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

rather not discuss this at all.” I slid into the driver’s seat. My life had literally gone to hell.

26

“Ican’t take you home. What if my roommate is there?” I started the car while Davenport slid into the passenger seat. Valdez was already in the back seat, chin on my shoulder for moral support.

“I’ve been keeping track of your roommate situation. Dear Misty is now shacked up with her new boyfriend. The one she met at a Gamblers Anonymous meeting, thanks to me. Your new roomie, the beautiful Connie, is at work in the Tropicana gift shop. She won’t get off for another hour. Drive, Gloriana.” Davenport looked smug after he’d recited this.

“I hate you.” I backed out of my parking spot. “Why can’t you just tell me what you want me to do for you? Get it over with.”

“You’re supposed to hate me. The more hate, the better my credit down below.” He preened, pulling down the visor and making a face when he realized this old rust bucket didn’t have a mirror there. “I like to drag out the dread. Makes you queasy, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, damn you.” I drove home, determined to ignore him. He chattered about the weather which had cooled for a change, the crowd we were drawing at the Velvet Slipper, and what he’d seen of the dances I’d staged.

“You seem to have a talent for choreography. At least when it concerns booby shakes and booty quakes.” Davenport laughed. “Oh, Glory, this will be such fun. You are going to absolutely despise what you’re going to have to do for me.” He clapped his hands.

I didn’t doubt it. It wasn’t fair that evil came wrapped in such a pretty package. Tonight, he looked especially handsome in a tailored suit that must have cost a fortune. It was a light gray and he wore a red tie and white shirt with it. He had added some snazzy tinted glasses this time. He could have passed for a Wall Street banker or a billionaire in Vegas for a meeting. I knew him for a demon who delighted in bringing the pain. He should have sprouted horns from his three-hundred-dollar haircut.

We finally arrived at the apartment complex and I shut off the engine. “Do we really have to go upstairs? I hate to taint the place with your stench of evil. Connie is bound to pick up on it when she gets home.”

“That’s part of the fun. You’ll have to explain it to her, dear Glory.” Davenport climbed out of the car. “This is a real beater. Too bad you can’t afford better.”

“Quit the torture, demon. Finish so she can get on with her life.” Valdez jumped onto the pavement when I opened his door. “You don’t have to gloat.”

“Oh, but I do.” Davenport waved his hand and a nearby trash can caught fire. “I don’t need to hear from you, sir. You have betrayed your heritage. The less said the better.” He waved his hand again and the fire sputtered out, leaving the stench of burnt garbage and a streak of smoke in the night sky.

I stared at my bodyguard. More hints that Valdez had secrets. I’d like to ask questions but I had bigger worries right now. I led the way upstairs and opened the door. To my relief there were no surprises waiting for me. I settled on the couch, Davenport in the chair across from me.

“I’m waiting. What do I have to do to pay you back for getting Misty off the hook? You paid her debts and she isn’t even tempted to gamble.” I realized my foot had started shaking. I couldn’t deny that had been a huge favor. What would it take to make this demon go away?

“The blood tasting is coming up.” Davenport leaned forward.

I couldn’t help it, I gasped. “You aren’t going to ruin that, are you? You have any idea how long Dom has worked on it? How important it is to him?”

“That makes this even more delicious, my dear.” Davenport rubbed his hands together and sparks flew.

“You want me to do something to ruin the night for Dom?” I felt like throwing up. I couldn’t imagine being the agent of Dom’s downfall. After months of planning and hearing about how this was going to make his fortune, I felt almost as invested in the success of this tasting event as Dom was.

“What? What do you want me to do?” I dug a hand in his fur after Valdez jumped up on the couch next to me.

“I can see this is very upsetting for you. I admit, I’m surprised. You really shouldn’t be that attached to Dominic.” Davenport got up and paced the room. “Now? Why I am delighted. I may have to do some more thinking. It was going to be a simple bait and switch. Bring in the wrong synthetics, I believe you call them. Add a little something to make a few vampires sick, that sort of thing. But now I’m wondering if I can devise something more dramatic. Turn up the heat on the scenario I had planned.” He walked a circuit around the small room, clearly contemplating disaster after disaster.

“Bait and switch. You wanted me to substitute something like, I don’t know, my cheap Juicz instead of the high dollar synthetic in their glasses? Make them think this was all a hoax? Not worth their time?” This would kill Dom’s business. “What did Dom do to deserve this?”

“He’s always on my list. You don’t need to know why. But you’re right. Who would that punish? Not you, dear one. Except that you’d feel sorry for your new friend. It would cost you your job. I like that.” Davenport ignored Valdez who had jumped to the floor and was tracking him step by step as he walked the floor. “Get away from me, you furry pain in my ass. You smell like cheese puffs.” He waved him away with a sneer. “You