Real Vampires: Glory Does Vegas by Bartlett, Gerry (white hot kiss TXT) 📕

scent that burned my eyes and made me want to hurl. Small fires scorched his costume. He looked more demonic than usual as he flailed his arms and stomped around the room, his eyes blazing red and his face scalded.

Harry and I just kept saying those prayers, louder and louder. The rest of the vampires stayed back, silent and watching. On cue, Marlene started singing, “The Lord’s Prayer.”

“My ears! Stop it!” Davenport covered his ears and screamed. “You will pay for this, Gloriana St. Clair!” He raised his hand as if to do something horrible to me, like turn me into stone or a toad.

“No, she won’t pay.” Harry moved closer, his Bible in his hand. I’d left it on the bar, as he’d asked. He raised it in front of Davenport, reciting words that made the demon cringe.

“Hear me, demon from Hell. Gloriana is protected by the Holy Spirit. She has prayed for help and is now shielded by her faith. It is God’s wish that I drive you out. So says the Bible in Matthew.” Harry pulled a cross from under his monk’s robes, his choice of costume for the night.

“Go! We cast you out into the desert. You have no power here!” His voice rang through the room.

“Pious do-nothings. Someday my Master will find you and make you regret this night.” Davenport looked around and realized he had no friends here. He ran out of the room, his cape suddenly catching fire as he screeched his horror. He reached for a vampire’s sword and was instantly met with resistance. With a roar, at least five guests pulled their own weapons and led the chase as he fled. The different languages blended but it was clear every one of the vampires wanted to send the demon back to Hell.

Applause rang out through the room. “Bravo!” said more than one vampire.

I sagged into Jerry’s arms. Could it really be over? Had we vanquished the demon?

“I think he’s truly gone, Glory.” Harry grinned. “The singer was a nice touch. The Lord’s Prayer. It seemed to actually make Davenport ill.” He laughed and looked around. “Where is Alex?”

“I think he led the pack who went after the demon.” Jerry kept his arms around me when I knew he would rather be chasing Davenport.

“Good. He has some tricks that might just cause the creature more pain and make him reluctant to come back and try again.” Harry rubbed his hands together. “I’d better get outside and see what’s happening with the werewolves. Another of Davenport’s tricks. A shifter told me the leader of the pack has a beef with this club, Glory. How did you manage to make them mad at you?”

“First, we kicked them out of this club. They like to look at half-naked women as much as the next man. Dominic hates werewolves and wouldn’t tolerate their presence. They attacked him at home after that in retaliation. I managed to convince them that it was a losing proposition. I hate that Davenport stirred them up again and they tried to start something tonight.”

“Glory, can you deal with the pack leader?” Dominic had walked up and heard my explanation. “I need to know what it will take to get them to back off. Give Bob whatever he wants, just get this settled. Some of my guests want to go out and fight. I can’t allow that. The blood tasting and auction must be the focus of tonight’s event.”

“You’re right, Dom. They may be under a demon’s spell tonight, but we have to make sure they don’t get the idea we are a great place to attack when the full moon makes them want to howl.” I pulled away from Jerry. “I need to offer them something. Why don’t I offer them access to the club after tonight? You know that’s what they’re after.”

Dom wrinkled his nose. “Fine. Whatever. Just get them to go away now. Send one of the shifters out there with a case of beer to sweeten the deal.”

I grinned and walked to the door. Of course, Jerry was with me.

“You’re not going out there to talk to a pack of werewolves alone.” He stopped me at the door to the parking lot.

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” I texted the bartender and he brought a case of premium beer to me. Then I threw open the door. Things were a mess. The shifters who had come with their vampires looked ready to rumble. Valdez was trying to calm them down, but they didn’t seem to want to listen to a man who was in a dog body. Most shifters hadn’t bothered with a costume. Instead, they wore a variety of bodyguard/military garb.

Sherie’s all black fit right in. She stayed close to Valdez. I heard her try to reason with Bob, the pack leader. He was in human form, not wolf, but he was in a fighting mood and didn’t want to hear anything reasonable. Dom had ordered Caro to stay inside and supervise the security there.

“Hey, Bob. Calm down.” I sat the beer in front of him. “I bet all this growling and shape-shifting is thirsty work. Why don’t you pass these cold ones around?”

“Where’s Mayer? You know we have good reason to be mad.” Bob twisted the cap off a bottle then gestured to the man next to him. That bulky individual hoisted the case to his shoulder. Wolves became men when he shouted for the guys to come and get a drink. The resulting enthusiasm convinced me they weren’t all that happy to be here. It was Halloween and there were children at home eager to go trick or treating, I heard one man say.

“Shut up, Sammy. We have a mission here.” Bob took a deep swallow. “Good beer. Thanks.”

“Mayer has put me in charge tonight. So I have a proposition for you, Bob. I agree you were disrespected and Dominic has thought about what happened here. He’s willing to change his attitude and welcome you back to