at me and grinned, which in return made me grin.

Thank you, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!

One of the butlers took the microphone stand and moved it all the way to the damn staircase even though no one had asked his ass! And I wanted to throw my shoe at him. But instead I walked over to it.

“Ladies and gentlemen…” It was already silent. “The celebrant has asked for my gift, and I, like many of you, wondered…what in the bloody hell am I going to give to a man who lives in a house like this?” I said and thankfully they laughed. “Since being engaged...”

Aka since Monday.

“I’ve thought of my father often. He’d call me Birdy, because while I was quite terrible at a lot of things, I could sing my lungs off, and so tonight, I offer this song to you, Ethan. Happy birthday.” I nodded at them, took a deep breath, and prayed that my father wasn’t lying!

ETHAN

What in the hell are you doing? Was my first thought when she left my side.

If you truly embarrass me, you’ll regret it. Was my second.

And then she began to sing…and I couldn’t think anymore. They’d called her an angel, a vision of beauty before, and I merely thought Nari did well. But the more I listened, the more…I…the more captivated I became. She gave me chills, made my throat dry, and my whole body ached for her…and not just me. Everyone was beyond transfixed. They were…we were paralyzed by her magnificence.

The way her blue eyes sparkled under the lights of the chandelier as she looked only at me, the way her body swayed, because even she couldn’t stop herself from being taken away by the song she sang, and each time she moved my eyes followed every curve of her body, from her hips to her breasts. Even the lips tempted, with every word she spoke.

Every time she said the words take my heart, it truly felt as if she were holding it up for me to take, and so I, who’d never once displayed any form of public affection, walked up to her when the ballad came to an end, stepping onto the stairs beside her, wrapped my arms around her waist, pulled her to me, and kissed her…with all the passion she’d just bestowed on me. Enjoying the way her body melted into mine and the taste of her tongue in my mouth, I wanted more…much more. The dress she wore frustrated me even more.

“Get a room!” The familiar voice of Darcy snapped me out of it.

Only our lips parting, I stared down at her, and she looked at me as if she had no idea what I was doing, like she hadn’t caused this.

“And now you all see why the wedding is so soon.” My grandmother laughed, saving us both. “Congratulations to you both on finding the other half of your heart,” she added, clapping, which caused the rest of them to clap as well.

I felt her try to step back…however, I didn’t let go.

My third thought finally came to me…

Mine. It was childish and simple, but sometimes one word was enough.

Ivy O’Davoren was mine, and now the whole world would know.

Luckily, between my grandmother, Dona, and her, most of their eyes were off me. Glancing over my shoulder, Greyson nodded, and I excused myself from their side. I walked with him toward the private section of the house. Parties like this were often used whenever other important business needed to be taken care of.

I stopped in front of Lisandro Castiglione’s The Redemption of Icarus, the painting my mother had commissioned for my grandmother, apparently to replace a painting she’d destroyed. Icarus flying at night above a sleeping world, the painting was simple…however, that was the point.

Reaching behind it, the small light of the scanner moved as it looked over my finger, before the painting slid to the right along with the door. Stepping through it, I saw all three of them waiting in my private den, sitting on my couch, drinking my wine, and smoking my Cubans, just laughing among themselves.

“Thank you for coming, gentlemen,” I said, taking a seat at the large chair, unbuttoning my jacket. “I’m sure you are all aware why I called you here—”