Real Vampires Have More to Love (15 page)

What can I say? I’m easy. I dragged a chip through the bright red salsa and stuffed it in my mouth. Oh, yeah, on fire. I grabbed a bottle of something called Moch-A and took a swig. Coffee flavored. I had tears in my eyes and not from the hot sauce. I was in food lover’s Heaven. I hoped this stuff didn’t have consequences. I’d suffered after an encounter with Cheetos.

“Wait a minute. Why did taking Brent Westwood’s body make you an invaluable asset?” Call me a pig, but I said this around a mouthful of cupcake.

“That, dear Glory, is what you’re about to find out.” Greg nodded to Aggie. “Do your thing, love bunny.”

“Swallow that bite, Glory, and wipe the frosting off your nose. What a pig.” Aggie put her hands on her hips.

Mortified, I swiped at my nose, then washed down the cupcake with another thirsty gulp of Moch-A. Man, those EVs knew their stuff. I glanced at the price list in the bag. Good thing Flo was paying because I sure couldn’t afford it. But Jerry could. Maybe I should break down and marry him. Was that a terrible reason to say vows? Aggie and Greg just watched me.

“What?”

“This.” Aggie smiled and turned me to stone.

 

Aggie and Greg carried me out between them like a five-foot-five-inch log. When my head whacked the edge of the back door, Aggie thought it was hilarious.

“Quiet. She has a lot of nosy friends around here. We don’t need one of them riding to her rescue.” Greg hit a remote, and the lights flashed on a black SUV with dark tinted windows.

“Big deal. Then we’d have more statues for the alley.” Aggie chuckled and let my hair brush the dirty concrete.

“I don’t feel like dealing with the complications.” Greg shoved my feet into the back of the vehicle.

And what could I do about it? Zip. Not a damned thing. Couldn’t even blink. It had only been a few minutes, and my eyeballs already felt like sandpaper. I strained with every fiber of my being to move
something
. I shouted frantic mental messages in every direction. Apparently no one heard.

“Poor Glory. You want to know where you’re going?” Greg patted me on the rump just before he crammed me the rest of the way in. “Not telling. Not until we’re well away from this shop of yours. I know you’re trying to call for help.”

I saw him take Aggie’s arm before he slammed the back door, leaving me in darkness. I could hear them arguing. Aggie wanted to come along, but Greg had strict orders to come alone.

“What good is it going to do to have her out there like that? Nobody can take the freeze off her but me.” Aggie sounded seriously pissed.

“Trust me, Simon will thaw her out with a glance. Sorry, sweet thing, but we’ll go another time. We’ll have one of the luxury suites and a romantic weekend. This is business.”

Aggie changed tactics. “Combine business with pleasure, baby.” I heard some sounds I didn’t want to analyze.

“Sorry, but not tonight. Soon. Now I’ve got to go.” Greg was out of breath but determined. Which just proved how scared of Simon he was. Because offer Greg sex and he was usually putty in your hands. Or at least I’d heard rumors to that effect. The overhead light blinked on then off when Greg got into the car and started the engine.

“Guess you heard. So now you know where we’re headed. Not to worry, Glory. Simon won’t hurt you. Not if you cooperate.”

I lay there in the dark, rolling and bumping helplessly with every turn the SUV made, and figured this was it for me. Because I couldn’t imagine cooperating with Simon Destiny.

What the hell did he want with me? To meet the mystery man the EV king had mentioned? Oh, yeah. Simon called himself king of the EVs. Didn’t wear a crown, or at least I hadn’t seen one, but that didn’t mean the jerk didn’t keep one on his nightstand to impress the ladies insane enough to sleep with him. Another turn and I rolled until I lay facedown on the carpet, the rough nylon smashed against my nose.

Would Simon give me to the energy-sucking goddess the EVs worshipped and feared? They’d built a gold-domed temple to her. The car swerved, and I slid to my back again, staring at a black ceiling and wondering if I could find a way to hurt Aggie before I died. I really, really wanted to take the Siren down.

“Calm down, Glory. You’re broadcasting your thoughts pretty clearly, and you can forget hurting Aggie. Maybe this will help you chill. I bought this CD just for you.” Ray’s voice suddenly filled the car. His new album. Of course I had it at home and in my car. Cut number three was a song Ray had written for me. When it came on, I wanted to cry bitter tears. Damn. Couldn’t squeeze out a single drop. I wanted Ray badly. He’d rip out Greg’s throat and sing while doing it.

The music changed, faster, rocking hard. I lay there in the dark, awash first with hopelessness, then with a homicidal anger that had no place to go until the last song faded into silence.

“Great. We’re here. Good thing. I know he’s a big deal, but I couldn’t take another second of your rock star’s wailing. ‘The Glory Years’? Gag me.” Greg stopped the car, and the overhead light came on. His door slammed, then the back door opened. “Hey, could use some help here. Got a heavy package to unload.”

Greg grabbed my shoulders and pulled me out, then another man took my legs and they carried me across a parking lot to a large brick building. Once inside, they set me on my feet, Greg leaning me against a wall.

“Get Simon, will you?” Greg ordered the other man.

“No need. I’m here.” Simon walked into the room, his weasel face all smiles. “Well done, Gregory. I see you used your Siren’s skills to subdue Gloriana.” He walked close and brushed my cheek with a cold fingertip before he sniffed. “Strawberry?” He laughed. “She really went for that cupcake, didn’t she?”

“Oh, yeah. You sure you can undo this freeze thing?” Greg patted my cheek, hard enough to make me rock against the wall. “Aggie really wanted to come out here and do it herself.”

“I can take care of it. Leave us.” Simon smiled into my eyes. It was like staring into a cobra’s gaze, waiting for the fatal strike. I prayed he’d thaw me out, so I could run like hell or shift and fly away.

Greg left and closed the door.

“Gloriana, you know I can read your thoughts. Since you’re so hell-bent on leaving, it suits me to leave you in this helpless state awhile longer.” Simon backed up a step. “You’re not going anywhere until you meet my special guest. That’s why I had Gregory bring you out here, since you refused my invitation to come on your own.” Simon walked over to his desk and picked up a phone. “Send him in, Loretta.”

I didn’t know who to expect and sure didn’t like Simon’s secret smile when the door opened and a man walked in. When I saw who it was, I really wished I could blink, rub my eyes, something. No way. Couldn’t be. That bump on my head had given me hallucinations.

“Glory St. Clair. I’ve been wanting to thank you for what you did.” The man strode over to stand right in front of me.

Gag reflex. No, not working. Hyperventilate. Breathing didn’t function either.

“What’s the matter with her?” He put his hand on my shoulder, and I began to slide.

“Frozen. It’s a trick some of us higher-level entities can use as a defense. She doesn’t like to visit here.”

I landed on my back and lay staring at the ceiling. Neither man so much as lifted a finger to help me. Real gentlemen.

“I’d like to do that. Freeze someone. Is she stuck like this permanently? That would be bad. I need her, you know. Able to move.” The man squatted beside me and peered into my eyes, so close I could feel his breath on my face.

He’d been drinking from a type-B mortal, and I could see his fangs. Vampire. Hysterical laughter knocked around in my brain, sending my thoughts scattering. One landed front and center. I hated him. Oh, yeah. First chance I got, he was going to hell and staying there. His eyes raked my body, and he squeezed my breast through my sweater. His smile begged to be ripped off his face.

“I can release her at any time. But I’d suggest you be on the other side of the room when I do it.” Simon stood beside his guest and clapped him on the shoulder. “Read her thoughts. I think you’ll find them enlightening.”

“Oh yeah. I keep forgetting I can do that.” He stood, then stared into my eyes. I sent him a very specific message.

“Wow. She’s got a mouth on her.” He glanced at Simon, then back at me, his smile full of fang. “Sorry, Glory, but Brent Westwood’s back, and thanks to you and Greg Kaplan, I’m going to live forever.”

Nine

“Glory, I’m going to release you now.” Simon had taken Westwood’s place by my side. “I’d advise you to behave if you want to stay free.”

Behave? Instead of fight or try to escape? Why not? I wanted to know what Brent Westwood could possibly need from me. Gross touches or not, it wasn’t sex. I’d read his mind too, enough to know he’d just been trying to intimidate me. God, I hated him.

“All right. I can see you’ve decided to be reasonable.” Simon touched my shoulder. I could
move
.

Good intentions or not, I leaped and went straight for Westwood. I threw him up against the wall, my hands on his shoulders.

“Listen to me, you asshole. You ever touch me like that again, and I’ll kill you and make sure it’s permanent this time. You hear me?” I slammed his head against the wall. Simon just watched, apparently amused. “I’m not ripping out your throat because you probably taste like dirty gym socks. But, remember, you’re a fledgling, and I’m over four hundred years old. I can take you down and not even break a sweat.”

“Simon? You just going to stand there and let her do this?” Westwood’s mouth trembled over his new fangs.

“You shouldn’t have touched her. Only a man who can’t get a woman any other way would take advantage like that.” Simon strolled over to his desk and sat in a black leather chair. “Let him explain his needs, Gloriana. I think you’ll see an advantage in cooperating.”

I smacked Brent’s head against the wall one more time, then let him slide down into a groaning heap on the floor. “Cooperate with
him
? You’re kidding. Damned vampire killer. Why haven’t you fed him to your goddess in little chunks already?”

“Normally, I would have. But remember who we’re dealing with.” Simon gestured at Westwood, who was giving me hate-filled looks. “He’s a billionaire. Money talks.”

“Not that loud. I can’t believe Greg turned him. What the hell was he thinking?” I strode over to an armchair in front of Simon’s desk and sat. I didn’t doubt Simon would keep Westwood from retaliating against me. Obviously I had a purpose here.

“It was genius. I was amazed Kaplan had the foresight to do it, and I’ve rewarded him.” Simon smiled. “You can imagine how surprised our guest was when he woke up.”

I grinned. “Hey, Brent, how’s it feel to be one of those evil undead bloodsuckers? Where’s your crossbow? Want me to put you out of your misery?” That earned me a one-finger salute, and I laughed so hard I got tears in my eyes. “I love the irony. Tell me, Simon, did he cry and beg you to stake him?”

“Shut up, bitch.” Westwood threw himself into a chair. “You don’t know anything about it.”

“What I know is that you hunted down innocent vampires. I saw that Web site. You put your kills on exhibition.” I snarled at him. “You don’t deserve immortality.”

“Tough shit.” He smiled and showed fang. “I got it anyway.”

“Cool it, both of you. Westwood, remember you need Gloriana’s cooperation. Living forever is an expensive proposition. You said you wanted access to your funds.” Simon was serious now. “Don’t get sidetracked by petty concerns.”

“It’s not petty when I’m attacked. She nailed me in the first place with my own weapon.” Westwood glared at me. “The pain! Hell, I prayed for death as I tried to stay absolutely still and listened to that bunch of vampires talk about chopping off my head.”

“Too bad they didn’t follow through. It would have made a sweet bowling ball.” I smirked at him. “You can appreciate the desire to take a trophy, can’t you, Brent? Where’s your necklace?”

“Figured one of those damned vamps took it.” Westwood looked down at his fists. “But forget that. I’m looking to the future now.” He glanced at Simon. “I want my old life back, or at least access to my funds. But I’ll need your help.”

“When monkeys fly out of your butt.” I sat back. “Your kids are already divvying up your fortune. All they want is your body. Somehow I think they’ll be disappointed if you show up now.” I grinned at him. “Not exactly father of the year, were you?”

“I made some mistakes. Like anybody could.” Westwood stood, looming over me. I jumped up and faced him.

“Yeah, I made a big one. I should have ripped out your throat. Made sure you were truly dead that night.” I looked him up and down. “But I couldn’t bear to get that close.”

“Can we drop the pissing contest and get down to business?” Simon pounded his fist on his desk, making his phone clatter and Westwood jump a foot. Newbie.