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

plenty of money, she’s going to have to rent a storage unit or find a place with a huge closet just for her clothes.” I opened the car door for Valdez. My old Suburban looked pretty sad in front of the mansion where I’d spent the day.

Apparently, Odette was dependent on her man for a place to live and perhaps an income. I could relate. That was why I was so determined to get my own business off the ground and make it successful. Jeremiah was generous and liked having me around, but we’d butted heads from time to time. He was always the man in charge, in control of his businesses and the people around him, me included. He decided where we lived. If he acquired a new hotel or casino, he’d just announce it and I was expected to start packing. That had happened to me one too many times.

Then there was his lusty nature. I had one too but I reserved my lust for him. He claimed he just liked to look at other beautiful women when we were together but his heart belonged to me. And yet, as soon as we decided to take a break, he managed to get a new woman in his bed right away. So easily! I hated that about him.

I drove home, thinking about my relationship with Jerry. Not only did we look at love differently but we were different kinds of vampires. He didn’t hesitate to use his powers, shape-shifting often, even flying when he wished. I was a fearful vampire.

Jerry loved the hunt. He liked to stalk mortals and drink their blood. For sport! He loved the chase, the danger. Now that there were cameras so many places, it just increased the risk and the rush for him. He rarely drank synthetic and did it only in a social setting, to please me. This opportunity to buy one of Dom’s franchises would be a business decision. If it was a money maker, Jerry would consider it. But he wouldn’t be thrilled to own it for his own pleasure like Fergus and Maggie would. The foolish man would still go out in the late-night hours and look for prey, hunting down hapless humans and taking blood the old-fashioned way. Oh, it made me crazy!

I was terrified he’d be caught someday and there would be hell to pay. Literally. To be honest, wasn’t that where a blood sucking vampire was bound to end up once death finally took him?

25

Icouldn’t believe Halloween was almost here. Jerry had arrived the night before, taking the same luxury suite he’d had. I got a text from him asking me to meet him but I let him know I’d be too busy to see him. That killed me, but Dom had me working every night from sunset until almost dawn. He was really nervous about this blood tasting.

“I can’t believe so many RSVPs have come in. I think I should have rented out a ballroom in a hotel for this.” Dom paced his office, going over every detail. He had Caroline stationed at the door to the club in case one of his invited vampires or one he hadn’t invited decided to show up early. It seemed Dom worried about everything, even problems that were unlikely to happen, like a vampire raid by one of his old enemies. Our storerooms were bulging with premium synthetics worth a fortune.

“It would help if you’d calm down. But you’re right about one thing: this will be quite a crowd. I can’t handle this many people by myself. You’ve got twenty-three vampires coming along with their ‘companions.’ That makes thirty-seven. Who knows if more will show up with a friend? This has turned into a party, Dom.” I was checking lists and feeling overwhelmed. His big idea of making this into a costume party had resonated with the vampires. This was obviously more of a social thing than he’d intended. Now the tasting and bidding for territories was taking a back seat to the Halloween bash.

“A party with serious business going on, Glory.” He rifled through some papers.

“You’re going to have to give in and hire local vampires to help. I know of a couple of vamps who could use the money. Halloween falls on the first Monday, Dom. They’ll be available to work as waitstaff.”

“Who do you have in mind?” He didn’t even look up.

We hadn’t explained to Manny what we were doing on the night the club was usually closed, but Dom had told him to help me decorate the club for Halloween the week before the big event. The usual spider webs and fake skeletons had been upgraded to strobe lights in orange and displays of bats flying out of caldrons filled with smoking dry ice to give them an eerie effect.

“You know Connie Washington. She could work as a waitress. The male vampires would love her. Dennis O’Hara would charm the ladies. How about those two? I have their numbers.” I tapped Dom on the shoulder to get his attention. “Are you listening to me?”

“Those two. Yes. Not Karla. She’ll try to make trouble. She’s still mad at me for keeping all of this territory for myself.” He frowned at his computer. “Do you know a Robert MacDonald? He says he knows you.”

“Yes, we go back centuries. Why?” I pulled out my cell phone. I knew both Connie and Dennis could use the tips they’d get from this event. I hated losing what I could earn, but had faced the fact that I couldn’t handle a crowd that big alone. Not a crowd of vampires who’d be drinking synthetics laced with alcohol and cocaine.

“He’s at me to take the Hollywood territory. Says that should be its own section. MacDonald claims it’s going to be huge and I know he’s right. He’s offering quite a chunk of change for the right of first refusal if I will consider it.”

“Think about it, Dom. How