Vicious Minds (Children of Vice 4)

“You said your name was Cordelia Muñoz!”

“I never said that! You said it! You never asked my name, Ethan. Why? Because you thought I was some poor sexy Colombian woman that would simply fall for your great bullshit. You never bothered to ask for any information about me. You found someone to follow me as I was working undercover as Cordelia Muñoz. You compiled all that information together, never asking me a single damn question related to who I was because you are pigsheaded! Now you want to call me a liar, Vaffanculo!” I swore before spitting air in his direction.

His fist clenched and nostrils flared. “You knew who I was and that our family had history and yet said nothing—”

“Why the fuck should I have to say anything? I was working. Was I supposed to jeopardize all the work I had been doing for a year for you? Why? Did you tell me about your work? No. Did I ask? No. I didn’t need the answers. You wanted to know who I was, but you didn’t ask, and you got bad information. That was your fault! So why am I at fault? No... sei un figlio de puttana!” Turning away from him I drank again, knowing full well he was going to chain me down and fuck me till I couldn’t walk for this shit.

“If you truly believed you did nothing wrong why did you keep me away from my daughter?” The question was most likely for his parents watching or any of the caring family members also watching.

“Calliope!”

“You can raise your voice all you like. That won’t make me respond to you—” I closed my eyes as he yanked my arm forcing me back. His hand on my skin…how tightly he held me…it made me want to not only fight back but also chain him up too. His eyes glared at me, but I saw the lust in them.

“You have three seconds to release my arm before I get upset,” I warned him, and he squeezed more.

“You don’t seem to understand,” I said seriously, placing my hands in my pockets. “I am not Cordelia Muñoz, a poor nobody waitress from Bogotá, Colombia. I am Calliope Seraphina Orsini of Lazio, Italy. Before the Callahan clan existed, before even the Giovanni family existed, my family did…as nobles. Three popes: Celestine III, Nicholas III, and Benedict XIII came from my family. No one touches me without my permission. Not even you.”

Dusting the glass shards off his of his shoulders, he pinned me with his stare, his jaw set tightly. “If you care so much about family, if you hold family in such high regard, why the hell would you deny me mine? You still haven’t answered that. Fine. I never bothered to actually know you. You had your reasons for not telling me who you really were. Fine to all of that. I will take responsibility for that. But what was the reason you chose to deny me my daughter?”

“I’m not housewife nor am I an ornament. I am a weapon. So I said no to you…and the future you’d offer, fully aware that you’d most likely never see your daughter until she was older. Did I feel bad about that? Sure. But not for you, for my little girl, so I made sure she knew who you were. I told her stories all about your family. I even made sure she remembered your face, name, number, and address. Isn’t that enough?”

His eyes never left mine. He stared, and I could tell he was touched. But he didn’t want to speak first. Instead, he grabbed my bag and coat.

“Calliope.”

“Save your bullshit for someone other dumb jailbird Irish bitch. Note or no note it doesn’t matter, nor does it change anything. I didn’t come for you. I came for my daughter, and maybe my grandfather. I haven’t yet decided if I’m going to kill him yet. So point me in the correct direction so I can go home.”

“I’m not letting you go.”

“I’m not asking.”

He reached his behind his back and within a second, we both had guns drawn on each other.

“You saw what happened when you stepped into this house. If you think I’m going to let you leave, let my daughter leave, you’ve lost your goddamn mind. I will fight you with everything I have. I will drag your name through the mud and expose you in every way humanly possible. I’m sure the world will love to know about the i libitinarii.” He threatened me coldly, placing his hand in his pocket. “An exposed assassin is as good as dead, correct?”

“Just like I’m sure the world would love to know of the great Callahan connections…and their direct influence with the mob. An exposed mafia is as good as dead, correct? Try me, motherfucker. I’ll sink your battleship too.”

“So we’re at an impasse then?” He lowered his gun, a small smirk on his lips.

“I guess—Ah!” I hissed I caught sight of the needle in my shoulder. Reaching up, I pulled it out with shaking hands. I’d give anything to blow his head off right now, but I couldn’t help falling back on the stone walk. I slid down to the floor. “You’re going regret this.”

He came over, hunching down in front me. “You’re upset with me and I you. But that doesn’t change the fact that our daughter needs the both of us. What do you think she’ll ask if you try to take her away? As you fall asleep ask yourself whose happiness is more important? Yours or hers?”

“Vaffanculo,” I whispered before closing my eyes.

And scene!

ETHAN

She really loved the drama.

Vaffanculo? Her final words?

I couldn’t deny it was fun, though, acting with her, being ridiculous with her. It was the only relief from the madness in our lives.

She looked so innocent like this. I walked her back to my bedroom. Her body felt perfect against me. It was like taking back the spoils of war. Even though we both knew she was staying, she was also challenging me to see just how far I’d go to make her stay.