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

being shot at point blank range. I knew shifters could heal but wasn’t sure if that was from all wounds. “Put the gun down, Sid. Think.”

“I am thinking.” He aimed the gun at Valdez. “Stupid dog. I should have done this a long time ago. No one would have blamed me. I wear the scars from what he did. He’s dangerous.”

I remembered how I had shot electricity out of my fingers in the casino. Could I do that again? I held my breath and aimed at Sid. It took all my concentration as I visualized those sparks coming out of my fingertips. He yelped when electricity hit his hand with a sizzle. He flung away his gun and shook his fingers. I didn’t have time to celebrate.

“What the fuck was that?” He scrambled on the pavement for his gun.

I leaped on him. “Something you’re going to forget. Just like you’re going to forget you ever knew me or my dog.” I grabbed his neck, squeezing until his eyes bulged. He struggled, but I had the advantage, sitting on his chest. I stared into his eyes. “You will do as I say, Sid.”

I had him mesmerized and he could only nod.

“Leave me and my dog alone, Sid. Now help me get that net off my dog.” I released him and made sure he got up and did what I told him to do. When Valdez was free, I grabbed Sid by the throat again. My fangs were down. I was so furious, I didn’t bother to control them.

“Look at me, Sid. I could tear open your throat and watch you bleed out. Or drain you dry.” I saw him pale and his legs start shaking. “That’s right. Be scared.”

I shook my head. “Now listen and obey. You are going to leave this place and never come back. You will not visit Misty or call her or talk to her. You will forget you ever knew Misty. Do you understand me?”

“Forget Misty.” He repeated it in the monotone that meant he was hearing and would do what I said.

“You will also forget Misty’s roommate, Gloria, and her dog Valdez. You don’t know how you got hurt. You must have been bitten when playing with a stray dog. You will never bother Glory or her dog again. Understand?”

“Will not bother Glory or her dog.” His eyes were glassy but his face was turning blue. It was time to give him some oxygen so I released a little of the pressure on his throat.

Did I want to drink his blood? No way. His very smell, a combo of cheap beer and that strong cologne he thought covered a lack of bathing, made my stomach turn. I shoved him away.

“Now get out of here.”

Valdez had waited patiently while I’d finished with Sid, but now he lunged and tore a hole in his pants. V’s teeth gleamed in the pale moonlight and for a moment I was tempted to let him take his own revenge. But then we’d have explaining to do—blood on the ground and a wounded Sid to transport to the hospital. No. I was so ready to see the last of him.

“Valdez, leave him alone. I’m done.” Valdez and I waited until Sid’s truck was out of sight before we walked up the stairs to the apartment.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.” Valdez walked to the cabinet where I kept his snacks and nosed it open. He found a big bag of Cheetos and ripped it open, scattering them everywhere.

“You made a mess.” I was feeling that weight from sunrise being close. I got a bottle of NRG out of the fridge and twisted off the cap. A deep drink and I felt better. I couldn’t believe what I’d done tonight. Beating Sid was just part of it.

Valdez was busy eating Cheetos off the floor. “I’m going to clean up my mess, one Cheeto at a time. You were awesome tonight, Glory. Saved my butt.”

“If he’d shot you, would you heal, like I do?” I took another drink.

“Depends on where he hit me. Some wounds, sure. Hit me in the head, the heart? Then I’d be a goner.” He used his tongue to capture a Cheeto that had landed under the edge of the counter.

“That’s what I thought.” I collapsed on the couch.

“Seriously, Glory, you’re showing powers I didn’t know you had.”

“I’m showing powers I didn’t know I had.” I leaned back and stared at the ceiling. “I don’t think even Jerry can shoot electricity out of his fingertips. That was freaking awesome.”

“Sure was.” He glanced up. “Misty’s coming. We have to get her away from Davenport or she’ll end up one of the Devil’s minions.”

“I know. I feel so guilty about that.”

“Don’t. He was really after you. Misty is what you call collateral damage.” He sniffed. “Jeez. She reeks of him.”

The door was flung open and a grinning Misty walked in, her hands full of cash. “Glory! Can you believe it? Davenport is amazing. He’s my new lucky charm. After you left, I took your ten thousand and doubled it!”

I stared at her and inhaled. Valdez was right. My roommate reeked of that demon. Had she slept with him? I was scared to ask as she danced around the room.

She stopped at her bedroom door. “Oh, I was a bad, bad girl tonight. But what the hell? He’s hot and I was celebrating. Davenport said to tell you that the Devil made me do it. Isn’t that hilarious?” She pulled cash out of a Caesar’s Palace sack. “Let me give you your money back. It’s only fair.”

“No, thank you.” I could smell the taint of evil on her and the money. “Use it to pay your debt. I want no part of it.”

“But you’re saving for your business.” She stuffed the pack of bills back in the sack.

“I’ll manage. I’m off of gambling. I wish you would be too.”

“Are you kidding? Look what it did for me tonight!” She laughed