Southern Gothic Read Online Free Page A

importantly, once Tucker Hull is no longer a problem, all of your unfortunate circumstances will go away. He is the reason you suffer. But when I lead the family, I will do away with such petty behavior. You’ll be free to live, work, and prosper anywhere you desire. Nobody will be out to ruin you.”
    “Only if we help you, though. I mean, if you managed to take over the family without us, then this petty behavior against us will continue, right?”
    “I suppose if you want to stay out of this and simply pray that I succeed, that I won’t hold a grudge against you, and that I’ll be benevolent toward your situation, you are free to do so. But only with your help will you ensure that I succeed, that I won’t hold a grudge against you, and that I’ll be benevolent toward your situation.”
    Sandra bumped Max aside. “That’s it. Get out. I don’t care if you’re a Hull, I will not allow you to stand in my home and threaten us.”
    “I was not threatening you.”
    “Sure sounded like it to me.”
    “I assure you —”
    “That’s not worth much, is it? You got any references?”
    “Excuse me?”
    “References — people who can vouch for you.”
    Cecily stiffened her back. “I’m a Hull.”
    “That’s the problem.”
    “I merely meant that —”
    “We know exactly what you meant. You Hulls are nothing but a cancer to our life and we won’t have anything to do with you. Go. Play your little family politics with someone else. We are not your pawns anymore.”
    Cecily held still and gazed down at Sandra. Max worried he would have to jump in to stop Sandra from throwing a punch, but then Cecily’s lips broke into a snobbish grin. “My, my. You certainly do have spunk. What a shame you won’t work with me.” She leaned over. “You may want to rethink your position, but whatever you choose, I promise you I will become the next leader of the Hulls. So if you refuse to help me, you’d best stay out of my way.”
    With a calm gait, Cecily walked out of the trailer. She got into her car, a classic Porshe 911, and she drove away. As the sound of her engine receded, Sandra kicked a new dent into the wall.
    “Damn, I wish I could have strangled that woman,” she said. “The nerve of her coming here like she was doing us a favor by trying to force us back into that maze of crap they call a family. Can you believe that?”
    Max had been married long enough to know Sandra well — good and bad. He knew she needed to vent off this anger, especially after their own fight, and he knew the best way to help her was to simply agree with her, to let her spout whatever she needed to say, and then later they could talk about this with rational thought. But he made a crucial mistake — he hesitated. Sandra turned toward him, her face a mixture of anger and confusion.
    “Are you really thinking about taking her up on this?”
    “Of course not.” Max shook his head, but he couldn’t stop his mouth. “But she does make a few good points.”
    “Good points? Are you crazy?”
    “I only mean that without Tucker Hull our lives would be easier. Maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea to take a chance on her. Worst thing that happens is she turns out to be like all the other Hulls.”
    “Really? That’s what you think is the worst? How about this — Tucker Hull slams Cecily into the ground and maintains control of the family. He’s really pissed now and who can he look at to blame for this happening? Oh, I don’t know, maybe those Porters who’ve screwed things up for him on several occasions. You think it’s bad now, what happens when Tucker Hull really wants to hurt us? We’d be lucky if he only sends a hitman to murder us. More likely, we’ll end up cursed, living out an eternity in some form of torture.”
    “If Hull wanted to curse us, he would have already. We’re just not that important to him.”
    Max reached out but she slapped away his arms. “Well, dear Husband, let me ask you a question. Is gaining