I had to put some time in at the shop. At least I didn't have to worry about Penny. She was busy supervising her move, nervous about her computer and her research. I'd arranged to meet Nathan at ten o'clock near Zilker Park. When the sweet scent hit me, I was going over receipts near the register while my night clerk, Erin, helped a customer.
"Not avoiding that full-length mirror, are you, Glory?" Spyte came through the door first. He was a vision in blue tonight. His baby blue satin shirt clung to broad shoulders and did great things for his eyes, which were blue tonight, and his honey blond hair. His navy trousers had a sheen that shouted Italian silk.
"Nonsense. I bet she's already bought one for upstairs. Am I right, Glory dear?" Caryon wore a silver gray suit and black shirt. His tie had a stripe that pulled it all together. The pair drew admiring looks from my female customers. If they only knew . . .
"That's what you wanted, wasn't it? For me to obsess about my fat butt?" I came out from behind the counter and, yeah, tried not to catch a glimpse of my reflection just visible down one aisle. Big butt, thighs, and why had I ever thought I could wear this shade of gold, which made my hair look dull and my skin washed out? I was definitely changing tops before I met Nate.
Spyte's smirk propelled me toward the back of the shop. "Follow me. We can't talk out here." I gestured toward the door that led to my storeroom.
"I think we're making progress, Spyte. Yes, I do." Caryon was on my heels after I murmured to Erin where I was going.
"In your dreams." I smiled and opened the door. "Come inside. I don't want to run off my customers. If they keep inhaling your stench, they're likely to discover a craving and head next door for a muffin."
"Yes, we do have that yummy thing going on, don't we?" Spyte wrinkled his nose. "Holy hellfire. Here's a stench. Do I smell mothballs, Glory? Where do you get your stock? Dumpsters?" He picked up a vintage shirtwaist dress that had indeed come from a street person who'd found a box of great things on a curb destined for the garbage.
"Never mind that. I want to make it clear, hellboys, that I am not and never will work for Lucifer. Now you can clear out and take your mirror tricks with you." I threw the dead bolts and opened the back door. To my shock, Rafe was standing in the alley like he'd been about to use his key.
"Sorry, Glo, but I'm here with orders from down below." He smiled ruefully. "Remember that payback I told you about? Yeah, it's a bitch." Rafe took my arm and stepped inside, throwing the bolts home again. "Hey, Frick and Frack. See you're still on the case too."
"Some respect would be nice." Caryon sniffed. "I don't think you can afford to be flip, Valdez."
"And I don't think you can afford to piss me off, shitface." Rafe's eyes glowed red.
"Uh, guys, calm down. I really don't want my shop going up in flames. Again." Or my shoes. I had on some nice platform heels. I stepped between them. Maybe not my smartest move, though I knew Rafe would never hurt me. But Caryon's eyes sparked red now too and the place was heating up. Unfortunately, my shop had gone up in smoke before. Firebomb. My budget couldn't handle another rebuilding.
"We're going to cooperate now, aren't we, fellas?" Spyte stepped into the fray, flicking me aside like an irritating gnat.
"Rafe, what is this about? Surely you're not here to persuade me to be Lucifer's trash collector." Tears popped into my eyes. Not Rafe, my best friend, a man I'd depended on and who I knew in my heart was a good guy.
Rafe finally gave up his stare-down with Caryon and turned to me. "I'm sorry, Glory. You think I want to do this? I'm stuck with a debt that I have no other way to pay. You know I have demon blood and used my powers when I shouldn't have."
"That demon stuff is his best part." Spyte dared lay a hand on Rafe's shoulder and I thought the flame-throwing was going to start then and there. But Rafe just shrugged it off.
"Not going to waste time arguing that." He took my hand. "You know how I feel. Better that I jump in here than let these two loose on you. I think I've figured out a way we can satisfy my deal and get Lucifer's bootlickers - "
"Hey!" Now Spyte shoved a shoulder between us, his eyes shooting off sparks.
"Chill, honey, I want to hear what our little bootlicker has to say." Caryon's smile was the stuff of nightmares. I shuddered and clutched Rafe's hand like a lifeline, even though Spyte stood with his back to me and face-to-face with Rafe.
"The day you get what I decide is too close to me or Glory here is the day you find out what hell is really like, you piece of shit." Rafe hit both demons with a glare that could have peeled the paint off the walls. Now I was really worried. For him. To my shock, Caryon merely nodded with what might have been respect and Spyte snorted but moved out of our space. Hmm.
"Go on," Caryon ordered.
I kept my mouth shut, trying desperately to stay out of this pissing contest. If I'd had the power of invisibility, I'd have been wallpaper. I was so clearly outmatched when it came to powers here. Even if I shifted into something tiny enough to hide or dangerous enough to attack them, they'd be able to stomp me, freeze me, fry me. The options were endless.
"As I was saying . . ." Rafe put his hands on my shoulders and gave me an encouraging smile. Like that was going to make me relax. Hah! "Glory, what would be the harm if we could at least bring them the one they're jonesing for?"
"Simon. He won't deal with us. What's his motive for changing sides?" I focused on Rafe, desperate to ignore the demons, who seemed to be crowding too close to me.
"I've been thinking about that." Rafe seemed to realize what I was doing. "Back off, creeps. Give Glory some breathing room."
"She doesn't have to breathe." Caryon scratched his earlobe. "I want to hear this."
"One soul? Not nearly good enough to satisfy Luc. And you know, Valdez, that if you don't bring this assignment in successfully, there will be hell to pay." Spyte managed a toothy grin, though he was obviously pouting. He sat on my table, the shirtwaist a mangled mess under him. I had a feeling the bootlicking comment had struck a nerve. Maybe he didn't like the taste of leather.
"What does he mean, Rafe?" I really didn't like the sound of Spyte's threat.
"Ignore him. Now Simon's got a son, Freddy. Do you think he wants a relationship with him?" Rafe had clearly decided to take his own advice and ignore the demons for now.
"Most men would." I was getting an idea and saw where Rafe was headed. "And Freddy is a good guy. Never would want to have anything to do with the Energy Vampires. Money and power aren't his thing."
"Sounds like a sorry excuse for a son to me." Spyte started juggling a fireball and I gasped when it danced close to my hair.
"Hush, Spyte. I think they're going to work for us." Caryon smiled. "Start with Simon. We already told you we want him. Pull him over to us and all will be cool. For a while, anyway." He flashed me with a little crackle heat from his red eyes. I jerked and blinked, my eyelashes stinging. Surely he hadn't . . . "But don't think you'll be totally off the hook. Especially you, Valdez. You can't just use your demonic powers and not pay and pay, now can you?" He winked.
"Simon should be enough for you. Let Glory help with this and then forget her." Rafe kept me close by his side. "What do you say, Glory? Are you up for getting Simon as Lucifer's plaything?"
"I hate Simon. Don't care where he ends up, as long as it's somewhere down below. But you and I both know, Rafe, that a deal with a demon isn't worth shit." I knew Rafe could feel me shaking from the truth of that statement. Example: Why were my eyelashes now crumbling crisps? That was a damned mean trick and totally undeserved. I shot Caryon a hard look and a pithy mental message. Of course both of these creeps were reading my mind.
"If you're looking for guarantees, Glory dear, you can forget it. And you can buy excellent fake lashes at your nearest drugstore. Doesn't hurt to have a reminder that we're powerful enough to make you miserable if you think to wriggle out of any deal we make." Caryon laughed when Rafe frowned, studied my face, then bit out a colorful curse.
"Relax, Valdez, they'll grow back. Now you two get busy. And, Glory, there's a bright side. You have your reflection." Cue maniacal laugh. "Think. You're going to give us the king of the EVs, who you yourself acknowledge is an evil man. He'll only get what he so richly deserves - a hellacious afterlife." Spyte hopped around in what could only be described as a demon version of a happy dance.
Caryon frowned at him. "He's right. You know Simon's goddess, who is a major slut, by the way, had probably planned to give him a cushy spot enjoying sizzling sex with her when he finally gets that stake he's been cruising for all these years."
"Yes, I bet she does. He worships her and has fed her energy for centuries from the poor saps he captures. He almost got my energy once." I held on to Rafe. He'd actually come up with a solution I thought I could live with. But how did we pull this off? What did you do to get someone to sell his soul? Barter? Coercion? Would it help to do a web search for deals with the Devil?
"Relax, dear girl. We have a contract. When the time comes, we'll make sure you know what to do." Caryon clapped his hand on Spyte's shoulder when he started to levitate. "Calm down, my man. You're embarrassing yourself."
"Can't help it. Lucifer is going to be so happy." Spyte grinned, all fangs and candy breath. "Maybe he'll even shut down the karaoke for a while."
"Silence? That would be too much to hope for. One more screaming version of 'Endless Love' and I'm going to . . ." Caryon rubbed his forehead. "Never mind." He gave Rafe and me a stern look. "This isn't a done deal yet. And the penalty for failure is steep. Valdez is Exhibit A, Gloriana." He glanced at Spyte and sighed. "Don't you dare reveal your true nature!"
"I can't resist, Glory doesn't like them. Look at her, she's freaking." Spyte now wore face paint, red pants, a green polkadot shirt and a blue bow tie. He squirted us with water from his bright yellow flower, then tooted a horn, which made me flinch.
I clung to Rafe. Spyte was right, I didn't like clowns. Yes, maybe it was a stupid phobia, but I'd never been comfortable around them. Leave it to a demon to zero in on it and take advantage.
Spyte danced closer to me and laughed when I cringed. "Going to cooperate now, Glory?"
"Leave her alone. She's going to. Aren't you?" Rafe looked down and I managed a weak nod. "Now back off, asshole." He put his hand on Spyte's loud shirt and shoved.
"Takes one to know one." Spyte giggled and did a flip, landing on my table and squirting Caryon and Rafe with his flower.
"Now you know what we endure down there." Caryon sighed and wiped the moisture off his face. "Clowns. Hell is full of them, the kind who like to torment kids. They actually have contests to see how many of them can fit into those little cars, then race, running over toys and Christmas ornaments." He shuddered. "Exhausting."
"Not as exhausting as watching you channel that loan officer who came down last week. Too bad you aren't buying your apartment, Glory. Cary just loves a foreclosure." Spyte gave me a creepy smile. "So he's really pissy this trip. Even for you, Cary, that eyelash thing was low."
"I left her eyebrows!" Caryon poked Spyte in his bulbous red nose.
"You sure you weren't aiming for them?" Spyte squirted Caryon in the eye before they both vanished.
I surprised myself with a giggle, then buried my face in Rafe's shirt. Before I knew it, I was crying bitter tears. Rafe's arms were strong as he rocked me against him. I finally pushed back and took the tissue he'd grabbed from a box on the table. I blew my nose and wiped my wet cheeks.
"Sorry for the meltdown."
"You earned it. That was pretty intense." He leaned down and picked up the dress Spyte had knocked to the floor. "At least they're finally gone."
"But they can pop back in at any time." I sat on the one chair in the room. "A deal with the Devil? You have any idea how that freaks me out?"
"Of course I do." He knelt down in front of me and took my hands. "And I know this is my fault. Alesa came here for me and landed in you."
"Well, now. I guess you owe me, don't you?" I kept my face solemn and saw his stricken look. "Oh, relax, Rafe. You know I don't blame you. Stuff happens. We all have baggage and you never could have predicted what she'd do. And I was the one who made you so mad you used your demonic powers. So I guess I can take some of the blame here." I kissed his lips, briefly, not letting it get into too much.
"I appreciate your attitude. But I can't let you accept any of this responsibility. Corralling Destiny for Lucifer is going to be tough. I have no illusions about that. I just want this to go away so I can keep you safe, damn it. I don't want to lose you." This time Rafe leaned forward, one hand threading through my hair when he took my lips, his mouth lingering as he plundered mine. I felt that kiss all the way down to where he'd worked my knees apart and slid in between them.
I wrapped my arms around his waist and sank in, meeting his greedy kiss with my own. Yes, I wanted him. Jerry had been right about that. And I loved Rafe. Enough to . . . ?
A knock on the door pulled us apart.
"Glory, you told me to remind you when it was nine thirty." Erin called through the door.
"Thanks, Erin. I'll be leaving from the back in a few." I sighed and touched Rafe's cheek. "Got to go."
"What's up?" He brushed back my hair.
"I'm meeting Nate. He asked for my help with Ray. Our rocker is back on the sauce, vampire-style." I stood, with Rafe's help, and walked over to the mirror above the bathroom sink.
"Oh, God! Look at me! Damn, Caryon. I can't believe he took my eyelashes." And of course my hair was a fright too. Add to that the fact that Rafe had kissed away my lipstick and I was a total freak show. I rummaged in the makeup bag I kept back there but didn't hold out much hope.
"Wait here, I've got an idea." Rafe patted me on the back and headed into the shop. I repaired my lipstick and got rid of the remains of my eyelashes with my powder puff.
"Here, put these on. You're going to a rock concert. You'll fit right in with the crowd there." He handed me a pair of vintage Ray-Ban sunglasses.
"Shades?" I grinned at myself in the mirror. "Brilliant. And you're right. Ray's friends totally wear these at night. Especially if they're hungover."
"There you go. Now tell me something." Rafe grinned at me in the mirror.
"Anything." I attacked my hair with a brush.
"Two things." Rafe turned my face toward his. "Holy crap. You really can see your reflection. I heard Spyte say something, but I guess I wasn't really thinking about the ramifications. Doesn't it just blow you away? After all these years?" He laughed.
Tears sprang to my eyes. Of course Rafe understood. He knew me so well. "Yes. But it's a double-edged sword." I turned back to check my face in the mirror. "I want to be able to do my makeup without that computer thingy Ian made for me but then I see that I never should have bought this sweater. Gold is not my color."
Rafe frowned. "I see what you mean. I like you better in blue or red. Want me to run out to the shop and get you a different one? I know you like to look good when you see the rock star."
I threw my arms around Rafe's neck and smeared my lipstick kissing him again. "You are absolutely the best friend I've ever had."
"And an idiot." He laughed again and pulled back. "I know your size, which I realize you don't like for me to say out loud. Just promise this is a mission of mercy and you won't fall for that asshole again."
"I promise." I grinned, dropped the sunglasses, then turned to repair my lipstick again. In moments Rafe was back with a blue sweater that I'd been thinking about keeping for myself anyway. I swear the man was way too observant when it came to me. I blocked my thoughts. Jerry wouldn't have a clue what size I wore or what color to choose for me. But were those necessarily qualities I needed in a mate for life?
Rafe grinned and ripped my gold sweater off and over my head in a smooth move that made me shiver. His admiring look and clever touches when he saw my cream silk bra made me do more than shiver. Okay, so maybe Rafe was more than a friend with good taste and an excellent memory. We definitely had chemistry and he had a libido to match mine.
As I playfully snatched that blue sweater and tugged it on, he pulled me to him again and told me about his club and what had been going on there. I was interested. We were both business owners and struggling to get things going in a new town. We had a lot in common and I was as comfortable with Rafe as I was with Jerry. More comfortable, actually. Because I didn't ever have to worry that Rafe would try to order me around or control me. Hmm.
Well, maybe that wasn't entirely accurate. Rafe could be pretty bossy when he was in protective mode. As usual, I was letting chemistry cloud my judgment. I put some space between us and pulled on those shades again.
"Got to go, Rafe."
"Me too. If I didn't have to be back at the club, I'd go with you. Have to admit, I'm curious about Caine and this breakdown. I thought he'd gotten a handle on the vampire experience." Rafe walked with me to the back door.
"So did I. But then I spilled the beans about the synthetic blood with alcohol and his old dependencies came into play. I felt guilty about telling him at first, but that stuff was served to him at Flo's wedding anyway, so it was only a matter of time before he found out about it."
"Right. You aren't that guy's keeper, Glo. This mentor thing has to have an expiration date." Rafe had always made it clear he didn't like my relationship with Ray.
"He's my friend too, Rafe. I care what happens to him." I sighed. "Anyway, alcohol can bring on depression. It definitely made Ray think about what he's lost." I stopped next to my car. I wasn't about to shape-shift out to the park. It was a beautiful spring night and I wanted to drive out there with the top down.
"The sun. I remember. Your friend Caine was all about the sun. Even owned an island in the Caribbean, didn't he?" Rafe opened my car door for me and watched me fasten my seat belt.
"Guess he still does." I smiled and touched Rafe's hand. "You and I will have to get together tomorrow night and talk over this deal with Simon. You know he wanted to recruit me into the Energy Vampires. I guess we could use that to make contact. Some would consider the invitation to join a real honor."
"But I bet you already told him where to stick that invite, didn't you?" Rafe frowned. "Think he'd believe in your sudden interest?"
"Maybe. But the father-son angle is our best bet. I want to talk to Freddy and see how he feels about his father. If there's a chance for them to have a relationship away from the Energy Vampires, then that would be a powerful motivator for Simon to switch sides." I sighed. "If Simon has a natural father's instincts. Who knows?"
"Can't say I'm crazy about the idea of you and Simon within a hundred miles of each other." Rafe leaned in and kissed me lightly on the lips. "But I was desperate to get your tail out of a sling tonight."
"Great image, Rafael." I started the car. "Just promise me that none of this slips around Penny. My fledgling is mixed up enough as it is. I'll just tell her the demons went back to hell after I refused to work with them."
"She's pretty smart. Won't be easy fooling her." Rafe watched me lower my convertible top with the flip of a switch.
"She's got lots of school work coming up. I hope she'll be too busy to notice what we're up to." I grabbed Rafe's hand. "Ray's trying to get Ian MacDonald to come to town. When Penny saw my computer mirror, she was intrigued by the guy who invented it. Can you imagine if she and Ian got together?"
"I'm afraid to. Didn't you tell me she's into chemistry too?"
"Yes, they'd be quite a pair." I heard the click that meant the top was secured and I was good to go. "We can worry about that if it happens. Got to run. Call me tomorrow?"
"Sure. Be careful around Caine." Rafe slapped the car hood as I backed out. "A drunk vampire is unpredictable as hell."
Unpredictable as hell. I'd just had a demo of how unpredictable hell could be and it didn't exactly encourage me. When I got to Zilker Park and realized I'd be one of a cast of thousands, I wondered if driving had been such a great idea. I parked in the darkest area I could find, near some trees, and shifted so I could fly up close to the stage and spot Nathan. A local band was opening for Ray and had the crowd dancing and pushing toward the stage.
Just as I saw Nate talking to the members of Ray's band, the local musicians came to a loud and successful conclusion if the roars of the crowd were any indication. Lights came up, along with an announcement that there would be a brief intermission before Ray and his band performed. I found a spot to shift back and strolled up to Nate, my shades firmly in place.
"Hey, look, it's Glory. Long time no see, babe." I was wrapped in strong arms, then passed around among the guys in the band. I sure didn't mind it. They were all good-looking and nice when they weren't high. Which none of them were tonight I was happy to notice. No sign of Ray. Finally I was left with Nate.
"Great to see all of you. Break a leg or whatever." I waved them off as they went to gather their instruments before the performance started.
"Glory, am I glad to see you." Nate grabbed my arm. "Come with me." He hustled me toward an RV parked at the curb near the back of the stage. The area had been cordoned off and few vehicles other than the large trucks that had hauled in the sound equipment had been allowed to park there. Beefy security guards kept the curious away.
"Where's Ray?" I looked around but didn't see him. I did, though, seem to sense another vampire in the area.
"He's in there. And he's not alone." Nate frowned and knocked on the door.
"Go 'way." Ray's voice. Though it was slurred, I'd know it anywhere.
"Ray, let me in." I banged on the door with my fist. "It's almost time for you to go on."
The door was flung open. "Glory, babe! Come in and join the party." Ray swayed in the doorway. He wore his favorite black silk boxers and nothing else. He frowned when he saw Nate beside me. "Hey, buddy. Best stay outside." He shook his head. "Fangers only, you dig?"
Nate gave me a look. "You okay with that?"
"Sure. Go take care of band business." I squeezed his hand. "How long before he needs to take the stage?"
"Thirty minutes, max." Nate backed away from the doorway. "Be careful, Glory." He finally looked at Ray, his best friend. "Damn it, Ray, pull yourself together." Then he turned and walked away.
"What's he pissed about?" Ray pulled me inside the cramped trailer. "Come meet Tiffany. Tiff, this is Glory, my mentor."
"Hey." The woman lounging on the small bunk at the end of the bed wore less than Ray and didn't bother to cover herself.
I nodded, trying not to stare at her perfect breasts on display or her slim hips, which were clad in nothing but a scrap of black lace.
"Ray, we need to talk. Tiffany, would you excuse us? Maybe Nate can find you a good spot to watch the concert." I managed a smile.
"Fine." Tiffany began to gather her clothes, which included a very brief skirt, tiny top and a pair of five-inch heels. In less time than it took Ray to refill his glass, she was dressed and at the door. "Later, Ray."
"You bet." He met her at the door, squeezed her perfect ass, then watched her step outside. He turned and frowned at me. "So what's this about? I don't usually let someone else run my women off like that." He took a deep swallow of what I could tell by the smell was the synthetic that had alcohol in it.
"Your drinking." I moved closer and grabbed his glass, throwing it into the small stainless steel sink. "Damn it, Ray, what the hell are you thinking? You've got a concert in less than half an hour and you can barely stand."
I swear Ray growled at me, but seemed to catch himself. He looked down at the floor, then at me. We were almost toe to toe. He reached out and grabbed me around the waist then yanked me to him.
"I'm standing. And I'm sober enough to take you that way too. What do you say, Glory? You did it with the shifter. How about trying it on with me?" He leaned in, sliding his fangs along my throat when I jerked my face away.
"Stop it! You really think I want you in this condition? You're staggering drunk." I shoved at him and he proved me right, grabbing hold of the counter next to him before crashing into the small table that was bolted to the floor. Discarded glasses flew everywhere and shattered. He finally landed on the padded banquette next to the table, a scowl on his face.
"No need to get mean about it. Just say no. I can take it. I took it before." He tried to pull himself up to a sitting position and it took three efforts before he made it. "What the fuck?"
"You're trashed, Ray. Obviously you've been drinking since the sun went down." I stood next to him and finally gave in to the urge to smooth his hair back from his forehead. He looked lost and confused.
"Help me up. I can shower. That'll get me sober. I've got to go on in a few." He licked his lips and I saw him eyeing the bottles stashed next to the sink.
"Nothing else to drink." I helped him to his feet, ignoring the totally hot body he exposed when he shucked his shorts and stepped into the tiny shower stall next to the kitchen. He turned on the cold water and stood under the spray, his face directly under the showerhead. He swayed there for a good five minutes. It obviously wasn't doing much for him and I finally reached in and turned off the water, helping him wrap a towel around his waist. I rubbed another towel through his long dark hair, then handed him a comb. He barely bothered to run it through and he usually tied it back anyway.
"What are you going to wear?" I glanced in the tiny closet. The choices were similar and when he didn't answer, I grabbed dark jeans and a blue silk shirt the color of his eyes. I looked back and he'd fallen onto the bed, those beautiful eyes closed, the towel a heap on the floor.
Of course I looked my fill, savoring the way his broad shoulders tapered into a lean waist and his muscular legs ended in narrow elegant feet. And then there was that package with a piercing you know where. He'd added a diamond to the loop since I'd seen it last, and it sparkled . . . Never mind. Time was marching on and this man was still in no shape to sing. I knew of only one way to get Ray sober and ready in time.
"Ray, wake up." I climbed on the bed and jiggled his shoulder.
"Glory, babe." He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me on top of him. "Finally, I've got you where I want you. What's with the shades?" He grinned and pulled them off, tossing them on the floor. "What the hell?"
"A little accident." I sighed as he slid one hand under my sweater. "Stop it, Ray."
"No way." He found my breast, then grabbed my butt with his other hand. "Feel sooo good."
"Forget that." I propped myself up to get some space, desperately trying to ignore his clever hands, one of which had unclasped my bra, then gone to work on my breasts again. "You've got to drink from me."
"Ah, love that." His fangs were sliding out and rasping along my jugular in an instant. "You are so sweet." Then he was taking my blood, sucking it in with a hum as he slid his fingers inside my jeans and stroked my bum. I moaned, not immune to the pull of his mouth or his hands on my body.
I knew I wasn't going to let him do more than this bit of foreplay, but if I made an issue out of stopping him now, he might quit drinking, and he needed my blood.
The weakness that comes from maybe a little too much giving and not enough taking began to creep over me, making me lethargic. I gently pushed him away, finally having to use force because he was really into drinking from me. He collapsed back on the sheet, his eyes slitting open as he looked up at me.
"That was so fine." He grinned and then leaned up to kiss me, one of his hands grasping the back of my head to make sure I wasn't going anywhere. He put some serious effort into the kiss, like maybe he thought he was going to finally have me where he wanted me. I sighed into his mouth, wiggled against his questing hand, which had worked its way inside my panties, and almost didn't have the strength or will to roll away from him.
"How do you feel, Ray?" I dragged myself off the bed and stood next to it. The room spun and I had to hold on to the built-in bedside table to keep from falling over.
"Better, but not as good as I'll feel when we finish what we started." He grinned and held out his hand. "Come on, babe, don't be a tease."
"I'm not. You needed my blood so you could go out there and sing. I don't want you to disappoint your fans. That's all there was to that. Anything sexual was all on your part, not on mine. I just felt sorry for Nate, stuck with you and the fallout if you were a no-show." I stomped over to the kitchen, hoping to find at least one bottle of synthetic blood that didn't have alcohol in it. No luck. But I couldn't wait, so weak that I twisted off the top of the other and took a swallow.
"Good old Glory. Always the mentor. Shit." Ray got to his feet and stepped into his jeans, not bothering with underwear. Next he grabbed his shirt. "How kind of you." He took the bottle I'd opened and drained it. "Quit doing me favors. You putting out for Nate now? I know he's your favorite blood type."
I stared at him, my mouth open. "You know better than that. Don't be a jerk. And where's my thank-you? Don't you care that there are thousands of people out there who paid good money to see the famous Israel Caine perform?"
"Big fuckin' deal." He grabbed another bottle and opened it.
"Stop it!" I lunged for the drink. "I'm about to fall down, you drank so much, and you're going to ruin it by drinking that poison again? No way!"
"You are not my keeper, Glory St. Clair. Get the hell out. Tell Nathan to quit running to you to save my ass. If I want to kill myself, I will." He took another deep swallow of the synthetic. "Got it?"
"No. I can't let you do that. Why, Ray? Why are you so bent on self-destructing?" I didn't try to hide the tears that filled my eyes. "You have people who love you. You'll live forever. It's a gift."
"It's a fucking gift I didn't ask for and don't want." He finished the bottle and threw the empty against the wall, where it shattered. "Now get out. I've got a set to do. Go watch. You always were a fan." He grinned but it looked more like a grimace. "I'm good to go. Hell, I can do these things in my sleep."
I wiped away my tears, obviously wasted on him. But my heart broke. For Ray. I wasn't getting through to him and I guess it was true that an alcoholic had to ask for help and truly hit bottom before he would. I picked up my sunglasses and trudged to the door.
"Fine. I will watch." I opened it and almost bumped into Nate, who'd been about to knock. "I did the best I could. Good luck." I turned and looked at Ray, who was on yet another bottle. "I love you, Ray. Please remember that before you walk into the sun or whatever you think you're going to do to end this. Nate here does too. And your parents, fans. I guess none of us count, though." I sighed. He didn't even turn around or acknowledge what I'd said.
I joined the crowd, finding a spot next to Tiffany in the VIP section. The band was tuning up and the crowd was getting restless. When Ray finally staggered onto the stage, I knew this was going to be a rough night. I just didn't know how rough.