Once Bitten, No Longer Shy by Julie Steimle (chrome ebook reader txt) 📕

all a favor. He’s a good man. He just does not trust vampires and might shoot to kill.”

Troy’s eyes widened, his fingers twitching on the card… thinking about losing it.

“However, if you play it slow and right,” Will said meaningfully, “You might make a lifelong friend who you can really help. This man needs to enter the sunlight. And now after seeing you, I am more convinced than ever that only vampires who have killed need to stay in the darkness.”

Shivers ran down Troy’s arms. Will had a point.

“And you can assist me on my medical research to find a cure for the bite,” Will added.

To that, Troy smirked. “No. You can assist me. It was my PhD focus while I was studying pharmacology at Valhalla, and I was near a breakthrough before those vampires got to me. I just need a lab.”

Grinning, Will stuck out his hand for a shake. “Deal.”

Move In

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Six

 

Jane gave Troy a few tips on how to make people not notice he was a vampire while in public as they walked out to the hospital foyer. Her list included smiling with a closed mouth, wearing sunglasses while he was hungry, and only wearing gloves when appropriate. And where did her treasure trove of knowledge come from?

“Eve,” Jane said. “She was my best friend since we were kids.”

Troy stared at her. He then glanced to Hanz to confirm it.

Hanz nodded.

“Eve defends the defenseless,” Jane said with a smile. “And if she was the guardian angel who spared your life, then that means she’s passing on that job to you.”

Flustered, Troy could feel his heart quiver for a second. Was Eve really doing that? Or was that just what Jane believed? Eve had chewed him out for only thinking about his own problems. Maybe she did not mean doing this specifically, but she might have.

Jane patted his shoulder. “You’re gonna make it. William and I will help you out when you need us, but I know you can do this.”

For a second, Troy was sorry Jane was married.

However, he left the hospital with Hanz and Art, hoodie back up and all three of them wondering where that car Rick was planning on sending would be parked.

A car pulled up on the curb, rolling down the window on one side. The driver was familiar-faced black man Troy knew all too well.

“Bobo.” Troy could not help but smile.

Hanz and Art looked to him.

“Get in,” Robert Lafon said. He was dressed in a gray suit, looking classy.

Nodding, Troy gestured to the back door for Hans and Art. He climbed into the front passenger seat, pulling on his seat belt as soon as he closed the door. Robert gracefully pulled into traffic.

“I heard they caught up to you,” Robert said.

Sighing heavily, Troy said, “Yeah. Last night.”

Closing one eye, Robert asked, “You don’t seem too different. How bad is it?”

Smirking, amused that Robert could not see much of a difference in his skin color from before, Troy muttered, “Bad enough.”

“So you need a bodyguard,” Robert said, thinking.

Troy stared at him, feeling a little sick at the offer. “Oh, no, no, no, Bobo. I am not asking for a bodyguard. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

Robert grinned at him, his white teeth shining. “Ah come on. You know no one can hurt me.” Which was true. Robert Lafon was afflicted with what was known as the rubber-and-glue curse, a serious voodoo enchantment. Anybody who tried to physically harm him got that same harm thrown back at them without any pain inflicted on their target.

“Besides, Rick said one of you will definitely need a bodyguard.” Robert peeked back through the rearview mirror at Art and Hanz.

“Rick needs a bodyguard,” Troy muttered.

“That he does.” Robert laughed loud from the chest.

Art and Hanz exchanged a look. They knew they were in the presence of yet another ghoulie.

Robert took them to a downtown New York street near Central Park where he let them out and gestured to a brownstone building which stood a few floors. “That’s the one. I’ll come back later with some towels, blankets, and stuff. Go on in. There should be some furniture in it already.”

Nodding, Troy waved as good-bye.

Robert drove off.

Gazing once to the brownstone building, Art led the way to the correct doorway with address card in hand, which Rick had given him. An outside mailbox for the building stood on the curb. The card had the door code on it along with the address and the landline phone number. As Art keyed in the code to be let into the building, Troy found it interesting that Rick liked landlines despite his own cell phone being at his side all the time.

The lower lobby was simply lit with a tile floor. Stairs ran up to the right of a singular elevator which they took up as their apartment was on the top floor.

Once they were able to put in the key and step inside, they saw it was not a typical apartment. It was stylish and spacious. It opened with a vaulted ceiling into a two story loft style apartment with hint of roof access from a fire escape balcony. The kitchen was wide open and attached to the living room with an L shaped pleather couch, ottomans, and an empty entertainment center. The two bedrooms were on the right—one up top in the loft, and the other on the main floor. Most of the walls were white, or just slightly off white, with paintings missing. The far wall was all windows with sheer curtains. Art crossed over to them and closed them all.

“Ok…”Art said, nodding to the others. “Um, I guess we should, uh, choose a room and, uh, get organized.”

Troy wondered if this guy was just nervous by nature, or if it was just because he was contemplating rooming with a vampire.

“Let’s do this,” Art said gathering up his strength.

After a walkthrough of the place, Hanz declared that the couch was his, as he was a temporary guest. The upper room was particularly comfortable and spacious. There was a dresser and a decent walk-in closet along with floor lamps and a desk for study. The bed was taken apart, but not missing. It was like someone had been interrupted in moving it and they had just given up mid-way. The lower room was more box-like and private, yet smaller. The bed and dresser were still intact. The apartment had an odd, almost Silvia smell to it. Troy did not know why. It had the scent of herbs and essential oils which heavily reminded Troy of Randon’s wife for some reason. There was also a scent of body lotion in the bathroom.

“I’ll take the loft,” Troy said after a look-through.

Art appeared relieved, as clearly he wanted the lower room. Troy noticed that door had an extra lock. And Troy had a feeling Art would want to put two more locks on it.

But as all of them were without luggage, there was very little for them to do except make phone calls. Art called his aunt first, notifying her of his change of address while also making a request. Troy did not hear what it was as Art went into his room to discuss it in private with her, but Hanz made calls in the kitchen.

“Hi, Mom?” Hanz said a little nervously as Troy dropped against the couch in boredom, wondering how long it would take for Randon and Silvia to gather up his things and take them to New York City. It would be a bit of a drive. Hanz spoke in calm tones, either trying to convince the other person on the line to be calm or himself. “You’re never going to guess where I am.”

Troy perked up his ears, wondering what Hanz’s family was like. More Nordic stock, probably. Suburbanites, by the look of Hanz. He would not be surprised if Hanz’s father looked like Odin or Zeus. Hanz’s mother probably had one of those fifties homemaker styles, though. The perfect mother on the perfect magazine cover. It was enough to make him jealous.

“That’s right. I’m not in California. But before you freak out and think I’ve lost my mind, I was going by the Spirit, and he let me know I had to go to New York,” Hanz said.

Troy listened in. This conversation had taken a weird turn. Was Hanz Johaansen an evangelical?

“Yes. I’m fine. I stayed the night at Rick Deacon’s place.”

…Which wasn’t exactly accurate since he crashed there in the day but was generally honest. However, Hanz, Troy could see, was definitely trying to calm his mother down. Troy imagined Hanz’s mother upset at her son being jilted before his wedding day, possibly angry at the bride-to-be. And he also imagined that the mother-in-law-to-be probably had no clue what Eve was. Or, if she was told the truth, she didn’t believe it.

“Well, here’s the thing—Rick offered to help set up my residency. But I was thinking about becoming an army medic.”

His mother’s reaction had to have been sharp as Hanz jerked back from his cell phone.

“I’m not quitting, Mom. I’m just looking at my options, and I want to be mobile,” Hanz said. “And I’ll go stir crazy stationed at one hospital waiting for Eve to come back.”

His mother’s response was long and almost weary. Troy could see it on Hanz’s face. He was bearing it well, but was also done arguing the point. The man’s mind was made up. He was going to keep searching for his death-angel-fiancée Eve while doing his medical residency.

“Mom… I saw her.”

Troy could tell Hanz got silence.

“She’s no longer in New York but—”

Troy could almost hear her voice. She had to be shouting.

“She’s not cheating on me! I showed you the letter. She’s exactly what the letter said she was. She saved a man’s life.” Hanz peeked to Troy.

Meeting his gaze, sheepishly caught listening in, Troy shrugged, offering to speak to her if needed. Hanz waved him off, as clearly it would not make a difference. So Troy lay back on the couch, overhearing the rest of it.

Hanz laid it out that he intended to go abroad and see if he could continue his search for Eve while also continuing his medical training/practice. His mother was clearly upset with the idea, but was also resigned to the fact that Hanz was set in his mind. Troy got the impression this would be the beginning of many talks between them, as they did not seem the type to just let their son wander off for love. When Hanz ended the call, he appeared winded. Then he called Eve’s parents. Their reception was more pleasant.

“Yes, she’s alive. I saw her. She’s been in New York City this whole time.”

The family reacted with joy.

“But they took her away before we could bring her back,” Hanz added, clearly dampening their joy.

They said something, then Hanz replied, “Yes, um, about three of them. Rick Deacon was also there.”

Troy wondered what they were asking. It was a pity being a vampire did not give him super hearing. It would have been useful.

“I spoke with Will and Jane today also,” Hanz added. “So they know. And I plan to keep looking.”

They responded.

“No. I don’t think she is in New York anymore.