Presidential Vampire: Blood and Taxes [Presidential Vampire, Book Two] An Upper YA Dystopian Paranormal Romance by Holly Hook

Author:Holly Hook [Hook, Holly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-05-14T16:00:00+00:00

I flop back down on the couch, not because I'm relaxed, but because that's where the memories roared back. Then I think better of it and go to the kitchen. Let whoever is listening in hear me prepping lunch, which I should do at the noon hour.

I open the cabinet as I dial Mike's number.

And to my luck, he picks up a moment later. “Hey, Ember. I rarely get to talk to you anymore.” In the background, something's making a pounding sound. He must be onsite, overseeing a construction project.

“How are things?” I can do this. I can keep my tone neutral. And I have to ease into this conversation.

“They're great. Who are you interning for now?”

“Senator Scarborough.” I won't let out that I know she's dead, stabbed by someone on Goodman's payroll.

Mike clears his throat. I know he'd accept me no matter which way I went on the political spectrum, but it’s still tough to talk about politics. “Mom and Dad would approve. Just to spite them, go with a Spade. I'm joking, of course. You'll have to go back there for a short time before the semester starts, so it's best to make your exit smooth.”

Smoother than mine.

The undertone is there, and I wonder if this is one of the last times I'll get to talk to my brother. I swallow. “Mike, I'm sorry that I just, you know.”

“What?”

“That night. When you had the screaming match with Mom and Dad.” I can barely speak. Why am I dwelling on this now? Goodman could come through the door at any second once the sun sets and snatch me. After that, I'll never see my brother again. “Sorry. I didn't mean to get like this when I just wanted to talk.”

While Mom and Dad screamed at Mike, I hid in my room.

While Dad brandished the gun on his hip, I hunkered down.

While Mom cried and told Mike he was breaking her heart, I sat there.

I failed to back him up. After he covered my ass for my entire life, I let him deal with that alone.

I’m a coward.

You are not a part of this family!

Go off with the other eugenicists!

Ember, come out of your room. Tell your brother what you think.

And I didn't.

See? Even your sister agrees with us.

“Ember. Little sis. You were a kid. Not even sixteen yet,” Mike says, all cool. “Mom and Dad put that pressure on you when they shouldn't have. It was wrong of them to bring you into something that was between me and them.”

“But I should have come out and said you had the right to think what you wanted,” I say. “That's all I had to say, and I didn’t.” Remember what to do.

“Mom and Dad would have kicked you out, too.” Mike raises his voice. “They knew you couldn't defend me, and they were doing it to make sure you never argued with them.” Then he paused. “If anyone gets the asshole award here, it’s me. I left you to deal with them alone.

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