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

jump in. Misty walked around to get into the passenger side. Before she got there, Lee reached over and opened the car door, acting the gentleman.

“Thanks.” Misty tried to scoot past him but his arm blocked her way. She stopped as if trying to decide if she should duck under his arm or push it out of the way. She finally just looked up at him. “Lee? You have something to say?”

“You know what I’ve got to say. The deadline was yesterday. I’m not happy and my bosses are really not happy. What are you going to do about that?” He didn’t move, just stared at her.

“I’m working on something, Lee. I swear it. Glory is helping me. By tomorrow night, you’ll have a big chunk of what I owe.” Misty finally grabbed his arm and shoved. “You can’t get blood out of a turnip.”

“Save your country sayings for someone who cares, Misty. Money talks to me and my bosses. You also can’t dance with a broken leg. But it sends a message. Know what I’m saying?” He watched her climb into the car, then slammed the door, almost catching her leg in it.

I started the car then backed out of the lot, in a hurry to get away from Lee and the scene. I was shaking inside and Misty was shaking outside.

“That asshole! I wanted to tear him apart.” Valdez paced the back seat. He finally leaned over the passenger seat and laid his head on Misty’s shoulder.

“Did you hear Lee threaten me? Do you really think he’d break my leg?” Misty reached up and stroked Valdez’s muzzle. “Sweet dog. There’s nothing you can do. Though maybe you could pull your Cujo act on Lee if he comes to the apartment. You sure scared Sid, didn’t you?” She sniffled, fighting tears.

“I think Lee has thugs working for him who would be happy to break your leg or legs.” The car lurched when I ran into a curb. I jerked the steering wheel and tried to calm down. Yes, I’d believed the threat and wanted to do a little ass kicking myself. Going vampire on Lee would unleash a world of new problems. But it was tempting.

“All I need is a run of luck.” Misty opened her purse. “I got good tips tonight. A decent stake along with what I won the other night. We hit those High Limit Slots and stick to my plan and I’m sure I’ll make enough to get Lee to back off.”

“How much do you owe?” I hit the gas, eager to get home and change clothes. When Misty told me, I hit the brake. “What? You could buy a house with that much money. Start a business with it. What were you thinking, losing that much?” A horn honked behind me and I accelerated again. “Honestly, Misty, that’s a small fortune.”

“I know. It sneaked up on me. I had no idea I owed that much until one day Lee confronted me. You can set up a tab, keep it going. Then finally all your chickens can come home to roost.”

“That’s a lot of chickens. How did you even get started?” My mind was blown.

“I grew up watching Mama work as a dealer. But she really wanted to gamble. She got tangled up in it and was blackballed. She never forgot it. She turned from one addiction to another. She drowned her sorrows and died of liver disease a year ago.” Misty sighed.

“I’m sorry.”

“Thanks. You know, I couldn’t wait to be old enough to try the casinos. I love it, Glory. It’s a thrill—the lights, the noise, the challenge. You know what I mean, don’t you?”

I had to admit, I did. It was the chance for quick money that made me keep trying. But I had lost too many times and hadn’t come out ahead yet. I pulled into our parking lot, then bundled my dirty clothes together and found the case of synthetic in the back of the car. The name on the box was confusing. NRG. Oh, Energy! Misty was curious and wanted to try it but I put her off again with an explanation of it being a prescribed medication again.

My phone rang as we were hurrying upstairs to change clothes. Jerry.

“Go ahead, Misty. It’s my boyfriend.” I glanced at Valdez. He just sat on the bottom step, gazing out at the dark parking lot.

“Hi.” I pushed Valdez off the step and sat down. “How’s New Orleans?”

“Uneventful. Not like Las Vegas. I hear you had a run-in with werewolves.” Jerry sounded serious. “Are you all right?”

“Sure. If you’ve been getting reports from Valdez, I guess you know that.” I sighed. “Did he tell you I almost killed one?” I glared at V. Did I have no secrets? What had he told Jerry about my visit with Dom? Where I’d spent my death sleep?

“He did. My God, Gloriana, you could have been seriously hurt. What’s going on out there? Do I need to come have a talk with Mayer?”

“And tell him what? To make peace with the wolves?” I took a breath. Big mistake, the nearby dumpster was overflowing with garbage. “We all have enemies, Jerry. Dom hates wolves. It’s something from his past. For now, they’ve called a truce.”

“And you just had to get involved. With a sword.” He was trying to stay calm. I recognized the tone in his voice.

“If you remember, I learned to handle a sword pretty well.” I started up the stairs. “I miss you. When are you coming here? Would you hurry if I said I needed you to fend off a pack of wolves?”

“I’d have them fueling the jet right now.” He groaned. “If that’s true, I’ll be there before dawn. I can hold you during our death sleep.”

“I would love that.” I stopped in front of our door. “But there’s no danger from the wolves now. We settled things. If you have business you need to tend to there in New Orleans…”

“Unfortunately, I do. The