Real Vampires Have More to Love (10 page)

“Get in here.” I grabbed Greg’s arm and dragged him inside, then slammed the door. “Are you crazy? How many are there?”

“Four. A leader and three bodyguards. That’s my take.” Greg grinned at Aggie. “Introduce me to this beautiful lady.”

“I won’t be doing her any favors, but, Aggie, this is Greg Kaplan, the creep I told you about who does grunt work for the EVs. Greg, Aglaophonos, a Siren who can freeze you in your tracks if you do her wrong, so behave yourself.” I don’t know why I bothered warning him; it would have served him right if he’d ended up a statue in the park across the street.

“Now, Glory, I’ve risen in the ranks at EV headquarters lately. And I’m not so bad once you get to know me.” He ignored Flo, who, muttering Italian curses obviously intended for him, had emerged from the bathroom dressed in her own clothes again. He smiled at Aggie. “Aggie, I’m sure you can make up your own mind about the men you meet.” Greg gave her his “I’ll seduce the panties off you, but I hope you’re not wearing any” look.

“I certainly can.” Aggie looked from me to Flo and back to Greg. “That freeze thing is no joke. I can turn you to what amounts to stone with a look, buddy boy.” She ran a red-painted fingernail down the front of his blue button-down shirt. “But that’s only in an emergency. Seems a shame to turn a hot guy into a cold statue.”

“Much as I enjoy watching the mating dance here, we’ve got a war party in the alley, and I’ve got an idea.” I tapped Greg on the shoulder. “Give me your cell phone.”

“Why?” He reached into his jeans pocket anyway, then sniffed. “Glory, anyone tell you your new perfume smells like maple syrup? When I was mortal, I loved the stuff.”

“Thanks. If I can’t eat, at least I can smell yummy. Now I assume your number is untraceable. Right?”

“Of course. Can’t have just anyone calling EV headquarters.” Greg grinned at Aggie. “You should come out there. It’s an amazing place. I’m sure you like water. We’ve got a creek and private pool where you can swim as nature intended.”

“Glory, I’m either going to throw up or toss Gregory out the door into the alley again. What are you going to do?” Flo shoved him out of the way and stepped to my side.

“Listen.” I hit 911 and pressed speaker phone.

“Nine-one-one, what is your emergency?”

“Oh, my gawd. Oh, my gawd. They’re going to kill us!”

“Slow down, miss. Where are you?”

“Sixth Street. Near the alley behind where I got my new tat and that coffee shop, Mugs and somethin’. Oh, yeah, Muffins! My boyfriend parked his bike there, and when we went to get it, this gang of guys were like hiding between the cars.”

“Did they threaten you?”

“Yeah, yeah! They had, oh, my gawd, spear guns. And Ronnie, he’s saying’ what’re they doin’ next to my bike? And wantin’ to take ’em on.” I sobbed noisily.

“Is anyone hurt?”

“Not yet ’cause I’m not lettin’ him get killed even though he’s got shit for brains. Oh, my gawd, oh, my gawd! They’re comin’ this way! They’ve got real guns too, not just those spear things.” I screamed Ronnie’s name.

“Miss, please stay on the line. Help is on the way.”

I yelled “No!” then slammed the phone shut.

“Bravo! I forgot you were an actress, Glory.” Greg clapped.

“I want to see what happens when the
polizia
come.” Flo laughed, and even Aggie grinned.

“Let’s go out through the front and hit the roof. We should have a great view of the action from there.” I opened the door into the shop and told the clerk I was taking off for a while. There were a couple customers in the store, and we got a few curious looks as we hurried through, my boots squeaking when they stuck to the floor. A quick glance assured me that there wasn’t anyone suspicious out front, so David Westwood must have concentrated on the alley this go-round.

I punched in the security code, then we ran up the stairs just as we heard sirens coming down Sixth Street. It wasn’t an uncommon sound in this area, and I’m sure David ignored it, figuring there was trouble farther down the street.

We’d just settled on the roof when police cars screeched to a halt at both ends of the alley. Uniformed officers wearing bulletproof vests hopped out and crouched behind vehicles, shouting for the men hunkered down near the Dumpster and my car to lay down their weapons and come out with their hands up.

David cursed and threw down his crossbow. His men tossed guns and rifles into a pile, and I shivered. All this to take me out? Flo put her arm around me.

“You outsmarted them,
mia amica
.”

“This time.” I leaned against her.

Flo sniffed. “You do smell funny. And walked funny out of the shop, like you’re hurting. You want to explain?”

“Maybe later. Look!” I pointed to a man behind the police cars and the officers assigned to keep the interested crowd back while Westwood’s gang was being handcuffed.

“I’m worried about you, Glory.” Flo wasn’t giving up.

“But it’s Jerry!” I concentrated and sent him a mental message. We were pretty far up, but he should be able to hear me.

“He sees us!” Flo hugged me. “Now I feel better. He’ll come, and you can tell him what’s wrong.” She glanced at Aggie and Greg, who were whispering. “Those two chummy? I don’t like it.”

“Aggie’s a big girl, and she can be mean as a snake. Remember? She can handle Greg.” I had my own worries. Aggie wasn’t even in the top ten. Flo was right. Jerry had glanced up and nodded. Message received. Now he was talking to a policeman and giving the silent prisoners who’d asked for a lawyer a narrow-eyed look. Reading minds.

The men still weren’t wearing the vamp-detecting glasses. Why not? Had Brent kept those a secret? All
his
guards had worn them. If the innovation had died with Brent, it was an unexpected advantage to us. If these guys had worn the glasses and noticed Jerry was a vampire . . . Well, what would they have done? Yelled “Fangs!”? In front of the police, who were already interested in why they were hanging out in the alley with my picture and weapons?

Oops. My picture. I bet the cops would come calling to ask me about that. I’d have to make up a story. And what would David’s story be? Spurned lover? That would make him a stalker. Of course he could afford the sharpest lawyers and would probably get off with a plea bargain and community service. His best bet would be temporary insanity. He could point to his daddy’s vampire-hunting Web site. Claim the crazy ran in the family. I heard the door to the roof open. Jerry was here.

Greg’s body language changed from seducer to warrior in an instant. Obviously he remembered that Blade wasn’t a fan of the EVs or their representatives.

“Aggie and I are going down to my car to try some samples. What she doesn’t want for her shower, she’ll leave for you at the shop.” Greg finally acknowledged Flo with a tight smile. “Florence, guess you should come with us. These are for your parties after all.”

Flo glanced from me to Jerry’s grim face. “Glory, that okay with you?”

“Sure. Make a list of what you like.” I smiled at her. “Jerry and I need to talk. I’ll be fine, right, Jer?”

“Of course.” Jerry nodded. “Florence, Aggie.” He didn’t acknowledge Greg. “Be careful, ladies. If you need me, give me a mental shout. I’d be more than happy to eliminate any problems.” He gave Greg a warning stare.

“Relax, Blade. I come in peace. Simon sends his regards. No hard feelings on our side.” Greg pulled a packet out of his pocket and tossed it at Jerry. It fell at his feet. “Free Vamp Viagra. Don’t be such a hard-ass. Glory will thank you for trying it.” He yelped when Blade suddenly had him up by his shirt front and dangling over the edge of the roof.

“Why don’t I drop you into the alley? The ladies will meet you downstairs.” Blade shook Greg, who’d grabbed his wrists.

“Ease up. Can’t you take a joke?” Greg cut his eyes toward me. “Glory? The cops are still down there. We don’t need this.”

“Jerry, he’s right. He wouldn’t even get a broken bone, and we’d get unwanted attention.” I put my arms around his waist and pulled him back. Not that he’d have moved if he hadn’t realized what I said was true. “And the Vamp Viagra might be fun. Why not take a free ride?” I stood on my toes and ran my fangs along his neck. “I’m having a stressful night. Might help me relax.”

“There you go.” Greg landed on the roof and smoothed out his shirt. “Ladies, shall we take off? Seems Glory’s got an agenda, and we’re in the way.” He steered Aggie and Flo toward the door.

“Glory, I only go if you say it’s okay. Jeremiah is not in such a good mood.” Flo moved away from Greg. “Jeremiah, be kind to her. Glory handled this very well. But she is shook up.
Sì?
”

“Yes, I am. Look at all those weapons.” I clung to Jerry. Why was he so angry? Not at me, of course. I threw up a block. As long as no one told him I’d gone crawling into Viv’s jeans, I should be golden. Totally the victim.

“Gloriana knows I’m just worried about her. It’s those bastards downstairs I’d like to rip apart. You can leave us, Florence.” Jerry said this quietly. “I’d never hurt Gloriana.”

“Right. Go, Flo. We’re fine.” I finally let go of him. “See you tomorrow night. Oh, and I forgot to tell you. Nadia Komisky is Rafe’s partner. She says she knows you and that we can have the bachelorette party at their new nightclub.”

“Nadia! Yes. She gave Damian a run for his life. Hah!” Flo was now all smiles. “And this bachelorette party will be some fun. I’ll invite her. You and I will talk tomorrow.” She turned on her heel and shoved Aggie and Greg out ahead of her.

“Another Westwood attack.” Jerry looked over the wall as the police cars finally left the alley and all was quiet again.

“Yes. But Greg saw them, and I called nine-one-one. The police handled it. I was never in danger at all.” I tried to relax.

“Then maybe you can explain why you smell like a cheap pancake house.” Jerry didn’t look at me. Just kept staring down at the dark alley.

“What do you know about places like that?” I moved closer.

“I know a lot of things that seem trivial at the moment. And don’t know what I need to.” He finally looked at me. “When I heard there were men in the alley with crossbows and your picture ...” He slapped the wall, and a piece of concrete crumbled. “Damn it, Gloriana, what the hell is going on here?”

“Seems that arrow attack was more than the revenge thing I took it for. Brent Westwood left a will. He’s got two kids. The first one to pop his killer inherits his estate, the whole enchilada. It’s over a billion dollars, and that’s a powerful motivator.” I picked up the baggie of Vampire Viagra. If I could persuade Jerry to use this, I could definitely get his mind off life or death. Does that make me a live-for-the-moment kind of woman? Well, might as well. When you’re being stalked . . .

Suddenly I was grabbed by both arms and shaken until my hair flew around my head like I’d been struck by lightning again.

“What the hell is the matter with you? You could have been killed tonight. Did you see the weapons that mob carried?”

“How could I miss them?” I jerked out of his grasp, the rooftop spinning. “Was that necessary? I think you bruised my arms. And after you told Flo you’d never hurt me.” And what was with my men tonight? Seems I’d pushed Jerry and Rafe too far for once. And how rude of Jerry to poke into my mind without an invitation. It was something we simply didn’t do.

“You’ll heal. It’s a miracle I haven’t knocked you on your arse before now. I swear you are the most damnably provoking woman I’ve ever known.” Jerry ran his hand through his hair.

“Thanks a lot. And, trust me, my arse has suffered enough abuse tonight.” I brushed my hair out of my eyes, then pulled up my sleeves as if to check for those bruises. Laying on some guilt. In case Jerry decided I still had a knock on my arse coming. He was seriously steamed. And I understood. If he’d been in this kind of danger and kept it from me . . .

“I’m afraid to ask what the hell that means. God, Gloriana, you could have stepped out of your back door and been shot through the heart.” He reached for me again, gently this time, and pulled me to his chest. “I remember what those crossbows can do. Saw my best friend taken down with one right in front of me. Remember?” He said this with his face in my hair, arms wrapping me tight as if he could keep me safe single-handedly.

I swallowed. He was right. Of course this had brought back horrific memories for him. But I wasn’t a complete idiot. Hadn’t planned to unwittingly step out there without someone checking the alley first. Though if the men
had
been wearing vamp-detection glasses . . .

I cleared my throat and looked up. “They hauled David off to jail. I’m safe for tonight anyway.”

Jerry released me and stepped back, under control again. “You said there were two Westwood brats. Where’s the other one now?”

“I ran her off earlier tonight. Stepped in maple syrup doing it. That’s where the pancake smell is coming from.” I glanced down at my shoes. “Anyway, Rafe saw me do it.” Oops. Jerry looked like a thundercloud.

“Great. Valdez knows about this, but he didn’t tell me.”

“He’s not your employee anymore. He doesn’t owe you—”

“I let him out of his contract, but he does still owe me.” Jerry pulled the Vampire Viagra from my hand. “You want to play? Forget the future and live for the night? Why not? Come home with me. I don’t have roommates to hear you scream with pleasure. If your life is going to be cut short, I guess we should make the most of the time we have left.”

“Jerry, I—” Tears clogged my throat, and I followed him dumbly to the door. Did I want to make love with him? Of course I did. Maybe I didn’t like what he said, but he was way better at facing reality than I was. A warrior. And I had a history of running away when things got hot instead of standing and fighting. I hated to do it, but maybe leaving was still my best move. So a night of his lovemaking? Bring it on.

He silently held the door open, and I walked ahead of him down the stairs. My damned sticky boots squeaked with every step. I’d worn tight jeans and a red sweater. I wished I could stop in my apartment to at least change shoes. Or it might help my cause to switch out my bra. What I had on could have carried rocks for David to use against Goliath. The image made my mouth quirk in a smile.