They went straight to the penthouse. Charlie and Rixaline were at the big table in the kitchen, putting a puzzle together. Lucky was lying on the far end of the table, supervising the action. Donna took a seat next to Rixaline.
Was she being too cautious? The girl hadn’t done anything but be helpful. Maybe she was just paranoid because of her life with Joe.
Both looked at her with questions, but Charlie was the first to ask hers. “How did it go?”
“Mission accomplished, and no one died.”
Rixaline grinned. “Is that a good thing?”
“Yes and a little no.” Donna laughed. “No, it’s good. I just hope this is truly the last time I have to face my husband.”
Pierce walked into the room. “I thought I heard you. Everything okay?”
“Everything’s perfect.” Donna reached over and took Rixaline’s hand. “Your help was invaluable tonight. I am truly grateful. Thank you.”
Rixaline bent her head. “I was happy to do it.”
“Well, again, thank you.” Donna squeezed the girl’s hand before letting go. She looked at Pierce. “I think you can safely file those divorce papers now.”
“First thing Monday.”
“Thanks.” She stood. “About tomorrow night and Francine’s party. Temo’s cousin Penina is going to stay in the penthouse with Rixaline. Charlie, I certainly hope you’ll be able to accompany Pierce and me to the party. Do you have something to wear?”
Charlie nodded, smiling. “I do. Thank you.”
“If you want to bring a date, you’re more than welcome to, but I’ll probably need you there professionally in some capacity. Sorry. I know that’s not the best way to enjoy a party, but I fully expect there to be all kinds of vampires there that I should know.”
Charlie put her hands up. “Of course. I will be sure you know who’s who and make all the necessary introductions.”
Neo snorted. “You better believe there will be all kinds of vampires there you should know. The crowd is legit at Francine’s parties. Just keep an open mind and be prepared to realize you were not prepared.”
“Really?” Donna pondered that. “Little old Francine? I mean, I know she’s a vampire and a very cool one, but—”
“Donna, you have no idea.” Neo shook her head. “None. The last party she threw, Count DeLaRossi ended up superglued to her ceiling.”
Donna’s mouth fell open.
Neo nodded. “Yep.”
“You’re right,” Donna said. “I may not be prepared for this.”
Pierce laughed. “I have to say it doesn’t sound that much different than some of the attorney parties I’ve been to.”
“Should be interesting,” Charlie said.
Temo came in from downstairs. “Penina’s all set. She’ll be here tomorrow around five.”
Donna clapped her hands together. “Perfect. Now I’m going to turn in. I’m too tired to even have pie. Tomorrow night is going to be fun but hectic. Besides, I can feel the sun inching higher.”
“Me too,” Neo said. She looked at Temo. “You want to show me that guest room?”
“Yeah, come on.” He waved at the rest of them. “Night.”
He and Neo left.
Rixaline got up from the table. “Can I leave the puzzle here to finish tomorrow?”
“Absolutely,” Donna said. “Lucky might have other thoughts, though.”
She laughed. “Can I take Lucky to bed with me, then?”
“Sure,” Donna answered. “Just don’t trap him in there, or you’ll be woken up by a lot of yowling. He’s his own man and likes his freedom.”
Rixaline grinned. “Okay.” She scooped the big animal off the table and cradled him in her arms as she went down the hall.
Charlie smiled. “I’m really glad everything went well this evening.”
“Me too.” Donna took a breath. “I am really ready for things to calm down, you know?”
“I’m sure.” She tipped her head toward the stairs. “I should go. I’m not sure Temo knows where the extra toiletries are.”
“Thanks, Charlie.”
She nodded. “You’re welcome, Governor.”
She left, giving Pierce and Donna a moment alone. She looked at him. “I’m going to have to call the kids and tell them about their father. And soon too. I really don’t want them to hear about it on the news.”
He looked at the time. “Joe Jr. is probably up.”
“You’re right. I’ll call him before I crash.” She pulled the elastic off her ponytail, freeing her hair so she could massage her scalp. “I guess I’ll have to set my alarm to make sure I’m up to call Christina.”
“Do you want me to do it? I realize that’s kind of impersonal.”
“Thank you, but better she hear it from me.”
He nodded. “Understand. Sleep well. See you in the afternoon.”
“Thanks. Good night.” She drifted toward her bedroom, pulling off her leather jacket and tossing it on the chaise before closing the door. She was suddenly bone-tired and more ready for bed than she’d realized.
But she had one more task to do before that could happen. She took her phone from her back pocket and dialed her son.
“Hey, Mom. Should you be up right now? The sun’s out and all.”
“I’m inside, but your concern is noted and appreciated. I won’t keep you. I know you have to be on base shortly, and I’m about to go to bed. I just needed to tell you that your father didn’t die in that car accident. He faked his own death.”
A rare curse slipped from her son’s lips. “Sorry. I meant, what the fudge?”
She laughed. “No, you didn’t. And trust me. I understand. But the good news is he’s in FBI custody and won’t be a problem for any of us anymore.”
“I’m glad about that. But don’t you have to get divorced now?”
“I do. And it’s already being worked on.”
“You want me to tell Christina?”
“No, thank you, honey. I’ll call her in a few hours.”
“Okay. Sorry about all this. He’s certainly caused you a lifetime’s worth of problems.”
Donna smiled. “Yes, he has, but he also gave me you and your sister.”
“You always could see the bright side. Love you.”
“Love you too. Have a good day at work.”
“Thanks.”
They hung up, and still smiling, she stripped off the rest of her clothes, took a quick shower, then fell into bed, exhausted.
She was instantly asleep and stayed that way until her phone rang.
Chapter Twenty-seven
With the fog of sleep making her movements clumsy and her eyes bleary, she somehow managed to grab her phone and answer it. “Hello?”
“Mom? Is Dad alive? What is this on the news? It says the FBI has arrested him? What’s going on? Is he? How is that possible?”
Donna sat up and shoved her hair out of her face. “Christina, honey, take a breath.”
“Mom, it’s on Twitter and Facebook. People are reposting the articles and tagging me. Plus, my texts and PMs are blowing up. Tell me it’s not true.”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart, but it is true. I was going to call you earlier, but I figured you’d still be asleep, so I—”
“Okay, from here on out? Anything like this? You call me and wake me up. Got it?”
Donna nodded. “Got it.”
“So how is he alive?”
“He faked his death. It was all a big ruse.” Donna thought about the Ukrainian who’d taken Joe’s place in the car. She wondered if Rico would be able to identify him.
Christina hadn’t said a word while Donna had been thinking. Finally, she broke the silence. “So…he was going to just leave us? Why would he do that? Why would he leave his family? I thought he loved us.”
Donna could hear the pain in her daughter’s voice. Joe might have been a criminal and a terrible husband, but she understood that, despite all that, to Christina, he was always going to be her f
ather.
He’d doted on her when she’d been little. Treated her like his princess. Wasn’t until she’d gotten older and wiser that the rift between them had grown.
Donna wished she could hug her child. “I wish there was an answer that wouldn’t hurt, but the truth is, there is every indication he was planning on starting a new life. Without us.”
No need to mention Carmella. Christina was already hurting.
A soft, muffled sob came through the phone, followed quickly by the harsh clearing of Christina’s throat. “Too bad he didn’t get to do us that favor.”
Donna’s smile was sad. Christina’s response held so much anger, but Donna understood. Joe had that effect. “I know.”
“Are you okay, Mom?”
“I am. Better now that he’s in custody. I’m really sorry you have to go through all this with it being on social media and all that. Hopefully, it’ll fade away fast.”
“Yeah, me too. What should I say to people?”
“You don’t have to say anything.”
“It’s not that easy. People expect an answer.”
“Then just tell them you don’t wish to discuss it.”
“Mom. A reporter from CNN called me.”
Donna blinked, more awake than she’d been a few minutes ago. “Are you serious?”
“Yes. There was a voicemail on my phone this morning, asking me to call back. The woman identified herself as a reporter from CNN.”
The nerve. “So you didn’t actually talk to her? Good. You know what? How’d you like the name and number of an attorney to refer them to? You could tell them all inquiries have to go through your lawyer.”
“For real? That would be good. Yeah, I would like that very much.”
“Okay, I’ll text you Pierce’s information as soon as we hang up. We’re going to get through this. And next Friday night, you’ll be here.” Which meant Donna was going to miss her First Fangs Club meeting, but that couldn’t be helped.
“I can’t wait. Thanks, Mom. Hey, are you still…you know.”
“A vampire? Yes, honey. It’s not a temporary thing.”
“Just checking. Okay, gotta run to class. Love you.”
“Love you too. Have a great day. Bye!”
As the call ended, Donna laid the phone against her chest and stared at the ceiling. That hadn’t gone too terribly. The fact that a major news outlet was interested didn’t surprise her that much. The Mafia was always interesting. At least for five minutes.
Hopefully, that would be how long the renewed attention on Joe would last too.
She looked at the closed blinds. The room was pitch-dark, but she could imagine the sun gleaming on the river. She missed the sun. The feeling of warmth on her face. How calming that was.
Maybe she could sneak up to the roof for a few minutes. What were the chances that anyone else was up? Last night had been a late one. Really, it had been morning when they’d all turned in. Everyone had to be asleep. She should be, too, but the call had wound her up a bit.
She sent Christina the promised text with Pierce’s info, then pulled on her robe and cautiously opened her bedroom door. The penthouse was dark, as the rest of the blinds were closed.
Didn’t matter. She could still see. Vampire eyes were amazing like that.
She tiptoed through the kitchen and down the hall toward the stairs that led to the roof. She hadn’t been up to that area yet, and she was eager to see what it was like. She put her hand on the knob, then said a little prayer that the door was unlocked and wouldn’t squeak when she opened it.
Thankfully, it was and it didn’t.
Barefoot, she padded up the stairs to the door that led outside. Again, she eased it open, waiting for a squeak, but there was no sound.
Just an explosion of light that nearly blinded her. She blinked hard, squinting against the onslaught of sun.
But it was glorious all the same.
As her eyes adjusted, she closed the door carefully, making sure it didn’t close all the way and lock her out, in case that was a possibility.
Then she turned to survey the rooftop before her.
The half she could see was a paradise.
On one side, it was all open space with a large, weathered wood dining table and big padded chairs. It was the kind of arrangement that invited hours of lingering over good food, better wine, and stellar company. She imagined it with lots of little candles twinkling and bunches of wildflowers in mason jars down the center of the table.
Summer evenings were going to be amazing up here.
On the other side, a pergola of the same weathered wood partially covered a large seating area. White sailcloth drapes, tied back for the winter, could turn the space private very easily. Long padded benches and several chairs surrounded a grouping of low tables.
Lots of big ceramic pots and planter boxes indicated that during warmer months, greenery abounded. She could kind of imagine it too. Lots of fairy lights and some soft music playing, the delicious summer breezes and the scents of whatever flowers were grown up here. It would be an oasis.
If Christina spent the summer here, she’d probably just live on this rooftop.
With a smile, Donna closed her eyes to enjoy the sun on her skin and the thoughts of more peaceful days to come. She’d expected it to be windy this high up, but it was surprisingly calm.
“Who are you?”
Donna jumped and let out a little squeak. Pre-turning, she probably would have peed a little too. Thank heavens those days were over. “Sorry?”
A woman stood in front of her. Her wild red hair was liberally streaked with silver and tied back with a yellow bandanna. She wore denim overalls and a barn coat and had a trowel in one gloved hand. She might have been Donna’s age. Or maybe older. Or younger. She had a few wrinkles, but she had a glow about her too.
And a greenhouse was behind her. On the other side of the rooftop entrance, opposite all the recreational space, was a glass enclosure filled with plants and trees. At least it seemed like that was what was inside as best as Donna could tell through the fogged glass.
“I said, who are you?” the woman repeated.
“I’m Donna. Who are you?”
The woman didn’t move. “I’m Jerabeth.”
“Hi, Jerabeth. Are you…gardening?” She must live in the building. Donna hadn’t realized other people had access to the roof. But hadn’t Charlie said it was the exclusive property of the penthouse? Donna couldn’t remember.
Jerabeth’s gaze was full of suspicion. “You could say that. I’m in charge of the governor’s greenhouse. Do you have permission to be up here, Donna?”
“The governor’s greenhouse?” Donna grinned. How about that? “As it happens, I’m the governor.” She stuck her hand out. “Belladonna Barrone. Nice to meet you, Jerabeth. I didn’t even know there was a greenhouse.”
Jerabeth’s eyes narrowed, and she dropped her trowel to thrust a hand at Donna and bark out a word. “Glacio.”
Donna frowned. Or rather, she tried to. Her face wasn’t moving. None of her was. It was like she’d suddenly been given a full-body Botox shot. Mary and Joseph, what was going on?
Jerabeth picked up her trowel and pointed it at Donna. “Nice try, but there’s no way you’re the governor.” She jabbed her trowel at the sky. “If you were, you’d be on fire right now. That’s what the sun does to vampires. Maybe remember that the next time you try to impersonate one.”
Crap. Crappity crap crap. Donna would have groaned if she’d been able. In her enthusiasm, she’d forgotten about the whole no-sun thing. The best she could do was grunt.
So ladylike.
Jerabeth stuck her trowel in the side pocket of her overalls, pulled off her gloves, and dug a phone out of her barn coat. She dialed, then put the phone to her ear, all while keeping a close watch on Donna. “Hello, Charlene? Sorry to wake you, but I caught an impostor on the roof. Some chick who says she’s the governor. Beats me. Must have come up the service elevator.”
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Jerabeth nodded. “Sure, I’ll hold her. She’s hexed right now and not going anywhere. All right.”
Hexed? Was Jerabeth a witch? Seemed like the only logical explanation. Unless there was another kind of supernatural that used hexes.
The call ended, and Jerabeth stuck the phone back in her coat. “Whatever game you were going to play, it’s over. Security’s on the way up.”
Donna let out another grunt.
“Save it.”
The rooftop door burst open. Donna couldn’t turn to see who’d come through it, but she recognized the fresh, clean scent of Charlie’s bergamot perfume and the sweet, beachy aroma of Temo’s coconut shampoo.
She sighed. Internally, anyway.
“Boss?” Temo walked into her sight line.
She couldn’t answer him. Couldn’t even blink out help in Morse code.
Thankfully, Charlie took over. “Jerabeth, unhex her. Instantly.” Then she pointed. “Temo, get a tarp from the greenhouse. I don’t know how she’s not ashes already, but we need to protect her.”
Temo rushed into the greenhouse.
Jerabeth raised her hand at Donna. “Solvo.”
Donna gasped as movement returned to her in a rush of sensation. It was like a hard jolt of pins and needles. She rolled her shoulders, happy to be free, but not loving the prickly feeling that remained. “I don’t need a tarp, you guys.”
Charlie looked at her. “With all due respect, Governor, you absolutely do. I don’t know how the sun hasn’t already—”
“I’m immune.” Donna hadn’t intended to share that secret, but what was the other option? Make up some new story to explain why the sun hadn’t set her on fire? What explanation could there be, anyway? The truth was easier. And she’d had enough lies in her old life. There was no place for them in this one.
Charlie blinked a few times. “How is that possible?”
Temo returned, tarp in hand and looking very ready to toss it over her.
Donna stopped him. “Temo, I don’t need that.”
“You sure, boss? Sun’s awful bright.”
Jerabeth was still giving her a weird look. She finally shifted her gaze to Charlie. “She’s really the governor?”
“Yes,” Donna said. “I’m really the governor.”
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