The Burning City Read Online Free PDF Page A

suffered at the hands of the Institute.”
    The entire room applauded this time. June clapped quietly as well.
    “And”—he lifted a hand—“I have one more very big announcement that you might enjoy.”
    Every camera and gaze focused on him. He took a dramatic pause.
    “I’m throwing my hat back in the political ring. This election season, I’m running for mayor.”
    June was taking a drink, and she choked. The crowd lost their collective shit, from the hyper-excited ones in the back to the gasping, baffled reporters. The entire room exploded in an uproar. Sam stood smug, jerking the lapels of his jacket.
    “What?” June croaked at him.
    They were ushered out in a flurry of shouted questions and taken back to the room where they’d been before the press conference.
    A distinct squealing followed them in.
    “You’re running for mayor?” Cindy flung her arms around Sam’s neck. “You’ve got my vote!”
    “What the hell?” June goggled at him. “You haven’t said anything about this.”
    “I’ve been mulling it over,” Sam said. “I miss politics. The iron is hot right now. It’s a good time to strike. Public opinion has never been more in my favor.”
    “Or in your favor at all,” Aaron said dryly. “My God, Sam.”
    Cindy clasped her hands under her chin, beaming at June. “You could be the first lady of Chicago!”
    June cringed.
    Sam chuckled. “Now, there’s no saying I’ll win. But I’ve decided. Why not give it a shot?” He winked at June. “Wouldn’t be the first Jew in charge.”
    “You’re not a Jew, as you explained.” June squeezed the bridge of her nose. “I don’t— How are you even gonna run a campaign right now?”
    “And what’s this about the beach?” Aaron asked. “Can you just do that? Don’t you need a permit to have something like that? I mean, I know we discussed a get-together, briefly.”
    Sam huffed. “I’m on the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority. Pretty sure my seat is available and I’ll come back to open arms.”
    “We didn’t discuss this.” Aaron glared at him.
    “We’ll discuss it tonight.” Sam turned to June and offered his arm. “Don’t you want to be seen on the arm of the most loved man in the city right now?”
    “I don’t know. Is there room for me next to your ego?” She took his arm. “Can’t we wait to leave until everyone else does?”
    “Oh, they’re not going anywhere.”
    They were ushered out, surrounded by police officers. Cindy and Aaron followed June and Sam. As soon as they stepped into the outer room, the chaos renewed. Sam slipped his arm around her and waved to the crowd.
    “We love you Sam!” a girl screamed. “You have our vote!” She wore a blue shirt.
    Like every other cause on the planet, the city had adopted a color as a show of support—for some reason, blue. Blue like they were feeling all those months, June supposed.
    Someone else yelled, a man’s voice. “This is a cover-up! The CIA is turning Micha Bellevue into a weapon!”
    June stopped short.
    The man who yelled had glasses and a long ponytail. He widened his eyes as June focused on him.
    “Are you the conspiracy blogger guy?” June hollered over. “I love your stuff! It kept me entertained all those months.”
    He gaped at her.
    “You were wrong, though!”
    Sam pulled her away.
    Outside, the screams were deafening. Cops kept a clear aisle between the onlookers, the crowd barely being held back by the barricades. At the end of the aisle—what seemed like miles away—their car sat at the curb.
    June feared one of Robbie’s supporters would be lurking in the crowd. If Sam went up in a pillar of flame, she would cling to him, because she didn’t want to live in a world where things like that became an everyday occurrence.
    She held her breath as they were hustled down the aisle. People grabbed at them. Sam touched their hands. He kept one arm firmly around her, so she at least had a place to hide. Her heart raced and her