Vampire: A Dark Protectors/Rebels Novella by Rebecca Zanetti (love letters to the dead .txt) 📕

She stumbled, and he righted her by the arm. “Where did this come from?”

“I ordered it,” he said, assisting her up into the passenger seat. “We’re very comfortable. I’ll make the accounts joint when I get the chance.”

She held out a hand. “I don’t need your money, Raine.”

“It’s our money.” He shut the door before she could argue.

She rolled her eyes. The truck was pretty nice. They made the drive in the soft sunshine, with the rain having finally stopped.

After buying three lattes, Raine drove her to Tabi’s house and handed over the drinks. “Stay here until I pick you up.” He kissed her on the chin, both cheeks, and then her forehead, making her go all gushy inside. Then he waited until she’d reached the door to Evan’s comfortable home before driving off.

Tabi opened the door and reached for the lattes. “Awesome. Thank you.”

“Sure.” Mariana kept a drink and walked inside, expecting to see Evan. Instead, a pretty blonde with a black eye sat on the sofa and accepted the coffee from Tabi.

Tabi smiled. “Mariana, this is Louise Baker. She’s currently getting divorced from Deputy Johnny Baker, the sheriff’s kid, and is going to need a good shrink.”

Louise sipped her latte. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“You, too.” Mariana took a seat. “Raine and I are figuring out what to do, but I’d like to open an office here in town. You’d be my first client.” She remembered hearing that Johnny was an ass who liked to hit. It was good this girl had left him, and Mariana could help her. She wanted to help.

Louise blanched. “I, um, can’t pay you much.”

Mariana waved a hand. “No worries. In fact, if I open an office, I’ll need a receptionist and office manager. What do you say?”

Tabi beamed behind her latte cup.

Louise frowned and then steeled her shoulders. “I’d love to help.”

“Perfect,” Tabi said, nearly hopping in place with her blonde hair flying. “I love it when a plan comes together.” She sniffed the air and then zeroed in on Mariana. “Don’t you? Yep. A good plan. Yay.”

Mariana hid a smile. Obviously Tabi knew that Raine and she had mated. “I have questions for you later,” she said.

“I’m sure,” Tabi said, grinning widely.

Louise’s phone rang, and she pulled it out of a brightly patched purse. “Hello?” She paled. “I know, but…okay. Yes.” She replaced the phone in her bag, and her hand trembled.

Mariana reached for her hand. “What’s wrong?”

The girl swallowed. She had to be only around eighteen. “That was Johnny. Today was the last day we have our rental house, and he’s moving everything. He said if I don’t come get the rest of my things, he’ll take them to the dump. I wouldn’t care, but my grandma left me her Belleek china from Ireland.”

Tabi grabbed her keys off the sofa table. “Let’s go get your stuff. It’s okay. Johnny’s afraid of me after I beat him up last year and ended up in anger management classes.” She laughed. “The idiot attacked me along with a couple of his buddies. He won’t dare do it again.” Then she frowned. “Unfortunately. To be honest, I’d really like to kick him again.”

Louise faltered and then nodded. “Yes. Okay. I’m tired of being afraid of him. Let’s go.”

Mariana stood.

Tabi waved her back down. “Not you, sister. You’re supposed to stay here and under the radar until Raine gets back. I promised in exchange for the lattes. You take it easy and watch some television or something.”

Mariana sighed. “Where’s Evan?”

“He had a campaign breakfast,” Tabi said. “He should be home in an hour or so. Louise and I will be back probably before he returns. I’ll lock the door. Bye, Mariana.”

Maybe all immortals were bossy. Mariana watched the women go and then looked around. Well, she could watch some television. Two dogs played out back, and she could go throw sticks for them. Or she could take a little nap on the sofa.

She was a bit tired. Maybe it was the whole increase in chromosomal pairs or something.

A knock sounded on the door before she could make up her mind. “What did you forget?” She laughed and opened the door to see Sheriff Baker on the porch. “Sheriff.” Was he looking for his daughter-in-law? Well, his soon to be ex-daughter-in-law.

“Hi. There was a problem at the station, and Maxwell sent me to get you.” The sheriff’s buzz cut was sharper than ever and his uniform was creased mercilessly. “You can bring your coffee.”

Mariana frowned. “What kind of problem?”

The sheriff rubbed his clean-shaven chin. “He got into an altercation with two deputies, and the only thing that would calm the guy down was my promising to come get you.”

Her instincts flared wide awake but she kept calm. “Oh.” She nodded. “All right.” There was no way on God’s green earth that Raine would ever want the sheriff to fetch her. “Let me grab my purse.” She moved to slam and lock the door, but he put one foot in the way. She kicked his foot and tried again, but he shoved the door open, and she flew back into the sofa table. The edge caught her ribcage, and pain shot through her. She winced.

He pointed his gun at her. “That was so unnecessary. Get into the car before I cuff you. Now.”

“No.” She turned to run, and he caught her by the arm, pressing it up beneath her shoulder blade with enough pressure to draw tears to her eyes.

“Move.” He pushed her onto the porch and slammed the door, forcing her to his police car, where he put her in the backseat and shut the door.

She stretched her arm out, wincing as the tendons protested. “What the hell are you doing?”

He moved into the driver’s seat and started the car, driving away from the house. “I just wanted to talk to you. Is that so bad? Why do you have to make everything so damn difficult?”

“I’m sorry,” she said, not meaning it.