Children of Ambition (Children of Vice 2)
“ETHAN! WYATT!” Donatella yelled from the center of the entrance way. A few seconds later, the elevator at the top of the double-grand staircase opened and both men stepped out, dressed in button-down shirts and dress pants. “Good, you’re down already.”
“Dona, I’m sure you’re aware the house is soundproofed, so you have no reason to yell,” Ethan said, looking over. “What happened out—”
“I am aware. I knew you’d be close by. I thought you’d all want to be the first to congratulate me on my engagement!” she cut him off before he could even open his mouth. “There is nothing you can say. There is no changing my mind. We leave tonight.”
They were both quiet. I just scratched the back of my head, not sure what the hell to do or say after this mess. However, Wyatt laughed, walking down the stairs. “Sis, you look kinda nuts, rushing in here covered dirt and yelling that…it’s too early for jokes—”
Even Ethan snickered, shaking his head, which was more than odd because out of the three of them, he was always the level one. The hardest to read and the coldest. Wyatt was like his sister in that he couldn’t keep his anger checked.
She turned and marched back to me. I wasn’t sure what she was planning until it was too late, and her lips were on mine. She kissed me like she didn’t care if we screwed right there, her tongue in my mouth and body pressed on mine. I was so shocked, I couldn’t react until it was too late and she pulled away, flipping them both off.
“Nice ring,” Wyatt said when we broke apart. His eyes narrowed
as he replied, “You must be out of your goddamn mind if you think I’m going to let you get married to a motherfuckin’ prince who can’t even protect himself.”
“You must be the one whose gone mad if you think I need to ask your permission” Donatella said, not even bothering to look back at him. Staying in my line of my sight, she spoke directly to me. “I didn’t and I’m not going to back down, nor am I going to make an excuse. Now you finish your end while I get my things are packed and take a shower.”
Somewhat shaken, I looked back up to them both and all the amusement in their eyes was gone. They weren’t even looking at her… Both of them were glaring at me as if I’d committed the greatest sin in the history of mankind.
Just like that she turned, gracefully passing Wyatt who didn’t even bother to look at her.
“Little sister,” Ethan spoke up again and stopped, looking over to Wyatt as he came down the stairs to stand right beside her. “Don’t you think you’re being a little rash, especially considering the current turn of events? You’re usually much more level-headed, Donatella. I’m disappointed.”
She stood up straighter. “Your disappointment is your choice. I don’t live to match your standard of who think I ought to be. And I do not remember hearing you ask for my opinion before you married Ivy. What was it you said again?” She snapped her fingers as though a lightbulb came on. “I’m the one getting married; how does that involve you?”
“I knew everything about her. You are flying blind,” he replied.
“Blind or not, it still does not involve you, big brother.”
“Why are you two arguing?” Wyatt asked, his voice calmer than I would have thought as he looked to me. “Because of him? He’s not worth that. I don’t care if he’s the prince of the universe. He’s not us. We’ve been polite despite the shit he stirs. I’m done with politeness. Get the hell out of our house or I will personally saw you in half and mail you back to your country. They may even send me a thank-you note.”
He was different. More like Ethan now. The humor, the brashness he’d often displayed were gone. He honestly and whole-heartedly wanted to kill me.
The best thing about this family was knowing that by surviving them, nothing else would be as hard. “Why don’t we talk—”
“Or I hurt you,” Wyatt replied, reaching into his pocket and when he lifted his hands back up again he had on brass knuckles. “I like my option better.”
“Fine, let’s talk,” Ethan said now, coming towards us and placing his hand on Wyatt’s shoulder and squeezing.
“Ethan,” Wyatt sneered.
“He wants to talk. Let him talk,” Ethan said, looking at me directly. “My sister may be fine with being kept in the dark, but I am not. After the bank incident, your identity became much easier to find, Prince Gabriel. I’m also assuming that’s why you, and most importantly, my sister was attacked this morning. Let me ask these questions once, so don’t make repeat myself; who is after you and what do you need from my sister?”
“She’s the dragon-whisperer,” I smirked and glanced over to her. “Can your shower wait? I prefer telling this story once.”
She nodded walking back over to me.
“After you, Your Highness,” he said, stepping aside for me to walk. When he said Your Highness, it felt like an insult.
“Thank you,” I said, outstretching my hand to Dona. She said we weren’t that close, but when it came down to me or her brothers, she chose… herself. She walked forward without any of us.
TWENTY-ONE
“The road may be rough, the journey may be tough and the experience may be bitter, but they are stepping stones to our future thrones.”
~ Bamigboye Olurotimi
DONATELLA