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

“Yes. One word.” I looked around. Tourists thronged the sidewalks. If I threw open the door, I could join them. There was little Micah could do in such a crowd. I showed the phone to Valdez. Could we both move fast enough to make our escape? Did I really want to abandon my car? And now he knew where I lived. He could be waiting for us when we finally got home.

“What was it, Gloriana?” Micah pulled over in front of a restaurant that was closed. “I can see you’re thinking about bolting. Don’t bother. I mean you no harm.”

“Hah!” I showed him the text. “Run! Why would Jeremiah say that if I wasn’t in danger from you?”

“Perhaps because he knows you have a soft spot for Highlanders?” Micah faced me. “I plan to come to that blood tasting you will be serving at in October. Jeremiah tried to dissuade me. That got me curious. Then I found out you lived here. Jeremiah works hard to keep your whereabouts a secret from his friends. Did you know that?”

I rolled down my window and inhaled what passed for fresh air on the Strip. I smelled mortals, car exhaust and garlic from the back seat. Jeremiah kept me a secret now. Why? Was he ashamed of me? I faced Micah again.

“Take me home. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, after I get off work. Right now, I can’t think straight. Understand?” I leaned back and closed my eyes.

“More than you know.” Micah pulled out into traffic. I knew because the car moved.

I didn’t like him. He’d come to make trouble. That much was obvious. I’d been looking forward to Halloween and seeing Jerry again. Now I didn’t know what to think. I put a hand over my eyes, the bright neon so strong it seemed to pierce my eyelids.

I sat like that until the car stopped and Valdez said we had arrived at our apartment complex. When I opened my eyes, the car keys were on the driver’s seat and Micah was gone. I was relieved yet frustrated. When would I see him again? Would he show up tomorrow night? I didn’t know what to wish for.

One thing I did know, I had wanted to meet more vampires and all it had gotten me was drunk. The Vampire Council and the house were things to think about later. That pill I’d taken sat in my stomach, taking root. Why had I let Micah talk me into that? What was it doing to me?

23

“Are you okay?” Valdez asked as I grabbed my keys and got out of the car. He trailed me to our apartment.

“I have no idea.” I fumbled with the key then realized the door wasn’t locked after all. I pushed it open and saw Davenport sitting on our ancient couch. Just what I needed.

“You look a little rough, my dear. Hard night?” He seemed happy about that, his smile knowing.

“Where’s Misty?” I collapsed into a chair facing the demon, Valdez so close he was almost sitting on my feet. He gave Davenport a fierce look and a growl.

“At a GA meeting.” Davenport got up and strolled to the door. “I did what I said I’d do. I even paid what she owed on her car so she’d have transportation. She won’t remember a thing except that there was a mistake in her paperwork and the collection agency had to bring her car back to her. She’s decided she’ll never gamble again. I’m sure she’ll tell you all about it when she gets home.”

“That means…” I rubbed my head. The headache was gone but now my thoughts were making me wish for an early death sleep. What had I done, making a deal with a demon?

“You can’t escape this, Gloriana. I’ll be in touch soon about our bargain. You owe me a favor and it will be a big one.” He tipped an invisible hat then walked out the door.

“Gods.” I put my head on my knees. Then I felt a warm paw stroke my hair.

“Don’t worry, Glory. We’ll figure a way out of this.” Valdez leaned against my legs. “Even demons make mistakes, have weaknesses. We just have to find Davenport’s.”

I looked up. “I appreciate your confidence, but I’m afraid I’ve really done it now.” I pushed myself to my feet. “I need a hot shower and to rinse out a couple of pieces of laundry.” A glance at the clock convinced me it was later than I’d thought. I needed to hurry.

“I’ll be out here, watching for Misty. Go ahead.” Valdez jumped up on the couch. “I could use a nap.”

“Do you need something to eat?” I stopped on my way to the bathroom.

“No thanks. Caro fed me too well. I may be burping garlic for the next week. If Misty has some Tums in the medicine cabinet, could you toss a few on the floor for me?” He stretched out, facing the door.

“Will do.” I found the bottle of colored chews and counted out four. Then I hand fed them to my bodyguard. I hoped he was right and there was some way to get out of this favor I owed. And Micah. What did he want? Just to make trouble? Would he even be around tomorrow night? Or had he done what he’d come to do, which was to make me mad at Jerry? I itched to call my sire and ask him about Micah’s claim that I was Jeremiah’s dirty secret. Because that was how I was seeing it. Yes, Jerry had women there in New Orleans. Why not? He sure didn’t have a relationship with me, now did he?

I had to stop this. Jerry had asked me to come back with him to New Orleans. But he could read me so easily, he’d known my answer before he’d even asked the question.

I showered then went through my usual rituals, the events of the night swirling through my head.