Sean balked. “Out here. Witnesses.” He couldn’t take his eyes off Jerry. I figured he was getting all kinds of mental messages because sweat was popping out on his broad forehead. I had a few for him too. This was the guy who’d booted my backside.
Jerry was suddenly right in front of Viv. “Say what you’ve got to say and get out of here. But know this. You ever attack Ms. St. Clair again and—” Jerry leaned forward and whispered in her ear. Vivien paled. He stopped Sean with a hand on his chest, and the big guy froze before he could pull the gun he obviously carried in the shoulder holster under his jacket.
“Listen, Ms. Westwood. I know you’ve seen some kind of video that involved your father and a crossbow.” I waited until she nodded, her eyes wide.
“How did you—”
“People talk. Which you’d do well to remember. Forget this vampire stuff. Totally bogus. Your father obviously had a screw loose. I think he may have had an accident in the woods near one of the lakes around here. He was out there vampire hunting and ran into some totally innocent people camping and partying.”
“Oh, my God.” Viv gripped Sean’s arm.
“Exactly. You can imagine what might have gone down if someone came at you with a crossbow in the middle of the night and you’d been enjoying a substance or two. Know what I mean?”
Viv nodded vigorously this time.
“So it’s possible your dad had an accident. I’m going to ask around. See what I can find out. Would you like me to do that?”
Viv was speechless and just nodded her head again.
“Fine. Your brother spent the night in jail. I’d suggest you both lay off the harassment before you end up serving time for stalking. I will press charges.” I glanced at Jerry. “Or, even worse, let my boyfriend here do what he wants to with you.”
“No!” Viv looked like she was going to fall to the floor, but Sean held her up. She took a breath and rallied. “No, that won’t be necessary. We’re going to have this will my dad wrote about vampires thrown out. It was obviously nonsense.”
“Sounds like a plan.” I smiled.
“But that means until we find Dad’s, uh, remains we can’t settle the estate. So while you’re, uh, asking around?” Viv wobbled on her high-heeled boots. “Would you see if you can find his, um, body?” Her eyes actually filled with tears.
“It would be my pleasure.” I realized that sounded a little strange, but I certainly meant it. I’d hated Westwood with a passion usually reserved for the Devil incarnate.
“Now that we’ve settled that. I’m sure you won’t find it necessary to come into this shop again without an invitation.” Jerry’s voice was quiet. I shivered and knew he was on my side. “You want me to spell out what will happen if you do?”
“N-no.” Vivien was shaking now and leaning on Sean, who looked none too steady himself.
“Ms. St. Clair is under my protection. There will be no more attempts on her life in the alley or anywhere by you or one of your hired guns. Is that clear?” Jerry met her gaze, then Sean’s. Both of them nodded and backed toward the door.
“Vivien, you and your brother will forget this vampire stuff. No such thing. The invention of a sick mind. Got it?” I moved in on her.
“Sick mind. Daddy was sick.” Viv hit the door.
“Exactly.” Jerry threw it open. Viv and Sean scurried out.
“Whew. Guess it’s safe to head out now.” I grinned at Erin. “I swear Jerry had me shaking in my boots.”
“You both were awesome, Glory. Don’t want you mad at me, Mr. Blade.” Erin didn’t look scared, she looked more than a little excited. Werewolf. And not long till the full moon. I’d have to be sure her shift was covered then.
“We’re out of here.” I grabbed Jerry’s arm. “Call if you need me, Erin.”
“Sure thing. And we’ve got your number here too, Mr. Blade. For emergencies.” Erin looked like she really wanted to use it.
Obviously pumped after the confrontation, Jerry hustled me out to his car and drove at top speed to Damian’s castle on top of the hill near Sixth Street. When we got close, we could hear laughter and shouts of partying. Obviously the new synthetic had created more than just a little buzz. The vamps who’d tried it sounded like they were flying high and not as birds or bats.
“This is probably a waste of time, but let’s see if they can show us where they dumped Westwood’s body,” Jerry grumbled as we climbed out of his Mercedes.
“Hey, thanks for what you did back there. Warning off Vivien.” I kissed him as he helped me out of the car. “Totally hot too.”
“I thought you didn’t want me to protect you.” He pulled me close, his hand sliding down to hold me against him.
“Doesn’t mean I don’t like to see your warrior side occasionally.” I grinned when I heard him grumble about never understanding women as we walked up to Damian’s front door. It opened before we could ring the bell.
Damian was flushed and had obviously been celebrating along with his company. “Come in, friends. We’re just getting to the best part of the evening. Glory, it’s strip poker. As I remember, you’re a lousy gambler, so I’d love to have you join the game.” He waggled his eyebrows.
“Lousy and reformed. I don’t play at all anymore.” Long story. I’m so bad I had to join Gamblers Anonymous and pay on credit cards for years as part of my recovery. I still can’t be around a game without feeling dangerous urges.
We walked into Damian’s spacious living room with its breathtaking view of the Austin skyline. But it wasn’t the city that made me gasp, it was the sight of Jerry’s daughter, her boyfriend Dracula and his two best buddies, Benjamin and Luke, all in various stages of undress. They were surrounded by empty bottles and crystal goblets. Their cheeks were flushed too.
“Don’t look, Dad. I’m not very decent.” Lily giggled and covered her bare breasts with a throw pillow. She’d obviously been losing because she was down to a thong and two high heels. Leave it to Lily to keep on her shoes while discarding her top.
“You’re more than decent, my love.” Drac made a grab for the pillow but toppled over. He wore stretchy black briefs that left nothing to the imagination and a knit cap. Benny and Luke had fared better, both of them still in pants and socks, but shirtless. Somehow Damian was the only one fully clothed, unless you counted a missing belt. Cards were scattered across the glass tabletop.
“Ante up, you two. One article of clothing to start.” Luke gave me a wicked smile. “Do us all a favor, Glory. Take off that sweater.”
“In your dreams, sweetheart.” I grinned back, not above noticing that all three male vampires were beautiful men. “Are you sober enough to remember the night I killed Brent Westwood? The night Israel Caine’s house burned down?”
“How could we forget?” Benny jumped up, swaying before striding over to sling his arm around my shoulders. “You took down the baddest man in the whole damn town.” He grinned at his mates. “Hey, that’s a song lyric. ‘Leroy Brown,’ eh?” He started to sing, Drac and Luke joining him for the chorus. Their group had been a singing sensation in the seventies. I waited until they’d run out of words, stopping Jerry with a look when it was obvious he wanted to shout at them to shut the hell up or knock their heads together. The guys were that good.
“Brilliant. Now we need to know where you stashed Westwood’s body.” I turned to Lily, who’d put her head on Drac’s shoulder, her pillow slipping to show most of her left breast. “Lily, cover up, girl. You were in charge of getting these guys to clean up the mess when I took out Westwood. Remember?”
Damian came in with a tray of full bottles. I read the labels. B-sotted. Blott-O. Oh, and my favorite, Undead Drunk.
“Here we go. Refills. Glory, Blade, try one. You look like you need a pick-me-up.” Our perfect host picked up one for himself.
“Maybe later.” I had to admit I was tempted. After the night with the Vamp Viagra, I wouldn’t mind a little experimentation. But business first.
“Don’t give them any more until we get some answers.” Jerry put his hand on Damian’s arm.
“Wait a damned minute. Who put you in charge?” Benny turned to face Jerry. Or tried to. He lost his balance and landed in the middle of the card table. Glass broke, cards went everywhere, and everyone except Jerry and me thought this was hilarious. When Benny got a cut on his foot trying to pull himself up, a growl went around the room that made Jerry try to put me behind him.
“Stop it! Calm down and answer me.” I pushed Jerry out of the way, grabbed another throw pillow and jammed it against the cut on Benny’s foot. My own fangs were down, but I ignored them. He did have a delicious blood type. I grabbed one of Damian’s bottles and took a swig. Self-preservation. It wouldn’t have been cool to lick Benny’s big toe.
“Gee, Glory. Watch how you chug that. It’s got a powerful kick.” Lily grinned at me. “Dad, you may want to take her home after this. It also makes you, um, horny as hell.”
“That’s enough. Now answer Gloriana. Where did you dump Westwood’s body that night?” Jerry picked up a bottle and took a sip. Clearly I wasn’t the only one thirsty.
“Nowhere. The guys were messing around. Wanting to cut off his head, take a trophy, which I knew you wouldn’t like, Dad. See how loyal I am?” Lily rubbed Drac’s knee, and I looked away from his obvious response.
“Where’d you take the body, Lily? And don’t say nowhere.” I wanted to slap some sense into her. Especially when she let Drac grope her in front of all of us.
She at least had the good sense to shove him away and stand. “I’m telling you. I don’t know where in the hell the body ended up. Another vamp came along. He offered me big bucks if we’d let him have Westwood. Said he’d do the cleanup.” Lily shrugged and took a bottle Drac snagged for her. “Hey, I could use the money. The guys here are loaded, but I’m not. It was expensive moving here from Transylvania.” She wrapped a rich black velvet throw around her, toga-style, and dropped her pillow.