The Suck Stops Here

by Kristen Painter

  “Okay,” Donna said. “Let’s go.”

  Pierce leaned out of the open door of the bathroom, where he was putting things away. “Leaving?”

  Donna nodded. “Running over to see Francine for a moment. Be right back.”

  “Okay.”

  Donna and Charlie took off. The door to Lionel’s bus was still open, and Hector was sitting in the driver’s seat, adjusting some overhead controls.

  He smiled at them. “Hello again, ladies.”

  “Hi, Hector,” Donna said. “We came to see everyone before we pulled out. And to get a tour.”

  He nodded. “I’m sure Miss Francine will be glad to show you around.”

  As they went up the steps, it was plain to see how different the bus and RV were inside. The bus was darker, for one thing, and decorated in a very Gothic sort of way, befitting the band’s image. Burgundy silk, black leather, and plum velvet made up the upholstery, and burnished silver and crystal defined the lighting and accessories.

  The kitchen was done in black granite, with black carved wood cabinetry and an industrial metal backsplash.

  The door separating the main lounge from the rest of the bus suddenly slid open, and Bunni came out in hot pink leggings, shaggy white boots, and a white parka with a hot pink crop top on underneath. She was bopping her head to whatever was playing on her hot pink bedazzled headphones.

  As soon as she saw them, she pushed them off her ears. “Hey, Donna.”

  “Hi, Bunni. You remember my administrative assistant, Charlie Rollins.” Donna looked at Charlie.

  Charlie smiled. “Nice to see you again, Bunni.”

  Bunni smiled back. “You too. You guys come over for a tour? This place is crazy. You should see the back lounge.”

  “The back lounge?”

  Bunni nodded. “That’s where everyone’s hanging out. Come on.”

  They followed her past stacked bunks like those on the RV, although the bus had two extra on one side so that it slept eight total.

  Beyond the bunks, the bus opened up into a large room with a wraparound plum leather sofa. A table was in the center (probably removable, Donna thought), and all kinds of LED lighting and speakers and several big-screen TVs surrounded it all.

  Francine, Temo, and Kace were all hanging out. One of the televisions was showing a Manchester United football game, which Temo and Kace seemed pretty invested in. The other television had on an episode of an HGTV show.

  Bunni wriggled past and planted herself next to Kace with a big smile.

  Francine got up to greet them. “You just missed the stripper pole.”

  “I heard about that.” Donna looked around the room. It was a good-size space but didn’t seem big enough for one of those as well.

  “It was where the table is. The boys changed it out.” Francine laughed. “The table is more useful.”

  “I would think so,” Donna said. “Have you ever traveled on this bus before?”

  “Just for one short trip,” Francine answered. “And then we converted this lounge into a bedroom. This whole couch can be flattened into a king bed, but for this trip, I figured I’d bunk it like everyone else now that Lionel can’t make it.”

  Charlie touched the framed tour poster hanging on the wall closest to her. “I think this extra space to hang out in is really nice.”

  Francine nodded. “It is. Especially since the boys can play video games or watch sports back here, while we’re watching a movie up front or whatever. Mostly, I read or crochet.”

  “You can always come hang out with us too,” Donna said. “My daughter would love to get to know you, I’m sure.”

  Francine smiled. “That sounds like fun. I’m sure we’ll get to know each other pretty well on this trip.”

  Temo leaned forward. “When’s Neo coming back?”

  “I’m sure it won’t be long,” Charlie said. “Then we’ll get underway.”

  Francine took Donna by the elbow and led her back up the hall. “How are you doing with everything that’s going on?”

  There was a lot Francine didn’t know about, so Donna assumed she had to mean the charges Fitzhugh had raised against her and Pierce. “You mean with Fitzhugh?”

  Francine nodded. “Who else?”

  “I’m really hoping I can come up with something he wants, something that will get him to drop those charges.”

  “Lots of luck with that.” Francine snorted. “Pretty sure the only thing that could get him to do that would be you stepping down.”

  Donna sighed. “Sadly, I think you’re right about that.”

  Worry crept into Francine’s gaze. “You’re not really thinking about that, are you?”

  “No.” But Donna hesitated, because she had thought about it. “It would be the absolute last-resort, nuclear option.”

  Francine frowned. “You can’t resign your position. The vampire nation needs leaders like you. Leaders who actually care about their constituents and have a modicum of compassion in their decision-making.”

  She sounded like the Prime’s emissary now.

  Donna smiled in reassurance. “I promise you that I will do everything in my power to keep that from happening. I like being governor. It’s hard at times, but it lets me help people, and that’s exactly what I want to be doing.”

  “Good.” Francine looked past her. “Neo! Did you get a new jacket?”

  Donna turned to see Neo do a little twirl.

  She was smiling from ear to ear. “A little present from my new boss. It’s a Ferris & Coven original.”

  Francine gasped and clapped her hands. “I love it. Aren’t they the best? Lionel had them make me a leather tracksuit.” She shrugged. “I don’t wear it much, but I brought it on this trip. Just in case.”

  Charlie reappeared from the back lounge. “If Neo’s here, we should get underway.”

  “We should.” Donna nodded. “We’ll see you all at the first stop. Travel safe.”

  “You too.” Francine walked them to the door, then waved as they left, and Hector closed the door.

  “Ready to roll?” Charlie asked as they headed back to their RV.

  Donna nodded, her mind back on the Fitzhugh problem since speaking to Francine. “I am.”

  And as soon as everyone was settled, it would be time for her to get back to work.

  Fitzhugh wasn’t just going to go away. Much like the charges against her and Pierce. But there had to be a solution.

  Didn’t there?

  For the next little while, everyone was preoccupied with arranging their personal spaces and unpacking.

  Donna got her dress clothes hung up, her casual things folded and into drawers, then went to work on her shoes and accessories. It took a bit of arranging, but she got it all done in a way that made her happy. Surprisingly, even with all that she’d brought put away, there was still a lot of room in her closet.

  She offered that extra space to anyone else who needed it. Which turned out to be primarily Pierce and Charlie. They’d brought a good number of things that needed to be hung, which made sense since they both wore a lot of suits and this was a working trip for them.

  There was another, smaller closet with a hanging bar next to the bathroom across from the bunks, but it also housed a stacked washer-and-dryer unit, so the space in there was limited. Harper took most of that storage for herself and her dad, leaving some for Cammie, but she said all she needed was a drawer.

  Christina had used all the available cabinets in the loft and finally decided to hang a few things in her mom’s closet too. Just her dress for dinner with the Millers, really.

  After all of the unpacking, there was some milling about. Everyone was still investigating the space, figuring out how things worked, exploring the novelty of the RV, but eventually everyone settled in, finding a spot to call their own.

  Donna wasn’t quite done in her bedroom, though. While she worked, she could hear the muted sounds of people moving around, but the RV was surprisingly soundproof. She was glad fo
r that. She’d been imagining a very different noise level and was happy to be wrong.

  The ride was remarkably smooth too. A little sway now and then, enough to remind the senses you were moving, but it was easy to get used to.

  She spent a few more minutes getting her toiletries and cosmetics squared away, then she made sure her tablet and chargers were set up by the bedside. Another thing the RV wasn’t short on was electrical outlets.

  With that done, she went out to the lounge to see what everyone was up to. She stopped at the edge of the kitchen, one hand on the countertop as she leaned against it.

  Pierce and Charlie were sitting across from each other in the lounge, Pierce on the couch, Charlie in one of the recliners. Pierce was on his tablet with his phone on the cushion beside him. Charlie had her legs crossed, her laptop balanced on her knees as she typed away. Both seemed engrossed in their work.

  Christina was firmly ensconced in the loft and now had a headset on and her personal screen down. It looked like she was watching a movie, although she was also on her phone. Texting Noah, maybe? Telling him they were underway?

  Up in the cockpit, Harper was sitting in the passenger’s seat beside her dad. They were chatting softly about something. There was a small tray table available to the passenger, which she’d pulled out and was using for her laptop. From the image on the screen, it appeared to be an inventory list. The F&C logo was visible in the top corner. Had to be something for the business. Ordering supplies, maybe?

  Donna smiled. Everyone had adapted pretty quickly. Then she frowned. Cammie was nowhere to be found. Was she tucked away in her bunk? Donna looked over her shoulder.

  Had to be. The bathroom door was open, and the light was off.

  Some of the bunks had the privacy curtains pulled shut. A couple had them open but the lights on. The one unclaimed bunk was dark and open. Suitcases were being stored in there for now, but during their next stop, Pierce and Will planned to move them to one of the outside-accessible storage bays.

  Donna’s gaze rose. Cammie must have picked the top bunk closest to Donna’s room. The privacy curtain was closed, but there was light just visible near the latch.

  Donna knocked on the frame next to the latch. “Cammie?”

  The curtain slid back, and her sister looked out. She had a pen in her hand and was slouched down, knees up, with a notebook propped against them. “Yes?”

  “You okay?”

  She nodded, smiling. “Just working on a list of things I need to do.”

  That struck Donna as odd. “Like what?”

  “Buy more civilian clothes, for one.”

  That explained why she’d needed only a drawer. Donna made a little unhappy noise with her tongue against the roof of her mouth. “Why didn’t you say something? Pierce had all that clothing brought in for me and Christina. He could have easily had a rack for you too.”

  Cammie raised one brow. “I don’t need stuff from Saks.”

  “That was from Neiman Marcus.”

  Cammie slanted her eyes at Donna in amusement. “Same thing. I just need some simple things. Jeans. A sweater or two. Some boots.”

  Donna sighed and frowned. “Seriously, they have all those things at Neiman’s.”

  “And they cost a fortune.”

  “So? What’s the point of me having money if I can’t spend it on the people I love?”

  “That’s kind of you, but…” Cammie let a breath go by before she spoke again. “It’s not that easy for me, Donna. I can’t just shed the life that I was in for so long. It’s not in my nature to accept such generosity so easily.”

  “Two things. First, I’m your family. If you’re going to accept generosity from anyone, it should be from me. And second, you’re not in that life anymore.”

  “I know. And I know. But I still feel like I am. Which is what’s making it so hard. I know I have to move on. I’m just not there yet.”

  “You’ll get there. No one expects you to do it overnight.”

  Cammie smiled again. “Thank you for understanding.”

  “You’re welcome.” Donna rested her hand on her sister’s arm, needing to touch her and connect. “But I have to tell you that it makes my heart hurt that you separate yourself from everyone so much. I promise you, all of these people are worth being around.”

  Cammie’s smile flattened a bit. “I know. You wouldn’t surround yourself with anyone less. But again, my life was a very solitary one. And when I was with people, they were like-minded.”

  In other words, all Venari.

  Cammie glanced toward the front of the coach. “I feel…” She shook her head.

  “You feel what?”

  She was still looking toward the front. “Like I would be intruding. They all know what I used to be. Who I was trained to hunt. I realize that I make people uncomfortable. I don’t want my presence to upset anyone. Or cause you problems.”

  “Do you really think anyone would resent me for bringing you along? No one would even be on this trip if not for me. And again, you’re my family. For another thing, they all understand that you’re not the same person anymore. And those special cases you used to go after? There was good reason for them, right? A loose demon. A vampire gone rogue. A werewolf with rabies or whatever.”

  Cammie snorted. “That’s not a thing.”

  Donna shrugged. “It could be.”

  “Maybe.” But at last a slight smile bent Cammie’s mouth. Her brows knit as she looked at her sister. “You see why this is so hard for me?”

  “I do. I absolutely do.” Donna couldn’t imagine how out of place Cammie felt, but she desperately wanted to change that.

  Cammie continued. “And you have a fledgling on board. Your first turn. The last thing I want to do is make him or his daughter uneasy.”

  Donna understood. But this couldn’t go on for the entire trip, or she feared it would only become worse. “Did they seem uneasy when they were providing you with your new armor? Or helping you fit it?”

  With a slight look of reluctance, Cammie rubbed at her chin. “No. But they wouldn’t act that way in front of you.”

  “They were being themselves, I promise. No special behavior to please me. But really, do you think hiding away in your bunk will help them get to know you?”

  Cammie rolled her eyes. “Now you’re talking to me like I’m twelve.”

  “Well, you’re kind of acting like that. Enough is enough. Get down out of there.”

  “Why?”

  “Just do it.”

  “You’re awfully bossy for the second-born.” But Cammie pushed the privacy screen all the way back, twisted to swing her legs out, and gracefully dropped to her feet beside Donna. “Okay, I’m down. What now?”

  “Come on.” Donna grabbed Cammie’s hand and pulled her into the kitchen. Then she smiled at everyone. “Who wants a snack? Cammie and I are on it. Some inaugural RV munchies. What’ll it be?”

  Christina pulled her headset off and leaned out of the loft. “Did someone say something about food?”

  That got a few laughs. Donna nodded. “Yes, what are you in the mood for?”

  She put a hand on her stomach. “The baby really wants nachos. With extra cheese. And cinnamon.”

  Harper swiveled her seat to face them. “Ohh, I could murder some nachos. But, um, pass on the cinnamon.”

  Donna nodded and looked at her daughter. “You can put cinnamon on your own portion.”

  Will raised his hand. “I’ll take a plate.”

  Pierce looked over his reading glasses. “We didn’t really have dinner. Just that late breakfast, so I’m in.”

  “Perfect.” With hope in her eyes, Donna looked at Charlie. “Please tell me we have the ingredients for nachos.”

  Charlie nodded. “Pretty sure we do. No avocados, though, so there won’t be guacamole.”

  Christina grinned. “I can live with that. So long as there’s plenty of cheese, salsa, and sour cream.”

  “We have all that,” Charlie c
onfirmed. “Plus, there might be a can of refried beans and a small jar of jalapeños.”

  “Great.” Donna glanced at Cammie. “What do you say we figure out this kitchen?”

  “You really want me to help make nachos? I’m not exactly known for my prowess in the kitchen outside of a few simple meals.”

  Donna laughed. “You don’t have to be a fancy chef to know how to make good nachos.”

  Cammie smiled, then nodded. “Then let’s figure out this kitchen.”

  The nachos turned out better than expected, and half an hour later, Donna and Cammie were cleaning up after making three large batches. There was some moaning about having eaten too much, but none of that was coming from Christina, despite the fact that she’d polished off the lion’s share. With cinnamon. But Donna remembered having some weird food cravings when she’d been pregnant.

  Christina had her headset back on and her movie playing, but her phone was nowhere to be seen, and she looked very much asleep to Donna.

  While Donna wrapped up the leftovers and put away the remaining ingredients, Cammie went to deal with the baking sheets they’d used in the oven. Charlie had forgotten to buy foil, so there’d been nothing to line the sheets with. Didn’t matter. Donna and Cammie were happy to clean. Cammie filled one side of the sink with hot water and detergent, letting it foam up.

  Harper brought her and Will’s paper plates over and put them in the trash, which was hidden in a pullout drawer. “You want some help with those dishes?”

  Cammie glanced at her. “No, I can—actually, sure. You want to dry?”

  “Happy to. Do you know where the dish towels are?”

  Cammie opened one of the base cabinets directly under the sink and got one out. “Here you go. Thanks.”

  “No problem. Many hands make light work, right?”

  “Right.” Cammie grabbed one of the baking sheets they’d used and stuck it in the water, then looked over at Donna. “Thanks, by the way.”

  Donna knew what her sister meant. The nachos had given them all a reason to be together. And an opportunity for Cammie to interact with the others in a low-pressure way. Donna nodded as she put the sour cream back in the fridge. “You’re welcome.”