"Thank you, darling. Of course." Flo gave me a serious look. "Have an open mind, Glory. Ricardo's in my life now. I would hate to have to find a new roomie."
"My mind is way too open right now, Flo. And you won't have to find a new roomie on my account." I nodded toward the door. "I've got my dog, Richard. I can make it upstairs just fine."
"Please. Humor me. I have something to tell you."
If it was a passionate declaration of his love for Flo, he could spare me. He gripped my elbow and propelled me toward the door. When we got outside, he gave Valdez a look that had my dog tucking his tail between his legs. I shivered. Okay. What the hell was going on here? Richard punched in the code that Flo had obviously given him and held the door open so I could enter the apartment building. He shut the door in Valdez's face. Dog out, us in. I couldn't believe Valdez had allowed it. And he wasn't even barking. Freaky.
"Stop right here. I can get upstairs on my own. As soon as I get my dog inside where he belongs." I looked around. No one was above us on the stairwell or in front of the mailboxes that took up one side of the small lobby. "What is it you want to tell me, Richard?"
"I know you still think I may have been staking vampires with a cross."
Well, that laid it all out. "Have you? Former priest. Praying over your drinking buddies. Even Flo says you think we're demons from hell." Well, if I wanted to earn my own piece of holy harpoon, I was doing a whale of a job. Sorry, I get a little pun happy when I'm nervous. Have I mentioned how tall and toned Richard is?
"I've struggled with what I am, what we are, for a long, long time." Richard stepped back and leaned against the wall. "And I won't hurt you, Gloriana."
I released the breath I hadn't known I was holding. This was one scary dude. Powers off the charts or my name wasn't Gloriana, uh, uh, oh right, St. Clair.
"We are what we are, Richard. I've struggled with it too. And wasted a lot of time denying my own power." I saw myself at the top of the stairs. And I was there. In front of my own apartment door. I turned around. Of course Richard was right behind me.
"I know you're Florence's good friend. That you love her as she deserves to be loved." Richard put his hand on my shoulder and I couldn't have moved an inch if my life depended on it.
"Yes, I do love Flo. She's a wonderful friend. I've been worried about her. Because of your… secrets." Damn it, I was not going to cry. But it was clear as glass that Richard really did love my roomie. His eyes met mine and he let me see the truth of that.
"My secrets are my own. I promise I'll not harm you or any other vampire. Unless that vampire is threatening someone I love." Again, he let me see that he meant it. As solemn as a vow. Of course, he'd taken the vows to be a priest once too. Obviously he'd discarded the celibacy vow in a big way.
"I'm a man, Gloriana. I love God. I've never stopped. But I was not meant to serve Him inside the Church. So I chose immortality. And to serve Him in my own way." Richard's hand tightened on my shoulder for a moment and I winced. The man was damned strong.
"You sound like some kind of holy crusader."
"I have been." Richard finally let me go. "Are we good now?"
"Good? If you mean do I believe you're not staking other vamps…" I lifted my chin, "Not yet. Sure, you let me see your thoughts, but you're stronger than Blade, stronger than any vamp I've ever known. I could be under a whammy here and I wouldn't have a clue."
"You're very clever, Gloriana. I'm glad you're Florence's good friend and champion." He smiled. "You are her champion, are you not?"
"Yes, I am. So don't hurt her, Mainwaring. Or you'll have to answer to me." I had to give the man credit. He didn't laugh his ass off at my bravado.
"I will never hurt Florence. We'll be together until she decides to move on."
"There you go. So why don't you go back to her? And send up my dog." I pulled my keys out of my pocket. "I don't appreciate all this show of power. Valdez will sulk for a month that he let me down."
"I'll erase his memory. He'll come bounding up those stairs and think he's been with you every moment. Satisfied?" He kept looking at me.
Satisfied? Not really. I had more questions now than ever before. But I was clever. So clever I realized he'd respected me enough not to erase my memory. So I wasn't going to ask my questions. Not tonight anyway. But I wanted answers.
I watched him walk down the stairs and saw Valdez pass him, tail wagging like they were old friends. Nothing could have made me more uneasy than that little bit of action. I hope Flo knew what kind of man she was involved with, because I sure as hell didn't.
I waited until I was sure Mainwaring had left the building then headed down the back stairs. I hated going out the back. The alley had proved to be a vamp hunting ground. But I still had to deal with Ryan. Wipe his mind, plant a suggestion and send him on his way.
Fortunately all the security lights were working again and Valdez and I got inside the storeroom before my cell phone rang.
"I just left Ryan's apartment. I've got every piece of computer equipment he owned in the back of my car."
"Great. I hope no one saw you." As far as I knew werecats couldn't do a whammy and wipe memories.
"It's cool. I sneaked in, loaded up and sneaked out." Lacy giggled. "After a detour by a paint store. Ryan's precious vintage wardrobe is officially history."
"What color?" Nothing like a good revenge scenario to lighten a dark mood.
"Red. The color of that lying SOB's blood. You ought to drain him dry, Glory."
I looked at him, sitting peacefully under the whammy, eyes closed as he waited for my next order. I was feeling more sick than bloodthirsty. The idea that he'd recorded all of our conversations… Well, maybe I could come up with a little blood lust. But I wouldn't. Westwood thought vamps were animals. Ryan apparently was on board with that. I was way above the animal level and I sure as hell didn't want to put my teeth anywhere on Ryan's body.
"Thanks, but no thanks. How are you doing with all this?"
Lacy sighed. "It felt good at first, but now I'm just tired and—"
"I know. The man's a dirtbag. I'll send him home to Houston and you'll never have to see him again."
"Thanks, Glory." Lacy hung up and I turned to Ryan.
"You've been robbed, Ryan, and you want to go home to Houston to finish your degree. You won't work for Westwood any more. Let your father take care of his own mess."
Ryan nodded. I was guiding him out the back door when Valdez got in on the act. He grabbed a chunk of Ryan's pants and ripped out the seat.
"Red silk boxers? Good thing you like red, bug boy."
The dog spit out the fabric and snorted. "Damned sneaking son of a bitch. We should throw him in the lake with his laptop tied to his ankle."
I patted Valdez's head and shoved Ryan outside. "Too easy. Let the creep explain to his daddy how he screwed up in Austin. He'll remember just enough to know he won't be showing his face here anytime soon."
"Can't say I'm sorry to see that young'un gone." Harvey appeared in the storeroom.
"You didn't like bug boy?" I pulled a Bloody Merry out of the fridge and headed into the store to collapse into the comfy chair that still hadn't sold. I could definitely use some down time and it was only an hour until dawn.
"He was jealous of Ryan. Because I thought he was cute." Emmie Lou sat on the counter.
"Cute is, as cute does, Emmie Lou." I nodded at Henry. "Henry and I agree. Good riddance. Ryan was a slimeball."
"Poor Lacy. She sure deserves better than that." Emmie glanced at her spouse. "I guess there's worse things than cheating."
"Here we go. I never cheated." Harvey paced the length of the store. He stopped by the ladies' underwear and held up a red and black lace bustier. "Course if you'd ever worn something like this, I wouldn't even have looked at that checker at the Piggly Wiggly. Not that anything happened there."
Emmie Lou hissed, I swear it. "You hear that, Glory. Thirty-nine years of marriage and he thinks I should come st
rutting into the bedroom dressed like a high-priced hooker." She hopped off the counter and walked up to Henry.
"Let me tell you something, mister. If you'd still kissed me like that Mr. Blade kisses our Glory here, you'd have had me prancing in front of you like a show girl every night. I married you for your kisses, then you got stingy with them. Your tractor got more affection than I did."
Kissed like Blade. I tuned out the Nutts' never-ending fight and thought about being kissed by Blade. We'd always had the hot-for-your-body thing going for us. But it wasn't enough for the long haul. One thing that watching Harvey and Emmie Lou bickering had taught me, was that you could talk a thing to death. What really mattered was action. Behavior.
Reality check. Blade's behavior toward me had been… caring. Rushing over to check on me whenever Valdez called. Hey, Valdez sticking to me like a leech. Those things proved that Blade cared about me. But Blade also "cared" about Mara, "cared" about his family, despite the current rift. Was I just one more obligation to him?
But when he kissed me it was easy to imagine that we still had the mystical connection that had pulled us together in the first place. I never would have become vampire just for hot sex. I'd felt back then like I'd met my, don't laugh now, soul mate.
Some people don't figure vamps as being human. I know we're more than human. Along with enhanced senses, immortality and the potential for powers off the charts, we feel things more intensely. Hate, love, sorrow and, the worst for me, guilt. Is it any wonder our relationships tend to be complicated?
Blade had given all that to me, along with a libido that wouldn't quit. I like sex, need sex on a regular basis. Seeing Flo and Richard all touchy feely had brought that fact home big time. I strolled over to the lingerie section and picked up the bustier. I knew how to show off my assets and downplay my defects. I'd wear this tomorrow night and see what happened. I didn't doubt I'd have some opportunities—Blade, Damian, maybe somebody new. If I got a chance to have a good time, I was going to take it.
"Come on, Flo, pull!" The bustier laced up the front but lacked two inches before it would cover me decently.
"Just one more inch." To hell with decency. I grabbed the strings. Thank God they were industrial strength. "I'll lay down on the bed. Flo, you get on top and don't hold back. Use your vamp muscles this time."
"I don't know, Glory. If I do get it that tight, you're going to suffer." Flo shook her head.
"This from a woman who wears four inch stilettos? We suffer for beauty. Now get up here and do your thing."
Valdez looked up from the bowl of dip he was licking clean. "I should sell tickets. Guys would pay good money to see you two like that."
Flo had climbed on top of me, her knees on either side of my waist. She held the strings in her hand, looked over at Valdez and grinned. "Only if I kiss her on the lips first."
"Ewww! You two cut it, oof, out." Flo had jerked on the strings and I would have gasped except I was permanently through breathing.
"One more… Got it!" Flo tied a bow, then frowned. "Better make it a double knot." She looked down at me. At least I think she did. Everything was kind of blurry.
"Hello? Stay with us, girlfriend. Can you breathe?" She climbed off me.
Breathe? Maybe, maybe not. I managed a nod and held out my hand. Flo pulled me to a sitting position. I was a little off center while I tried to adjust to the vise around my middle.
"You're really out there, girlfriend." Flo glanced at Valdez. "Is she turning blue or am I imagining it?"
"I don't know about her color, but I think she's going to blow. Cut her loose, Flo."
"Don't." Wheeze. "You." Gasp. "Dare." Sigh. I blinked the room back into focus and managed to stand.
"You should have a Bloody Merry." Flo pressed a cold can into my hand.
"No! Can't. Bloats me." I staggered into the living room and glanced down. Whoa. Talk about your ripe melons.
"Wear something else, Blondie." Valdez nudged my hip. "You don't look so hot."
"Au contraire, puppy. I look sizzling." At least I hoped that was the effect of my tits galore. "I just need some blush." I walked carefully into the bedroom and stroked some Fiery Rose on my cheeks. My spray-on tan had faded until I was pale again.
Of course the fact that I hadn't let myself drink any Bloody Merry since waking had also added to the pale, "I'm undead," look. But fasting seemed to be the only way I could lose any weight. Temporary, but every ounce helped. I dipped a little blush into my cleavage. If the men in my life didn't fall over in lust, then I was going into a nunnery.
"I don't think convents accept vampires as novitiates." Flo picked up my blush and dabbed at her own cheeks. "This Kevlar. I should have worn something low cut."
"You look cute." Which she did. Flo had on the Kevlar bra with the bright yellow targets. She'd paired it with skintight black satin capris and four-inch heels with rhinestone buckles. There was a knock on the door.
"Lacy's here." Flo threw open the door. "Check out Glory, kitty girl."
"That's quite a costume." Lacy looked me over. "The Devil with, um, major bazooms."
"I'm a minion, a minor demon from hell, not the big guy." I had put on a very short skirt made of layers of red and orange silk with my bustier. The skirt looked like flames and had originally been part of my costume during my stint as a barmaid at the Hot Spot, a bar in the hotel where I'd eventually gotten work in the chorus of the revue playing the main stage.
Cute little horns and a tail had carried on the theme and they were part of the junk I'd hauled with me to Austin. Damian and I were both hiding in plain sight tonight. Well, not much of me was actually hiding.
"My brother will love it. Especially if you pop right out of that thing."
"Thanks a lot. Are we ready to go, Lacy? Flo, are you waiting for Richard?" I hadn't asked before, glad Flo had been around to help me into my costume.
Flo studied her long red nails. "No, he's meeting us there. I'm mad at him. He's getting mysterious again."
"I believed him last night, if that helps. I don't think he's staking other vamps." I picked up my black satin cape lined with red and tied it around my shoulders. I still wasn't breathing much, which made serious inroads on the sexy feeling.
"Good to know. But, Flo, it sounds like you and I both need new boyfriends." Lacy looked very sexy in Ryan's suit. The trousers were slung low on her hips and the jacket was held closed by just one button. There was plenty of bare skin above and below that button.
"Blade's here." Valdez stood and there was a knock on the door.
"Why?" I flipped the dead bolts. "We were just leaving."
"Ask him yourself." Valdez gave me a look then sat down again.
I opened the door and Blade stood there, resplendent in Campbell plaid complete with broadsword. My heart jumped around in my chest. I'd always loved the way Blade looked in clan regalia. Tonight he had the whole "I'm ready to slay the world for you" look going on.
"Why are you here? We're on our way to Damian's party."
"I know. Valdez told me."
"Where's Mara? She told Damian she'd be coming with you."
"She'll be along. I have a guard assigned to her." He looked at Flo and nodded approvingly. "Good idea, Florence. Gloriana, where's your Kevlar?"
"I'm not wearing it tonight." I threw back my cape and let my cleavage shine. And was Blade looking? You bet he was. Good news that I rated Blade's personal attention tonight while Mara got stuck with a bodyguard.
"Living dangerously, are you?" Blade moved closer, his fangs just showing beneath his smile. "Or perhaps you've been developing more of your powers. Any new tricks to show me?"
Hmm. He was obviously remembering the now-you're-dressed, now-you're-naked number I'd pulled on him. I wouldn't mind another round. I smiled back and let him read the possibility. Lacy cleared her throat and Flo shook her head.
"Gloriana is keeping secrets from us, Jeremiah. She's been working on her powers without me." Flo smiled sadly. "I just ho
pe you don't have to use them tonight, Glory."
"I don't think Westwood will try anything at a party where he'd be surrounded by vamps." I glanced at Flo. "And it doesn't hurt for a woman to have a few surprises up her sleeve, does it?"
"Not at all. I just hope you're right about Westwood. But we'll be well protected, Jeremiah." Flo grabbed a black fur shrug and pulled it on. "Damian has a security force and his grounds are surrounded by a ten-foot fence. I can't see Westwood climbing a fence, can you?" Flo patted my arm on the way to the door.
"I have my own security there too." Blade was definitely giving me the eye. I was a naughty girl and trailed a finger across the top of my lace bustier.
"Then we should be fine." I picked up my black satin clutch. "Let's go."
"Not yet." Suddenly solemn, Blade blocked the door. "I have news. About the cross that staked Marguerite."
Chapter Twenty-one
There went the party mood. "What about it, Jerry?" I had a feeling I didn't want to hear this. Lacy and Flo sat on the love seat.
"I've been in contact with vampires in Houston. The crosses used there were identical to the one that took out Trevor. And another vampire was staked in Dallas last week. Same kind of cross."
Nothing like a vamp network. Blade had always maintained connections with other strong vamps.
"Who was killed in Dallas? When? What night?" Despite her blush, Flo was pale. Did she wonder at all if this was Richard's work?
"Thursday night. Sebastian de Ville. You knew him, Florence."
"Of course." She bit her lip. "In London. Many years ago. This is terrible." She gave me a look. "Ricardo was with me last Thursday night, Glory. Does that make you believe in him?"
"I told you I believed him, Flo. But it's good to have proof." I let Flo read my aggravation that she still read my mind whenever she felt like it, then shrugged. "If you know where he was every minute last Thursday, Flo, then we should both feel better."
"But what about Margie?" Flo put her hand on Blade's arm. "Wasn't the cross that took her the same?"
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