“Vladimir, I was thi—” I started, only to be cut off.

“Sarah, please? Bradley?”

“Fine, Bradley,” I spat, wrinkling my nose, “I was thinking. Your real name suggests danger and vampirism. Some girls like that. If you—” He cut me off a second time.

“Those girls aren’t my type. I want a girl that likes how I am, not the name that doesn’t even describe me.” I sighed and took a brush to his thick, black, shoulder-length hair.

“You still have a lot to learn, little brother.” He pushed my hand away and looked up at me.

“You know I don’t like you messing with my hair.”

“And you know I don’t like you denying who you really are.” I set him off with that. He slammed his fist on the desk.

“Look, I’m never going to meet their expectations!”

“You will if you try!”

“I don’t want to try, Sarah! I don’t want to be a murderer!”

“Vladimir Allan Ostrong, I’ve told you a million times. The men in this family are doing God’s work!”

“By killing women? Murder is a sin just as much as prostitution!”