Novels by authorholle

A silver-haired man in a dark suit stepped into the room. Henry froze mid-way. The bank manager shot to his feet. They all knew that face. Judge Warren. The most respected retired judge in the city. Before leaving home, I had made one final call. Uncle Warren had answered immediately. I told him everything and he promised to be at the bank. Although he wasn’t my uncle by blood, he has been there for me since my grandmother passed. “Kira, darling, Forgive my lateness. Traffic was inexcusable.” He said to me. And then, in front of everyone, he took my hand, bowed his head, and pressed his lips to my knuckles. “Your grandmother would be proud of you,” he murmured, low enough that only I could hear. “Thank you, Uncle Warren,” I said. “I’m glad you came.” When I looked up, Henry’s face had turned grey. “Kira, how do you know him?” I did not answer. “Let’s proceed,” Warren said briskly, turning to the others as though they were an inconvenience. His assistant plac

They made me stand. The bank had given us a conference room on the top floor. Victoria took the best chair, because of course she did. Henry took the one beside her, with Fiona perched at his elbow. I was left standing by the wall, hands folded, like a maid waiting to be dismissed. “Well?” Victoria snapped at me, glancing at her watch. “Don’t just stand there. Go and see what’s keeping the manager.” “Mom, Let her be. She’s nervous.” He turned to me with a soft, indulgent smile. “Aren’t you, sweetheart? Don’t worry. It’ll all be over in a few minutes.” “Yes, Henry. It will,” I said meekly. The door opened. The bank manager walked in. He glanced at me for a second, and I gave him the smallest nod. “Thank you all for waiting.” he said as he settled behind the desk. “Let’s make this quick,” Henry said, leaning back. “We’re here to finalize the loan against the estate. The one million, as discussed. My wife has agreed to sign.” The manager folded his hands. “Mr.

CHAPTER THREE “Yes… oh, baby…” “You like that?” “Oh, yes… mmh!—” I could hear their voices in the bedroom. My husband and his “sister.” Two days in that hospital, and not one member of the Zade family had come to see if I was still alive. I didn’t mind. Their absence told me everything I needed to know. I had discharged myself, taken a taxi, and what did I come home to? My husband fucking another woman on our matrimonial bed. The door to our bedroom stood open a few inches. Afternoon sunlight spilled through the gap in a thin golden line. I looked. Fiona’s hair was spread across my pillow. Henry’s back was bare. His hands were buried in her hair. Her hips rocked against his groin as he fucked her from behind. The sounds of wet flesh colliding, grunts, and moans spread through the room. Bile rose so fast that I had to press my hand over my mouth. How had I never seen it? But I had. Of course I had. The late nights Henry called business trips. The perfume

“Of all the times to faint, that useless girl picked now. Do you know what she’s costing us?” Victoria’s voice rang through the hallway. Someone had left the door open, and through the crack, I could see the vampires I once called family. I lay perfectly still. Like I was still asleep. A needle taped into the back of my hand, a bag of clear fluid was dripping steadily beside the bed. A hospital. I had fainted in the bank. But why did I faint? And what the hell was that system? Did I hallucinate it? “Mom, relax. She’ll sign. She always does.” Henry said. I gritted my teeth. “Always?” Victoria scoffed. “She looked at me today like she’d seen a ghost. That bitch asked to read it.” Victoria hissed. “She asked to read it because she’s scared, not because she’s smart.” I could hear the triumph in his words. “Kira’s like a puppy, Mom. You say good girl and she rolls over, begging for a kiss. Just give me a couple hours and I’ll get her to sign the loan.” “I hon

POV: KIRA“Thank you for being so stupid.”That was the last thing my husband said to me.But first, there was the cold.It crawled through my jacket and into my bones like rot, and with it came the putrid smell of blood.My eyes opened to a dark night, my skull throbbing painfully where something heavy had struck it.Warm liquid trickled down the back of my neck.“Ah…” I groaned. “Henry?” I called out to my husband.I tried to move, but ropes bit into my wrists and ankles.I was bound to a lamppost in the middle of the street.And someone had hit me.“Henry, I’m over here!” I called out again, a bit louder now.I shouldn’t be doing that. They could hear me.The undead.The scourge of this new world, whose decaying flesh still filled the air with their putrid smell.I heard footsteps, and my neck turned before I could stop it, my heart racing inside my chest.Henry stepped out of the dark. His face was calm, as it had always been.He held a bloodied pipe in one hand.Behind him, Fiona