Venom & Vampires: A Limited Edition Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy Collection

by Casey Lane

  T-bone spun a middle finger and everybody laughed.

  I rapped my knuckles on the table. “Okay, leave me your lists of people on the kitchen table when you’re done tonight. We’ll work out other issues, but let’s get back to the next couple of hours. Supply runs. Who is legal to carry a concealed handgun in Minnesota?”

  I wasn’t anticipating trouble tonight, but nobody was going out without an armed buddy at their side. This would be a very bad time to be arrested for carrying an unlicensed weapon, so for the next day, only those with conceal carry permits would have guns on them in public. After a show of hands, only Deb, Barbara, Rod, and Quinn weren’t licensed.

  Salty and Bobby had their own guns, and I had Lawson’s Kimber to lend, so Sean and Uncle Coop went off to the gunroom to get other handguns.

  Debbie left to round up backpacks, and at Rod’s suggestion, a few hats and scarves. It was still warm outside, and Rod picked up on my questioning glance at his odd request.

  “We famous football player types have to be disguised or we could get mobbed by adoring fans. You see, Mary-Acadia, most people actually recognize us in public.” He deadpanned, “It’s a terrible trial of the job, but often times there is flashing involved.”

  I ignored the annoying name and replied innocently, “Oh yeah? So how do the fans react to that?”

  Rod’s laughter caused all the eyes in the room to zoom in on us in curiosity. I hurriedly turned my back on Rod, opened my notebook, and removed several typed pages.

  “I’m dividing all of you, except for Sean and Uncle Coop, into two shopping groups. Ignore the quantities on the lists. Buy as much as you can without taking absolutely everything off the shelves.”

  There were ten people that I was sending off on the supply runs. “One group will drive a pick-up and follow the big truck to hit the 24 hour Walmarts on this list. The other group will do the same, but go to the Cubs and Byerly’s. Shop in pairs, or however works the fastest. Just be sure one person is armed in each group at all times.” Anxious, I wanted to go with my friends, but I had too much to do here. “Rod, Barbara, Ray Dean, and T-bone already know how the people act and look that are infected, so take your lead from them.”

  From his chair at the table, Robert watched our activity with a sneer on his face and sniggered loudly, “Yeah, and good luck telling the normal people from the infected at Walmart.”

  Rod held up the shopping list to cover his mouth, but his golden eyes were dancing again when they met mine. I had to turn away to hide my answering smile.

  Liz clicked her heels smartly. “What if we’re asked why we’re buying everything in sight?”

  Quinn waved her arm. “I know! Let’s answer that it’s for our church and needy families.”

  “Young Quinn! You’re going straight to hell, but that’s the perfect response,” I said admiringly while she grinned and took a bow.

  Kate knocked and then poked her head in the back door. She carried a bag with the clothes for Ray Dean and T-bone. Simultaneously, the cleaning crew finished in the house and came through the kitchen on their way to go wipe down the bus. It was confusion for a few minutes, as Liz herded people off to go get ready while Jane and Quinn kept clearing the table of dirty dishes.

  Rod hung back at my side. In a low voice near my ear, he said, “I’m way too scared of you to question any of your decisions, but I’m curious. What are you going to be doing while we’re out buying up the suburbs for Jesus?”

  I had never paid serious attention over the years, but based on my single friend’s laments, I didn’t think a woman ran across a man with astonishing looks, an astounding tonsil tickler, and an appealing personality every day of the week. However, Rod was only around for a day or two. I was not about to let myself be charmed. Nor was I wasting my breath explaining all that I had to do.

  My answer was flippant to discourage small talk. “Oh, I thought I’d do my nails, and while they’re drying, watch Laverne and Shirley reruns.”

  Rod gently tugged on a strand of my damp hair. “You think I’m too young to know what Laverne and Shirley reruns are, don’t you?”

  My God, the thought hadn’t crossed my mind, but now I realized that he probably never had heard of them. The sitcom was over before he was born and terribly boring even when on prime time, hence the reference.

  I said brightly, “Young man, have you called your parents yet?”

  Rod didn’t lift his gaze from watching his finger and thumb rubbing the strand of my black hair dry. “Yes, ma’am. I called my family in Rome and texted several friends back in Colorado.” That must be where Rod was from, but I didn’t ask. He looked up and his eyes were amused. “They thought I was nuts, but they said they’d watch the news closely.”

  “Only nuts? Hey, that’s not so bad. You could be accused of being a hysterical drunk on the make like me.”

  Rod tugged again on my hair and goaded softly, “Hey, like you said—that dumbass Robert was almost right. He got one out of three.”

  Inadvertently, I choked on a laugh at his sly gall while I glanced around quickly to be sure nobody overheard his teasing remark. Secretly pleased he agreed Robert was a dumbass, I still firmly removed my hair from his stroking fingers. I also moved back a little when I realized Rod was standing very close. I pretended to not notice his small smile.

  Anytime I forgot our dire situation for a fleeting moment like I had just now bantering with Rod, the anxiety welled back up inside even worse when I remembered again. Panicked, I was overwhelmed with everything that needed to be done and the fact we did not have enough time or people to do it. A huge, threatening clock was looming in my head. Every ominous tick of the second hand brought Death closer.

  I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I’d had a lot of practice lately pushing back overwhelming anxiety. One trick that worked was focusing on an immediate problem that could be fixed.

  Opening my eyes, I asked hopefully, “Have you thought about catching a plane or driving away from here to be with your family or friends before it’s too late?”

  Rod had been watching my face, but his slight frown cleared at my question. He slid his hands into the side pockets of his borrowed athletic pants. The tight T-shirt outlined every moving muscle. Trying not to stare at the impressive sight, I thought how unfair it was that men looked so hot in baggy sweats while women tended to look dumpy.

  “I checked for the heck of it, but there weren’t any flights to Denver with an open seat until tomorrow night.” He shrugged a wide shoulder and his mouth curved, but it wasn’t really a smile. “I saw World War Z last summer, too. If you’re right about this, no place is going to be much different from another once it spreads.”

  I was perplexed by this famous, successful man’s offhand attitude and despite myself, curious. “Forgive me for being nosy, but surely there are people you love and care about somewhere you want to be with? Wouldn’t that make one place different?”

  “Pretty pitiful, huh?” His voice was lightly self-mocking, but there was something under the confident smoothness that called out to my own dark loneliness. “I’m thirty-one and single. My football career has been my life since high school. My only family lives in Europe and we’re not close.” Now I was really curious how he ended up in the States, but I stayed quiet. “Sure, I have friends I care about, but like those three brothers said, I sure as hell don’t want to go live with them during the apocalypse. And love?” Rod’s tone was ruminative and he laughed a little ruefully, as if to himself. His face was so handsome at that moment that I held my breath in fascination while I watched emotions play across his strong, bold features. “Now there’s a dilemma…”

  “Of course you don’t want to go. You should stay here on King Farm and protect us. Wait until it’s light out in the morning and you see this place,” Liz stated, as she interrupted by handing Rod his shoes smelling of bleach. “Those sweats are fine for where we’re going tonight, my apocalyptic partner, but you still need shoes.”

&n
bsp; Liz’s sweetly beautiful face and willowy figure have graced the covers of Glamour and Cosmo, and were in direct contrast to her sharp-tongued, caustic humor. She was so elegantly put together and so bluntly sarcastic when she spoke that she made women envious and men uncomfortable. Or maybe it was the other way around, but regardless, Liz was one of my favorite people.

  Liz’s voice had jerked me out of a trance. It was just as well that I didn’t hear Rod’s dilemma about love. I was much too sensitive to sob stories since losing my own love and they only drained me.

  Liz said, “Looks like new running shoes will have to be added to the list at Wally World.” Liz pretended to read over the typed pages in her other hand. “No, wait! Mein Kommandant already has that on her list, Rod, complete with your shoe size.”

  “Jawol,” I replied straight-faced.

  Rod chuckled. “Now that would not surprise me.” His voice took on that caressing tone that I remembered from the bar. He was speaking to Liz, but looking at me. “I haven’t known her long, but from what I’ve observed first hand, Acadia’s attention to detail is amazing.”

  Determined not to react, I said blandly, “Yeah, I’m good with the smallest details.”

  “Now don’t be modest. I thought you were great with large details, too,” Rod responded, all innocence while his eyes sparkled with laughing challenge.

  Aware of Liz hanging on our every word, I looked blindly down at a list in my hand and replied vaguely, “I don’t remember any details I’d call large, but if you say I was great, I must have been.”

  Rod frowned. “Hmm, you know, you may be right. You did miss that rather large detail of the security camera…”

  “Hey, look! I think everyone is getting ready to go,” I interjected, trying to keep my expression neutral while indicating the shoes dangling from his hand.

  Rod paused long enough to make me squirm, but then smiled and thanked Liz for the shoes. I was relieved when the teasing ass shut up to slip them on.

  Liz raised her brows at me over Rod’s bent head and grinned. I knew what that look meant and I didn’t play. My girlfriend wanted the scoop. She and Jane would love to see me coupled with anyone, even a way too young, way too gorgeous, and way too sexy pro football player with whom I had nothing in common in the everyday world.

  I held the manila envelope out to Liz. “Deb has the household credit cards for all the grocery stores, but you’ll need this cash at Walmart. It should be plenty, but if…”

  Liz cut me off. She waved a languorous hand that sparkled from multiple fingers adorned with rings and the stack of gold bangles on her delicate wrist. “Please, I’ve plastic out the yahoo. Let’s keep the cash on hand to bribe brigands and marauders once this zombie jamboree gets wheels.”

  That was an understatement. Liz could buy a third-world country and not feel a dent in her finances, so I didn’t quibble about who paid for what.

  I needed to speak with Kate, so I signaled for her to wait a second and excused myself; proud I didn’t even glance Rod’s way. I left the shoppers in Liz’s bejeweled hands to organize their guns, backpacks, and adoring fan disguises.

  On the bus earlier when I’d called through my contact lists to order supplies and services delivered tomorrow, some of those vendors were people I’ve known a long time. I’d warned everybody to watch the news. A certain few, like in Kate’s case, I wanted to ask to come live on the farm to swell our ranks. Judging by her wide eyes, Kate probably had a few questions of her own about being called out so late to clean up blood and supply clothes to pro football players wrapped up in Christmas tablecloths.

  At easily six feet, Kate Martin was a big woman with apple cheeks and a booming, jovial voice. Her husband, Bruce, a mountain of a man, was a farrier. He’d shoed our horses for as long as I’d been married.

  In her late forties, Kate had started Kate’s Cleaning a few years ago when the last of her four strapping sons went off to college. It was no surprise her cleaning business was very successful. Kate’s a straight shooting countrywoman who expected hard work from her employees because she led by example and worked harder than anyone else.

  Salty whistled sharply and called out for quiet. He turned up the volume of the TV again.

  I said quickly to Kate, “There’s a killer virus or something getting everyone sick and turning them violent in The Cities. I saw it personally and I’m convinced it’s going to spread.”

  A picture speaks louder than words, so I pulled Kate over with me as we all crowded closer to see. Rod stood right behind me and I was hyper aware of his body. I felt his hand rest lightly on my hip when we were jostled, although I did an awkward forward pelvic thrust to avoid my butt contacting anywhere with his front. Kate eyed my weird posture and then ogled Rod. I could tell he gave her the dazzling grin treatment because her cheeks got rosier and she actually batted her eyelashes, but the broadcast from Care-11 soon grabbed her complete attention.

  This time they were reporting from inside the Urgent Care lobby at Fairview Hospital in Edina, a suburb immediately southwest of Minneapolis. People in blue scrubs and white lab jackets could be seen running back and forth behind the reporter. Wounded people were packed wall-to-wall in the emergency area. It was a zoo.

  Kate’s face went slack in surprise, but after watching the ongoing newscast, she didn’t need any more persuading something was drastically wrong in the Twin Cities. The latest report said other metro hospitals were now standing by to receive the accelerating number of hurt people from attacks at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Mall of America, and at the Hubert H. Humphrey airport.

  The camera stayed focused on the scene while the reporter’s voice continued, “What was originally thought to be gang warfare has city officials scrambling for answers. An unnamed source in the Minneapolis Mayor’s office has said they are not ruling out a widespread terrorist attack.”

  The report continued and informed us the police had banned all non-essential personnel away from the Mall of America for their own safety when suspects from the hotel had attacked the bystanders outside.

  “Boy, that’s sure not good!” exclaimed Ray Dean from somewhere behind me.

  “There are still no explanations for the bizarre and sudden attacks of violence at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Mall of America, and at Terminal 2 at the Hubert Humphrey airport.” Salty turned the volume up even louder at this news. “Many people have been wounded and killed in these attacks. We have no exact totals, but it’s estimated in the hundreds and climbing. Several ambulances have been involved in accidents on the highways. State Police are encouraging drivers to avoid the east and westbound I-494 corridor, Hwy 77 north to the Crosstown Hwy 62, and into Minneapolis on I-35W, unless absolutely necessary.”

  The visions of dead victims starting to convulse in body bags while being transported by unsuspecting drivers in ambulances to morgues chilled me to the marrow. It was a scene straight out of a horror flick.

  Kate did not waste any more time. She went home to wake up her husband to discuss what their family was going to do. Before leaving, Kate thoughtfully checked with her cleaning crew and then offered their services to assist with the supply run. I jumped at her offer to add six more people to the shopping teams; I didn’t care how much extra it cost me.

  Either money wasn’t going to matter, or I was going to be dead broke after running through the fortune in one day that it had taken the dead Kings over a century to amass.

  Chapter Ten

  “It is one of the beautiful compensations in this life that no one can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

  Our group in the kitchen was still glued to the ongoing eyewitness news reports when the downshifting of gears and air brakes outside signaled the two quarry trucks had arrived.

  In the bustle of departure, I spoke to Ray Dean and T-bone. “I told you the toughest jobs were being saved for you two and I meant it.” Looking way up into their expectant faces under John Deere ball caps, sunglasses, an
d scarves; I didn’t have the slightest desire to laugh at how their supposed disguises only made them stand out more. “I am entrusting some of the people I hold dearest into your care tonight. I expect you to shoot anybody that even looks at them cross-eyed. You will not fuck up. You will not let me down.” My gaze moved from T-bone to Ray Dean. “Are you men hearing me loud and clear on this?”

  Their grins were frighteningly fierce when they held out clenched fists in promise. We bumped knuckles enthusiastically and they left to go outside.

  I was massaging my hand when Liz took me aside, her eyes serious. Before she could speak, I held up my good hand. “Before you say a word, first give me a credit card with a very high limit and tell me that you have your driver’s license and gun permit to acquire in your wallet.”

  She paused to glare at my stupid questions.

  I smiled. “Just checking.”

  As she fished her wallet from the backpack, I said, “We’ll order guns tonight from Gander Mountain that we’ll pick up at nine sharp when they open in the morning.” I hugged her quickly and teased, “I love that you mind me so well, Dizzy Lizzie.”

  In Minnesota, you need a Permit to Acquire to buy guns. The permit was done through the police, involved a state background check, took about ten days, and was good for a year. Deb hated guns, but Liz, Jane, and I went every year together to renew. I had drilled into their heads to carry the permits in their wallets at all times. A woman never knew when she’d need to buy a gun.

  Liz handed over the credit card, but didn’t release it when I tugged. “Now, you don’t say a word and just listen to the wisdom dripping from Lizzie’s luscious lips. I see all and know all, my ‘Fraidy Caidy friend, and have one thing to say. You deserve a life. Don’t let anyone tell you different or make you feel guilty.”

  I said nothing. Liz let go of the credit card, patted my cheek, and started to troop out after the others.

  “Liz!” I whispered urgently and she glanced back. I put out my hands. “He wasn’t even born when Laverne and Shirley was on TV.”