The Burning City Read Online Free PDF Page B

his house is still his. They froze all his assets and took over his property when this all went down, but it’s getting transferred back to him. I guess… We’ll stay there.” She looked up at Trina. “You haven’t heard anything from Occam, have you?”
    Trina shook her head. “No vampires around the clinic. I can’t say I’m disappointed.”
    June held out the note. “Someone slipped this to me today, when we were leaving the press conference.”
    Trina took it, read it, and frowned. “It’s from Occam?”
    “That’s his handwriting. Either he was there or one of his minions was. He’s still watching me. Waiting for me to send a message that I’m ready to be his vampire bride.”
    Trina scowled. “I hate him. I hate his smug, stupid fanged face. I hate the way he controls our governing board.”
    “As long as I don’t say no, he won’t hurt them.” She gazed out the window again. “As long as he thinks I’m still weighing my options, he’ll keep them dangling on a hook. The second I say no, I’ll probably find them dead on my doorstep.”
    Trina handed back the note. June tossed it on the bed, along with the vitamin bottle. She had no way of tracking him. Just another taunt. A reassurance his eyes were on her always, watching.
    “I hate that Jason is being held prisoner again,” June said. “I hate that this has been his life. That I have to play superhero and rescue him again.”
    Trina squeezed June’s knee. “You’ll get them back. And Occam’s bullshit will catch up to him one day. You can’t be a jerk for several lifetimes and not have it snap back on you eventually. Listen.” She stood. “Take the weekend to settle in and acclimate yourself. Monday, come to the clinic. We’ll start running tests.”
    June looked up at her. “How’s Micha? Can you tell us why he’s in the hospital now?” She kept her voice down.
    “Being studied.” Something about the tone of her voice whispered of a lie. “He’s tired a lot. He’s been through so many tests.”
    “Is he sick?”
    “Not any more than usual.”
    She was certainly lying.
    “Do you think…I could get in to see him?”
    Trina hesitated. “Maybe. I could talk to some people, see if I can get you a visit. They probably won’t let you stay long, though.”
    “That’s okay. I just need to see him. See that he’s okay.”
    “I’ll see what I can do.” She patted June’s shoulder. “Please be careful out there. This city is still an ugly place.”
    “Believe me, I know.”
    Trina left. A short time later, Sam walked into the bedroom.
    “So we’re being released into the wild.” He sat down beside her. “We’re free to go. For the first time since January, we’re normal everyday citizens. We can walk the streets again. Hallelujah.”
    The July sun seemed too bright. Snow had been falling when she arrived in Chicago, the air so icy she could barely breathe. Now it was too hot to breathe. She could never breathe.
    This moment was epic. She should feel something profound and a vast overwhelming sense of relief. Trumpets should sound. Angels should descend and bestow orgasms upon her. The world should shift into focus.
    Instead, she felt numb.
    “I don’t think we’ll ever be normal everyday citizens,” she said. “Especially not you, Mr. Politician.”
    “That was my normal everyday life.” He squeezed her arm. “What about you?”
    “I don’t get to go back to mine, remember?”
    They were silent.
    “What if you could?” he asked softly. “What if your brother and friend weren’t prisoners, and the FBI would let you leave the state. Would you go home?”
    She didn’t know the answer to that, and she hated not knowing the answer to that.
    “You’re always trying to get me out of your hair.” She winked at him. “Haven’t you learned by now that doesn’t work?”
    He leaned over and rested his chin on her shoulder. “Even if I win? You won’t ditch me?”
    She was surprised, deep down, he would