“And maybe you shouldn't. It might make you feel better, but I want him to go home to Houston sooner rather than later. He can't do that if he ends up in the emergency room.” I patted her shoulder. “Head out, Lacy. He'll stay here until I take the whammy off.”
“What about the glasses? Do you think they're still recording? ” Lacy picked them up and looked at them. “I could toss them in the lake too.”
“No, leave them. I think Blade will be interested in the lenses if nothing else. They kept us from controlling Ryan and reading his mind and apparently Westwood and all of his men wear them. You're going to destroy the receiver.” I looked them over. “And I bet if I close the ear pieces, the video and audio shut off.”
Lacy sighed and looked at Ryan. He was still handsome, even though he looked like he'd lost a fight. He'd have a black eye tomorrow and his beloved suit . . . it would make a good dust rag.
“I can't believe I was so taken in by him. I should have known . . .”
“What? You're a beautiful woman, Lacy. Smart. Accomplished. Naturally men are going to come on to you.”
“Not beautiful. Not smart. And the only thing I'm accomplished at is turning into a cat that”âshe glanced at Valdezâ“isn't exactly king of the jungle.”
“You sound like you need cheering up. Tomorrow night. Halloween. You and I are going to Damian's party. And we're both going to look so sexy, the men will trip over their tongues pursuing us.”
Lacy smiled sadly. “Why not? But what about the store? Now we don't even have Ryan to help out. And I'm sure Derek will be going to the party.”
“We'll close the store. One night only. Tuesdays aren't that busy anyway. And we need to hire more help. I'll go next door and see if Diana can recommend anyone.”
“Good. Now I'm off to collect and destroy evidence.” Lacy had traded sad for mad.
“Are you going to look at the tapes first?” I know. None of my business. But I
had
to ask.
Lacy flushed. “Of course I am. Is that perverted?”
“Not at all. But destroy them afterwards, Lacy. Westwood will know Ryan's compromised when he doesn't get a report. He might send someone to search your place when you're not around. The hunter seems to have no end of resources and surely has the technology to bypass any alarm system.” Now wasn't that a thought to send chills all through me? “Though he really has no use for the tapes. He's probably current on what's been going on. He wouldn't expect anything from the nights we're closed.”
“I don't like the fact that Westwood's so determined to stalk you.” Lacy stared at the glasses I'd tossed on the table. “The man's obviously got a screw loose.”
“No argument there.” I shivered and walked out of the storeroom. “I could lock myself in my apartment and hide under the covers. Or I can go on living.” I grabbed a shawl and wrapped it around me. “I've got Valdez and my friends. We're all on high alert.”
Lacy sighed. “It's not fair. You're good people. Drink that canned stuff. I've never seen you hurt anybody. Not even Ryan tonight when I know you wanted to.”
“Yeah, I did.” I leaned against the counter. “But I'm not the animal Westwood takes me for.”
Lacy wiped at her eyes, back to sad again. “He used me to get to you. I'm so sorry, Glory.”
“Not your fault.” I opened a drawer and pulled out a box of tissues. “But you can make it up to me. Come with me to Damian's party tomorrow night.”
“How can I say no?” Lacy took the tissue I held out to her and blew her nose. “I'll have to work on the party mood.”
“Do that. And come up with a killer costume.”
“What are you wearing tomorrow night? You got a costume in mind?” Lacy toyed with Ryan's keys. “Maybe I'll help myself to one of Ryan's vintage suits. His favorite Gatsby look. Worn without anything underneath, it should come across as sexy.”
“Sounds good.” I glanced at Valdez. “Maybe I'll pull out one of my Vegas costumes.”
“Can't wear Kevlar under those little bits of nothing, Blondie. It ain't safe.”
“It'll be a big party. Westwood couldn't think of showing up there. He'd be surrounded by vampires, shifters and way too many people who'd dearly love to take
him
for a trophy.” I smiled sadly. “Damian has good security and Blade will beef it up even more once he knows we're all going to be there. I say we plan to have fun and forget all this danger and deception for a few hours.”
Lacy shook her head and glared at Ryan one more time. “I may never forget, but I'll be there.” She turned to Valdez. “I say we make fur face here wear a costume. A cute little kitty mask.”
“Bite me, cat girl.”
“You wish, dog breath.”
I pushed Lacy toward the door. “Call me when you've got the computers and, Lacy . . .” I gripped her shoulder for a moment. “I'm serious about tomorrow night. Eight o'clock. We'll ride over together.”
“Fine.” She grimaced. “I'll be sexy. I'll be fun. And I'll be on high alert in case Westwood shows up with a death wish.” Lacy flipped open the deadbolts.
“There you go. Be careful out there.” I heard her lock the door again from the outside while I went back to check on Ryan. He still sat slumped where I'd left him. I probed his mind. He was regaining consciousness, but the whammy would hold him in place until I released him.
“Let's go next door, Valdez. I need to find another day worker now that Ryan's out of the picture. And this time I'm checking references.”
“Don't blame yourself, Blondie. The kid had us all fooled. Those glasses are something else. Be sure you give them to Blade.”
Valdez trotted by my side to the front door.
“Maybe you should wear some around Sabatini. The guy's put the whammy on you more than once.”
“Glasses would be cheating. I don't need them anyway. I can block Damian. Now that I know what he's capable of, I do it automatically.” How much did Valdez know about Damian's sex mind games? The dog woofed and I figured it was more than I wanted him to.
I opened the front door and Valdez stuck his head outside and sniffed.
“All clear. But make it snappy.”
“No problem.” I stepped into the coffee shop and inhaled the sweet scent of muffins baking. Blueberry? The coffee didn't smell too bad either.
“Glory, over here.” Flo waved at me. She was with Richard Mainwaring. This night just kept getting better and better.
Twenty
Mainwaring. I either had to make my peace with him, or prove he was a stone cold killer. I threw up a block and strolled over.
“Hi, you two. I was looking for Diana.”
“She and Kenneth just left. She was taking him for a ride. To cheer him up.” Flo exchanged a look with Richard. He'd stood as I approached, the perfect gentleman. And, for once, he wasn't glaring at me.
“Join us, Gloriana. Florence tells me I owe you an apology. ” He actually smiled as he held out a chair. He really was handsome if you liked the white blond hair and sky blue eyes thing. But those eyes clearly saw too much. I ramped up my blocks.
“Apology?”
“You think Ricardo hates you, Glory. At the church, he gave you a look, remember?”
Remember? I'd never forget it. “I just don't understand, Richard. What have I done to you to make you care about me one way or another?”
“A misunderstanding.” Richard picked up Flo's hand. “Florence had just moved in with you, then immediately broke up with me. She didn't intend it so, but it seemed to me that you had poisoned her against me.”
“I could hardly do that, Richard, when I'd never met you.”
“Which is what I told him. I wanted him to socialize with us, come to meet my roomie.” She squeezed Richard's hand. “But he was being secretive. Not wanting to go out at all. That's why I broke up with you, Ricardo. I like to go out, dance, have fun. You weren't giving me that.”
“I know that now, sweetheart.” He leaned over to kiss her cheek. “I'm a private person. And I didn't come to Austin by accident. I had my reasons,” he glanced at me, “for not rushing to join the vampire community.”
Reasons. Like the fact that he hated being around us? Oh, not Flo, obviously. I tried to probe his mind. Nothing. But I wasn't getting the hate vibe either. So we were making progress.
“Ricardo has never understood my brother's lifestyle.” Florence smiled at him. “Of course who does? Damian dresses as Dracula on Halloween. It took me years to get used to the idea that he wasn't just asking to be staked.”
“He calls it hiding in plain sight. Blending.” At least Damian and I had that philosophy in common. I glanced at the cans of Bloody Merry on the table. Florence had poured hers into a glass and was using a straw. She didn't like to mess up her lipstick, a beautiful gloss tonight the color of ripe strawberries. It matched her red sweater and skirt. Mortals probably thought she was drinking an exotic juice.
I felt frumpy, dressed in black sweats with my Kevlar on underneath and running shoes on my feet. Dressed for battle, actually, in case the intervention with Ryan had somehow gone wrong. Of course it was hard to think it had gone right either. Finding out you've been had doesn't exactly inspire a party and balloons. Speaking of parties . . .
“Are you going to Damian's Halloween party tomorrow night? Diana tells me his parties are not to be missed.”
“We'll be there. Right, Ricardo?” Flo toyed with her straw, but her eyes were fixed on Richard. This was obviously a test of their relationship.
“Yes, it's time I revealed myself.”
Flo was smiling, so he'd passed her test, but I still wasn't ready to embrace Mr. Mainwaring.
“A lot of people already know you're here, Richard. We had a meeting . . .”
“Where Florence defended me. She told me about it.” He put his hand on hers. “I swear I didn't kill Trevor or Marguerite.” He looked at me directly. “I swear.”
“All righty then. I'll see you both at the party tomorrow night.” And didn't I sound like an idiot? I should be relieved my roomie's lover wasn't a psycho killer. Or was he? Flo began to chatter about Damian's parties, past and present.
Despite his swearing, I figured Richard still had secrets. All vamps did. It comes with the territory. Even I had some. Back in Las Vegas, I'd been secretive as hell out of necessity. I knew now I'd been way too isolated. No wonder I'd gotten in trouble with the gambling. Surrounded by mortals with no other vamps to relax with. On my guard all the time. Inadvertent fang action, stuff like that, and I had to spend all my time erasing memories. And wasn't that a drag?
Back then I couldn't go around with a can of Bloody Merry in my hand all the time either, at least not without a Koozie covering the label. I called it my energy drink. But if you don't have the blood sucking habit, I imagine it would freak you out to taste it. That's when I'd learned what I could and couldn't drink. Alcohol, no. Water, yes. But I don't handle bubbles well. Forget sodas. My system goes nuts. I could belch the “Star Spangled Banner” without taking a breath.
“Glory, are you listening to me?” Flo tapped her red nails on the table. “What are you wearing tomorrow night? I told Ricardo about your Kevlar. He wants me to try it. And Damian has been nagging me too.” She looked down at her clingy sweater, then over at my smashed boobs. “Can I borrow your vest with the targets on it? I find it amusing.”
“Sure. I'm not wearing Kevlar tomorrow night. My costume is way too skimpy.”
“Now I'm jealous.” Flo pouted prettily. “You will be sexy and I will beâ”
“Safe, Florence, darling.” Richard's eyes fixed on her lips. “You must stay safe. And I know for a fact that you look sexy in anything. Even wrapped in a bed sheet.”
“Especially wrapped in a bed sheet, you bad boy.” Flo pulled his hand to her lips and nipped at his knuckles. “Pardon us, Gloriana. We are full of passion for each other. Like two teenagers, yes?”
I stood and smiled at them. Wasn't this a treat? I not only was a third wheel here, but I was being reminded in the most graphic way possible that my own love life was a suck-fest. Sure, I could sleep with Blade again, but that would only complicate things. Or I could bed Damian and not complicate things nearly enough. I hated the way I felt. Jealous, out of sorts and, watching Richard stare at Flo's lips, horny enough to actually consider calling Blade.
Richard looked up at me and winked. He was reading my mind! Through my block. Just how old was this vampire?
“Florence, would you excuse me a moment? I think I'll walk Gloriana to her door. To make sure we have peace between us.”
“Thank you, darling. Of course.” Flo gave me a serious look. “Have an open mind, Glory. Ricardo's in my life now. I would hate to have to find a new roomie.”
“My mind is way too open right now, Flo. And you won't have to find a new roomie on
my
account.” I nodded toward the door. “I've got my dog, Richard. I can make it upstairs just fine.”
“Please. Humor me. I have something to tell you.”
If it was a passionate declaration of his love for Flo, he could spare me. He gripped my elbow and propelled me toward the door. When we got outside, he gave Valdez a look that had my dog tucking his tail between his legs. I shivered. Okay. What the hell was going on here? Richard punched in the code that Flo had obviously given him and held the door open so I could enter the apartment building. He shut the door in Valdez's face. Dog out, us in. I couldn't believe Valdez had allowed it. And he wasn't even barking. Freaky.