Vicious Minds (Children of Vice 4)

“Calli—”

“Guys, it’s not a big deal,” her middle sister, Bellarose, replied. “They’re rich. Someone will come and fix it. Let’s just go.”

“Rosie—”

“She’s right, Avena. This place is huge. They have other bathrooms and they have maids. Let’s just go!” She rushed out of the bathroom and closed the door behind her. I turned my ear towards the door waiting to hear and it only took a second before I heard her shout, “I can’t believe we are leaving already!”

I opened the door slightly.

“Calli, stop yelling!”

“Sorry,” she grumbled. I stepped out of the bathroom and found her standing at the turn, her sisters already further down the hall. She blinked and gave me a little smile, her way of saying goodbye, I guess, before running down the hall.

I stepped over to the window to look over the yard. It was easy to find my parents. I just had to find one of them, and the other was close by.

Yep. I thought when I saw my dad place his arms around my mother’s waist. She pretended to pull away, but he held on tighter and like always, she let him hold her.

“Calliope Affini,” I whispered to myself. But in my mind I said her name as Calliope Callahan, just to see how it sounded.

It didn’t sound weird.

Chapter 2

“I will find my way to you in the next life

And every life after that.”

* * *

~Mia Hollow

ETHAN - AGE 23

Bogotá, Colombia

Saturday, June 23rd

“The Nacional burned down three of our fields last night and seized two tons,” Tobias muttered, laying the newspapers out in front of me.

“And President Rojas hasn’t taken a victory photo yet? I’m shocked.” I sipped my coffee.

“I’m sure there will be a press conference and handshakes this morning and photos in the paper before lunch is even over.” He gazed around the restaurant, stepping away from my table to inspect the street outside. “You have a seven-acre villa, staffed with two different chefs who’d gladly cook for you, any type of eggs you want, yet you insist on this random hole in the wall.”

“I prefer not to delude myself into thinking I’m safe.” I didn’t buy the damn villa to hide within it. A man who leads from behind a fortress doesn’t live long and has no one’s respect. I needed them to see me. Even if they were just rumors—

“Sorry, mami, off limits, no vayas, go back down, abajo.” The guards at the top of the stairs point down past whoever was there.

Just as I moved to grab the newspaper, I heard her voice.

“First of all, I am not your mami. Secondly, your pronunciation is terrible. No vayas. Abajo.” She pronounced it slowly for him like he was an idiot, causing more than a few of the other guards to grin.

“Whatever. Get your ass back down. This place is reserved for now.” He sneered at her and I noticed his eyes glaze over a little, despite his effort be annoyed.

She sighed heavily. “I’m sure you’re not the brains of the operation up here are you, careverga?”

He stepped up. “What did you just call me—”

“Is there a problem here?” Tobias boomed, and the previously inattentive guards stiffened and drew their guns as the mystery woman approached.