Vicious Minds (Children of Vice 4)

“Yeah, Wyatt, why have you been so quiet?” Sedric questioned. “You almost kill yourself hunting a turkey?”

“Not funny.” Aunt Mina glared at him before looking to Wyatt. “Are you all right?”

One by one they all questioned him, showed their concern for him, and then my grandmother gave me a look that told me to say something. I was dealing with my own emotional issues, but I have to stop to coddle Wyatt?

“Wyatt if there is something, staying silent doesn’t—”

“I’m leaving,” he replied and all of us stopped what we were doing to look at him. He kept speaking. “I’m transferring to finish the rest of medical school in Boston. I leave after the new year, and I’m not sure if I’ll be coming back home as often.”

“Are you walking out on this family?” I asked him.

“I just need a break.” He sighed. “I need a damn break from the chaos. From all of this. I just want to be Wyatt…not Wyatt Callahan. I need space.”

They all looked to me and I felt the space, the wall between us widening. He needed space? He did nothing. He got everything and now he wanted space.

“Why don’t we ta

lk about this—”

“Nana, I’m sorry, but I’m not talking about it. I’m going. Everything was finalized this morning.” He tossed his napkin on the table “I’m sorry I ruined the night. I’m going to—”

“You stay,” I said, rising myself. “I’ll go. Enjoy your last Thanksgiving at home.”

“Ethan.” My grandmother called my name, panicked.

“What? Are you worried I’m going to kill him? Why would I do that? I don’t have proof he’s betrayed me. He’s free to live where he wishes, he’s not my slave,” I said to her and looked around the room. “You all will need new places soon as well. The house will be undergoing renovations. When it’s finished, you don’t have to return either if you don’t wish.”

Walking around the table I approached the door, and before I closed it, I heard him speak once more.

“What did I tell you? He cares only about the business. As long as we don’t die or embarrass the family, he doesn’t care…he’s not capable of it.”

“Wyatt!”

Ignoring them, I walked up the stairs, but I only took only a few steps when Tobias came out.

“Boss.”

“What is it?” I questioned, looking down.

“Savino Moretti.” He came up the stairs and handed me a tablet. “He spent his day giving out turkeys and cash in the lower third.”

“What about the celebration at the O.S.?”

“It was still packed as always but, Moretti was talked about…a lot.”

I wanted to laugh, but I didn’t have that much energy. Apparently, everyone was an ungrateful piece of shit. They eat from my hand and kiss another. What happened to loyalty? What happened to the family? The clans? Or was it just me? Was I not enough? Despite everything, despite the peace and wealth, what was it they lacked that made them so…fickle still?

“Boss?”

“Keep watching him for now, and report to me. Leave him be for now.” I handled him the tablet.

“Yes, sir,”

Walking up the stairs, I turned and went down the hall stopping to look at the family portrait that hung in place. I stared at my parents’ faces. One of the many questions I had for them was…did they regret it? Ever? Even if I asked, I wasn’t sure I could trust their answer. Looking away, I walked into my study, pulling off my tie and grabbing the liquor before moving to my seat and leaning back into the chair.

Vizz.

Vizz.