Read Online If I Should Die by Amy Plum - Free Book Online Page A

“His whole house was in danger and I thought I knew who was betraying them.”
    â€œDamn his house,” Papy stated succinctly, his anger returning.
    Georgia broke the silence. “Vincent’s kind of a nonissue now, Papy, having been reduced to basically a ghost.”
    My chest tightened as she said it. Though I was already fully aware of the situation, it somehow made it worse to hear it stated so directly.
    â€œI told your grandfather what happened yesterday,” Mamie clarified.
    Papy huffed to show that though he was informed he still didn’t approve, but his stern look softened a little.
    â€œOkay,” I conceded. “Take Vincent and his house out of the equation. We’ll just talk about our house. About me.” I steadied my voice. Getting emotional was not going to help my case.
    â€œIf you remember, Papy, the numa who showed up at your gallery weren’t after Vincent. They were after me, because one of his kindred had informed them I killed their leader. I was sure I knew who had told them. And Georgia and I went to prove it.”
    â€œI never thought it was Arthur,” began Georgia, but Mamie shot her the stink eye and she shut up.
    My grandfather shook his head in disbelief. “Why in the world would you girls take that upon yourselves?”
    â€œBecause Vincent didn’t believe me,” I responded.
    â€œIt’s true that Kate uncovered the traitor. No one suspected Violette,” remarked Georgia.
    Papy’s old, vein-lined hands curled into fists and pounded the chair’s cushioned arms. “The end result doesn’t matter. I wanted you to stay away from them, Kate. Not involve yourself even further in their problems.”
    I could have answered that in a dozen different ways, but felt it was wisest at this point to keep my mouth shut.
    Mamie let the ensuing silence settle before speaking up. “Well, you’ve said your piece, Antoine. And, Kate, you’ve heard your grandfather. Even though you didn’t disobey him in the letter of the law—you didn’t meet with Vincent behind your Papy’s back—your actions put you and your sister in mortal danger. And, whether or not Violette would have captured Vincent later, your actions yesterday led to his demise.”
    â€œMamie!” Georgia exclaimed, gasping, as my eyes filled with tears. But although they hurt, my grandmother’s words only poured kerosene on a flame of doubt that had already been threatening to spark into a full-on bonfire. Though Violette had planned to kill Vincent and overthrow the revenants, everything had come to a head because of my actions.
    No one had mentioned it at La Maison. Vincent falling prey to Violette was completely her fault in the revenants’ minds. But I couldn’t help but wonder how things would have turned out if I hadn’t precipitated their showdown. I was going to have to live with that question. And the guilt.
    Seeing my face, Mamie rose from her chair and came over to place a comforting hand on my arm. “I’m sorry, dear. I didn’t mean to say it like that,” she conceded. “But we are all in this mess together now. The numa know who we are and where we live.” She paused and turned to Papy. “That’s why it seems to me that ordering our granddaughters to stay away from their revenant friends at this point in time would do more harm than good.”
    â€œBut, Emilie! How can you say that?” Papy exclaimed, rising to his feet.
    â€œBecause I have just returned from a long discussion with the head of France’s bardia, Monsieur Grimod de la Reynière.”
    Papy’s eyebrows shot up to his hairline. “So that’s where you’ve been!” He stared incredulously at me and Georgia, looking like he couldn’t take much more.
    Mamie continued as if he hadn’t spoken. “And the two of us, along with his companion, a very knowledgeable