Page 69 of Moon Blind Hearts
Before we can grab the door handle and jerk it open, the car door opens with a violent swing. Senator Ward stumbles out, those eyes the same as Jules’ staring at me with hatred. He’s bleeding from a cut on his forehead, but it’s the gun he trains on Jules that has me holding up my hands. She stops, her eyes wide.
He wouldn’t shoot his own daughter, would he?
“I should have discarded of you the first sign of trouble,” he snarls, staring at his child like she’s the most disgusting thing he’s ever seen. “Your mother defended you then. She’s not here to now.”
He flicks the safety off.
“Stop!” someone says from the growing crowd, and as one, we all turn to look at the speaker.
My chest tightens as one woman steps from the crowd.
Chapter 41
Jules
“Stop!”
The word is firm, confident, and when I turn to find Valerie Decatur stepping from the crowd, her phone pointed at my father, my whole body hums with the knowledge that this is going to be what changes things.
My father bares his teeth at her, the gun still trained on my chest. As if I’m not his daughter. As if he’d rather me dead than causing trouble for the family.
“Recording me?” he sneers. “I can just claim it’s been doctored with A.I.”
“Good afternoon, Senator Ward,” Valerie says, her lips curling into a smirk, her hand steady as she continues to record. “In case you’re wondering, I’m not just recording these events. I’m a little more direct than that.” She tilts her head toward her camera. “This is a live stream. There are currently ten thousand viewers and climbing.” She looks down. “Ope, make that a hundred thousand. My fans really like the lives.”
The secret service closest to my father immediately come up and take the gun he’s holding, leaving him to stand in front of me weaponless as they do damage control. A ruse to look more innocent. A livestream is different from a video. Running live, no one can refute what happened. No one can claim it’s A.I. Not like this. And he knows it. He’s already said enough to have to dig himself out of a hole with the media.
Valerie smiles brightly at him. “I’m sure your constituents would love to know what kind of man you are behind the suit and tie, Senator. I hear your campaign depends on it.”
My father straightens his suit and schools his features. “This is a family matter. I’d like you to respect my privacy.”
“This is a public road,” Valeria states. “And I have permission to record from a Ward herself.” She looks at me. “Don’t I, Juliet?”
I nod. “You do.”
A muscle ticks in my father’s jaw, and I know he’s being consumed by his rage. Only his media training keeps him from exploding right now.
“Now,” Valerie continues. “I hear you came for a visit with your granddaughter and accidently missed the exit to return her back to her mother. The city of Steele is here to make sure the exchange happens, you know, just in case you miss the next road again.”
Flashing lights appear behind the blockade and the Sheriff gets out of his vehicle a minute later, his hand on his belt as he watches the exchange. He waves. “I’ve come to escort you out of the Green River Basin once the exchange happens, Senator. These streets aren’t as safe as I’d like.” His eyes flash. “You see, some of your buddies cut our funding recently.”
My father looks around and seemingly realizes that there are no other options. He’s trapped, and there’s nothing he can do that won’t ruin his chances of running for president. “I see,” he says through gritted teeth. “I . . . apologize for the confusion.”
Another door in the Suburban opens and Albie steps out, Genie in his arms. The urge to rush forward fills me, but I hold my ground as Albie slowly walks past our father, away from him. He meets my father’s eyes briefly, flinching at what he sees there, that he’ll pay for this later. When he’s only a few steps from us, I leap forward and wrap my arms around both of them, happy tears trailing down my eyes.
“I kept her safe,” he reassures me, hugging me back. “I made sure she stayed safely in my arms even with the wreck.”
“Thanks, Uncle Albie,” I croak as I hug him. It’s been too long since I’ve seen my brother. When I squeeze, he winces and I’m reminded that he’s hurt. I immediately release him and step back, trying to wipe the tears from my eyes.
“Mama!” Genie coos, wrapping her arms around me. Her eyes are wet from crying, but when she starts kissing me all over my face, I can’t help but laugh.
This could have been bad. This would have been so much worse had it not been for this city. If I’d been anywhere else, that would have been it. I’d be on the next flight back to that prison my father calls home. My heart beats so loudly, it threatens to drown all other sounds out.
“Come, Albert,” my father says, gesturing toward my brother. “It appears we’ve overstayed our welcome.”
My eyes flick to Albie, and I reach out and grab his hand. He looks down at where I hold him and then back to our father. Albie grimaces.
“Albert!” Father snaps.
