Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 64030 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 320(@200wpm)___ 256(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64030 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 320(@200wpm)___ 256(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
I smiled at him. “You too.”
Inside the bar, some of the regulars shook my hand and clapped me on the back—completely unexpected, considering the town hated me. These people treated me like a hero coming home from war.
Strange.
I’d just gotten out of prison. For murder. Even if I was pardoned, that kind of stink didn’t wear off so fast. Kind of like stepping in skunk roadkill.
Still, we all put on music and ate. They filled me in on everything I’d missed out on. Maybell was helping out full-time at the Rooster, including learning some of Jimmie’s secrets at the distillery. Dangerous, but okay. If Uncle Jimmie wanted to see the place go up in flames, that was his choice.
Mamma hadn’t moved back to town just yet, but she hadn’t left either. Not since she’d found out that Daddy was still alive.
He couldn’t be here for my homecoming, due to the daylight hour, but she promised he’d be along as soon as the sun set.
Interestingly, when she talked about him, she didn’t seem at all bothered by his altered state. Could there be a happy ever after for the two? I kinda hoped so, though I really didn’t want Mamma to be turned.
After hours of talking, and a steady stream of customers coming in to welcome me back, we all sat at one of the large round tables, and I finally had to ask my family, “Hey, y’all, why’s everyone so happy to see me?”
“Everyone’s relieved,” said Uncle Jimmie. “We might finally have a human in charge after years of vampire rule.”
“You mean Leiper’s Fork?”
“Half the town has been forced to work for them, except the police—some kind of rule they had about keeping law enforcement and the military in the dark since they’re more likely to fight back.”
How had I not known this? “I don’t care if they vote for me. The only thing I want is to go back to my quiet life, slingin’ whiskey, serving fries, and listening to Big Barney crow on Friday nights.”
“Masie, I know you’ve been through a lot,” said Maybell. “But so have we.” She patted the side of her now very short black hair. She’d accidentally caught her hair in the kitchen’s blender last week.
“Y’all,” I said, “I know you’re excited about this, but it’s not happening. Let them work out their shit—”
“Masie. Language,” Mamma corrected.
“Mamma,” I warned, “I’ve been incarcerated for almost eight months. All I know are cuss words, and you judgin’ ain’t gonna help.” I inhaled slowly and breathed out. “Let the vampires and our human leaders work out their stuff. I don’t want to be a part of it. I don’t want power. I don’t ever want to look at another vampire again.”
“You sure about that?” Maybell’s eyes flashed toward the front door. The rest of the patrons went silent. “Stark is here.” She smiled teasingly.
Through the window, I saw that the sun had just set. It was barely past six, but it was autumn now. I should’ve expected this.
I turned my head to find Montgomery Stark standing there in cowboy boots and jeans that showed off his long, muscular legs. His white T-shirt stretched across his muscled chest, accentuating his large biceps.
Dear Lord, why does he have to be so tasty? I swallowed hard. I’d been so lonely in prison that even Chainsaw had started looking good.
My heart began to accelerate, but my brain slammed on the brakes. “Just give me a sec, y’all.” I got up and walked over to him. “What are you doing here?”
“The vampire ban was lifted months ago.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
He jerked his head. “Care to take a walk outside? The sky is exceptionally beautiful this time of year, filled with reds, oranges, and yellows. My favorite.”
“Mmm…okay.” I followed him out, but I had no intention of walking. More like, telling him to take a hike.
I stopped just past the porch. “Thank you very much for getting me released from prison, Stark. I appreciate not rottin’ away for a crime I didn’t commit, but that doesn’t change how I feel about you.”
He turned to face me and bobbed his head. “I know.”
“I also appreciate that you cleared my name so that people will stop callin’ me Murder Masie, the Organ Picasso.” And Ginsu, like the knives. There were also Chop Chop and Gutter Trash. Because I’d gutted someone.
“Those were very unjust names.” He tsked. “Social media is a cesspool.”
“And while I appreciate the vote of confidence from the vampires who supported Anna, I’m not her, and they need to know the truth. I won’t lie and make people think I’m someone else.”
He nodded. “I hear you. Every word. However, you are mistaken. They already know the truth.”
“How? When?”
“Humankind may have only found out about vampires yesterday, but I told my people the truth—all of it—weeks ago, after I visited you in prison. It was the only way to make things right.”