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

beauty, don’t say so. Haven’t I proved I’m a lover, not a fighter?” Dennis nuzzled her neck. “No more talk of Armageddon, if you are against it. Pick the next movie.” He squeezed her breast. “There are dozens of tapes over there. Go, pick a comedy or a romance, your choice.”

“It will take more than that to make me happy, Denny, and you know it.” But she dragged herself off the couch and wandered over to a shelf of movies. She moved like an African queen and could have been a model. I had to wonder at her story. The card merely had her name and phone number on it. I stuck it in my purse.

“Come, Glory, meet the rest.” Karla introduced me to three more men and two women. They all seemed happy to meet me but were discussing local politics. It was clear they were more interested in their own problems than in welcoming someone new.

“I’m sorry they are so self-centered, Glory. I called them back here after I confronted Dominic. This is where we meet each month, where we can be with our own kind. It is also our Council House, available to any vampire who needs a place to stay temporarily. Or, like the three on the couch, want a big screen TV for movie watching. They live together in a tiny apartment way off the Strip.”

“Really?” I glanced back at them. “I thought all vampires except me were rich.”

Karla’s laughter rang through the room, making Dennis shush her.

“This is the good part, Karla. Keep it down.” He punched up the volume on the remote.

“Selfish bastard. Go home if you can’t hear your movie. Take the copy with you.” Karla led me to the bar and refilled my goblet. “Most vampires here can barely make ends meet. If you keep meeting rich vampires, I want to run with your crowd. Now come sit over here and tell me why you came.” She patted a bar stool. “Thank goodness Dominic sent over refreshments after all. This crowd can get ugly without something good to drink.”

“The Council owns this house?” I saw a couple come down the stairs near the front door. The woman kissed the man then left. She’d been a mortal. He was a vampire who came straight toward us.

“Remind me not to troll those casinos for a mortal blood donor again any time soon.” He filled a goblet and took a deep drink. “Synthetic but at least it doesn’t taste like cheap tobacco.” He smiled at me. He wore a dark suit and had the look of a high roller, the kind Misty would have liked to meet in a casino. His tiny goatee and mustache gave him a European look but his drawl was Southern. “Who are you, darlin’?”

I introduced myself. “It’s my first time here. I was just asking about this place. Is it yours?”

He laughed. “As if I could afford such a building, even off the Strip. No, we have a benefactor to thank for it. Tell her, Karla. I see Clive over there bending everyone’s ear about taxes again. Either he needs to get off the grid or fly back to Europe. He’s becoming such a bore on the subject.” He touched my hand. “Larry Jones. Ask for me if you need help with anything.” He looked into my eyes until I had the good sense to look away. “Anything that doesn’t cost too much.”

“Thank you.” I was glad when he crossed the room and joined the people on the other side. There was a burst of laughter when he said something and slapped a man on the back.

“Don’t worry. Larry rarely does anything we have to cover up. That is one thing the Council is useful for. If a vampire leaves a mess, we clean it up. Then make sure he or she regrets it.” Karla sat on one of the bar stools. “Sit. You had a question. Let me answer it.”

I settled on a stool and let Karla refill my glass. My head was getting a little fuzzy and I realized I’d been downing blood with alcohol too fast.

“There are about forty vampires in Las Vegas at last count. The vampire who owns this building chooses to remain anonymous. I’m just glad he or she set it up for us.” Karla smiled. “We vote for a leader once a decade. My term is about up. I may run for another one. I do like the perks that come with the job, even though keeping some of these vampires in line can be a problem.”

“So many in one town!” I couldn’t help it, I kept sipping that alcohol-laced drink. “Do they all pay attention to your council? Dom said there’s an act on the Strip…”

“Oh, that one.” Karla glanced at the group across the room. “I have given up on the vampires who work in entertainment here. Las Vegas is a mecca for vampires because of the night life. I’m certain that is what drew you here as well?” She raised a penciled eyebrow.

“Yes, sure. I had been working my way across the western United States but had trouble finding jobs in places open twenty-four hours.” I realized I’d finished my drink again. I set the empty on the bar and vowed not to get a refill. “Vegas seemed a logical next step. I have to work for a living. I won’t let my sire pay my way though I do let him provide my shifter as daytime security.”

“Have you and your sire had a falling out?” Karla refilled my goblet, her red lips pursed. “Who is he? Do I know him?”

“I have no idea if you know him. Jeremiah Campbell but he’s going as Jeremy Blade now. We are still friends and sometimes more.” I picked up the goblet and drank despite my resolve.

“I have heard the name. Not many of us maintain a relationship with our sires but it sounds like you do. Interesting.” Karla toyed with her