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

I judging Donna? Hadn’t I set myself up in a similar situation back in the day when I’d met Jeremiah? He’d been rich and I’d been willing to be kept no matter how strange his lifestyle had seemed to me. Because I’d been desperate, starving, and I’d seen no other way to survive. Becoming a vampire had been an insane decision but it had seemed right at the time. I had been so in love… Maybe Donna was in love and she looked past the danger signals surrounding Lee.

I stuffed Valdez into a cab and we headed home. I had that sluggish, almost dead feeling that came over me when dawn was near. Frustrated that I had to spend some of my hard-earned cash on a cab ride, I staggered up the stairs, ready to fall into bed.

Unfortunately, there was a roadblock in my way. Misty and Sid sat on the couch, waiting for me.

“We need to talk.” Misty said those words that I swear had never led to anything I wanted to hear. Ever.

“It’ll have to be quick. I’m dead on my feet.” If she only knew how true that was. I sat across from them. Sid smiled, as if eager to see me kicked to the curb for harboring Cujo the man-eating dog. Was that what was coming? I had to put it off. I’d died in the back of the Suburban before, under a blanket. It didn’t bother me, but, in the heat of the summer, Good Samaritans wouldn’t stand for Valdez languishing away in the car all day, even with the windows down. I really didn’t like the idea either.

“Quick? Look at what that dog did to me!” Sid held out his bandaged arm. “Twenty-six stitches. You have any idea how much that visit to the emergency room cost me? And the pain! I have to pop a pain pill every four hours.”

Misty stayed silent, staring at Valdez like she was afraid of him. Thank the gods, my bodyguard sat quietly at my feet, just staring at Sid with a quiet intensity that made him fidget in his seat.

“Serves you right.” I wasn’t keeping quiet about this. “Why do you think Valdez attacked Sid, Misty? Your boyfriend was trying to get into my bedroom. Into my bed.” I glared at him. “Valdez is not a vicious dog.” I rested my hand on his head and he wagged his tail. “Has he ever even growled at you, Misty?”

“No, he hasn’t. That’s why I was surprised. . .” She turned and frowned at Sid.

“Tell her why, Sid. Why’d you come into my bedroom? Going to read me a bedtime story?” I couldn’t resist.

“It was a misunderstanding. I was just going to get a glass of water. Go to the bathroom.” Sid wouldn’t meet my eyes. Instead, he turned to Misty. “That dog came out of nowhere.”

“Look at me, Sid.” I jumped up and grabbed his face, hard. “The bathroom door is always open. There’s a nightlight in there. My room is at the end of the hall. There is no way you can get lost in this little apartment. My dog sits inside my room, in front of my door. He’s a guard dog. Want to know why?” I let Sid go, afraid I’d tear his head off if I didn’t back up a few feet.

“You told me when you moved here that you’d had some bad experiences. That the dog had kept you safe.” Misty looked at Sid. “What the hell, Sid? Didn’t I satisfy you?”

“Sure, you did, babe. You’re all I need. I told you. It was dark, I got turned around. The dog attacked me.” Sid reached for her hand, but she shook her head.

“Valdez doesn’t move unless someone opens my door. Now why would you open my door? You think I would welcome your attentions?” I looked at Misty. “Have I ever once encouraged Sid, flirted with him?”

“No, you haven’t.” Misty scooted away from him on the couch.

“He approached me at the club last night. Did he tell you that?” I smiled when Sid flinched. “He thought I might be lonely. He asked you if I was seeing someone, didn’t he?”

“Yes, he did.” Misty jumped to her feet. “You son of a bitch!” She pulled back her arm and let fly, the slap echoing through the room.

“Ow! That hurt!” He jumped to his feet and headed for the door. “I’m getting a lawyer, Gloria. That dog is dangerous. He ought to be put down.”

“You’ll be happy to know he’s had all his shots. He will not be put down. Get a lawyer. I can still file a police report for attempted rape.”

“You got a witness to that?” Sid’s sneer made Valdez stalk over to face him. That got the man out the door. “Keep that beast away from me!”

“I’ll be Gloria’s witness, you slimy sack of shit!” Misty slammed the door so hard it rocked back open in time for us to see Sid running down the stairs. “Oooo!”

“I’m sorry, Misty.” I put my arm around her. “I’m exhausted. Anything I can do before I go to bed?”

“No, I’m just sorry that happened to you.” She wiped away tears. “Why do I always pick the wrong man?”

“Why do any of us do that?” I gave her a hug then walked on down the hall. Another night when I had just enough time to brush my teeth and fall into bed. Someday I would make it to the laundromat. The mess in the bedroom mocked me. I did manage to rinse out my costumes and hang them to dry before collapsing face first on top of the bedspread. Pitiful. At least I’d had the energy to shut and lock the bedroom door before I did. I usually left it unlocked in case of fire. Even in his dog body, Valdez could drag me to safety. Damn Sid for making me change my ways.

My shifter didn’t say a word, just got busy eating the Cheetos I