“He’s not coming.” My uncle Declan frowned, standing at the door.
“Then I’m not—”
“We’re going!” I hollered at Wyatt. “Mom at least deserves us.”
Annoyed, I wished I’d never read it. It made it worse. I stomped out of the room and out through the hall until I got out of the damn house. The black cars were waiting. Turning back, I looked up at the office, his office. All I saw was his hand with a glass of wine…my mom’s wine.
“Ethan?” Toby said in shock, immediately placing the roses behind his back.
“Why do you look shocked? It’s my house.” I looked him over and the roses still behind his back. “I told you last year my mom wasn’t a fan of roses.”
“It’s the only flower they had ready at the flower shop.”
That sounded like bullshit, but I didn’t want to think anymore, opening the driver’s side door.
“You comin’?” I asked him.
“Yea.” He ran to the other side of the car, hopping into the front and throwing the roses into the back.
I pulled out. I didn’t want to be near any of them right now. I was sick of it…all of it.
“Toby.”
“Yea?”
I thought about how to phrase it and just settled on the simplest. “When I take over, I’m going to have to get married…don’t let me fall in love with her.”
“And how the hell am I supposed to stop you?” he asked seriously.
He had a point. “Fine…if I do, and she dies, kill me too…don’t let me become like him.”
“Fine.”
I glared over at him, ready to kick him out of the car while I was still driving. “At least pretend to be conflicted about it, you fuck.”
“How about you fall in love first? I’ll worry it about it then,” he muttered, closing his eyes and smiling. “I’ve never had a Callahan drive me before.”
“Have you ever had a Callahan run you over?” I asked him and luckily he didn’t speak. I drove, knowing full well a guard was following behind me. He wasn’t needed. I dared anyone to start shit today…I’d kill him with my bare hands.
If my father wasn’t going to be at my dead mother’s side, I’d be there.
FOURTEEN
“You and this world will remember me.”
~ Bonnie and Clyde
IVY
I, like many girls, always dreamed of my wedding day. Being engaged once before, I’d already started planning.
My colors were going to be deep red, sunset orange, and cream.
I wanted roses. Not just any roses but deep red, just barely blooming pink, and white roses.
My dress was going to be made by Mrs. Crenshaw down on 2nd street.
The wedding was supposed to be huge. The w