by Amie Gibbons
Though we were all already joking we didn’t know what he’d do if he won and actually had to be a politician.
“Peanut!” came from the side and I rolled my eyes.
I hated that nickname, and my big siblings all used it, cuz that’s what big siblings did.
Ash pushed past two people and I barely thought to put my glass down before she swept me into a tight hug.
“I missed you, baby sister!”
I hugged her back tight as she hugged me.
At least one of my sisters had always loved me.
We pulled back and she held me at arm’s length. “You look amazing. I’m jealous.”
I grinned. Ashdina looks a lot like Mama, so she’s pretty, with the round face, big brown eyes, and dark blond hair, but plumper than she’d like.
Doctors didn’t have a lot of spare time to work out.
“And this must be Quil,” she said, looking him up and down. “And I’m jealous again.”
I laughed, hugging her again.
We caught up while we watched the votes come in.
As the night wore on, it looked like Daddy wasn’t gonna win.
It was close, but it looked like he was gonna lose by about two percent unless those last few counties went completely for him.
The room grew quiet, and Ash and I stopped talking and turned to the stage at the front of the room with the rest of the crowd.
We’d ended up on the side and kinda close to the front so we could hear over the din of people.
Daddy raised his hands and smiled, waiting for the noise to quiet down.
“Thank you,” he said into the microphone, deep voice rumbling and strong.
He wore a sharp grey pinstripe suit and light green shirt that brought out his eyes.
He looked dignified. Strong.
Like a leader
Pride swelled in my heart and I grinned.
Even if he didn’t win tonight, he’d pulled off something pretty amazing.
“Thank you all for coming out,” he said. “Your support means everything to me. First and foremost, I’d like to thank my family. My beautiful wife, and the truly amazing children she gave me.”
He scanned the crowd like he was looking for us.
Crack sang through the air.
And Daddy stumbled back.
Screaming filled the air and the masses moved, pushing and shoving for the exits.
Red bloomed on Daddy’s suit jacket around his middle, and I was moving before I could think.
Running for the stage.
I hit it and launched up the side stairs as he fell to his knees.
I fell next to him.
Shot.
Somebody had shot him.
His eyes slid closed and he slumped to his side.
The world closed around me.
Slowed as horror slid through my stomach and my mind struggled to kick into gear.
“Daddy!”
Thanks for reading!
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This story is the fifth in the SDF series. The first is available here: https://www.amazon.com/Psychic-Undercover-Undead-Paranormal-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B01N4OCJE5/. The two prequel short stories and my other works are available on Amazon from my page at http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B01651YIZU.
The Evie Jones Shorts Series
EVIE JONES AND THE CRAZY EXES
EVIE JONES AND THE GOOD LUCK FUNDRAISER
EVIE JONES AND THE MAGIC MELTDOWN
EVIE JONES AND THE SPIRIT STALKER
EVIE JONES AND THE SHADOW OF CHAOS
EVIE JONES AND THE ROCKY ROULETTE
The Evie Jones Series
EVIE JONES AND THE DESERT DEMON (BOOK 1 COMING 2018)
The Laws of Magic Series
PATENTABILITY PENDING (A MILLIE LEHMAN SHORT STORY)
THE TREETOPS EXPERIMENTATION (A MILLIE LEHMAN SHORT STORY)
SHIFTING ICE (A TYLER CARMICHAEL NOVELLA)
THE GODS DEFENSE
THE GODS’ APPEAL
THE GODS’ COURT
PATENTING MAGIC
The Order of the Sphinx Series
SPHINX ORIGINS (A SPHINX SHORT)
PARATA’S SHADOWS (BOOK 1 COMING 2018)
ONE IN INFINITY (A REALITY CROSSING NOVELLA)
The SDF Series
WE INVESTIGATE ZEBRAS (AN ARIANA RYDER SHORT)
PSYCHIC SEEKS (AN ARIANA RYDER SHORT)
PSYCHIC UNDERCOVER (WITH THE UNDEAD)
PSYCHO (AND PSYCHIC) GAMES
PSYCHIC FOR SALE (RENT TO OWN)
PSYCHIC WANTED (UN)DEAD OR ALIVE
PSYCHIC SPIRAL (OF DEATH)
