Real Vampires Know Size Matters
Page 17

“Maybe I’ll wear a disguise too. Just for fun.” I winked at Rafe. “Why not go? It couldn’t hurt to hear some new ideas. I would definitely like to increase my cash flow.” I glanced around my apartment too. Why had I been satisfied with such a subpar lifestyle? I hated to admit that Mel’s words were getting to me. Live large. Go for it. Don’t be satisfied with less than the best.
Since I’d refused to let the men in my life help me and I lacked a formal education, my life had always been a struggle. Well, I was tired of living hand to mouth, never knowing if I’d have enough money to pay my bills at the end of the month. Mel hated me but I wasn’t above using her. If I could just hear from Jerry, be assured he was safe, I could almost get excited about this seminar on Saturday night. Almost.
My phone rang just as Sienna shouted, “Score!” and got a confirmation number for our tickets.
“Jerry, where the hell have you been?” I know, not the most loving greeting, but he’d left me worrying and waiting for hours.
“I don’t know, Gloriana. I had a, um, blackout.” He sounded tentative. Not like the Jerry I knew at all. “I’m afraid it might be a residual effect from my amnesia.”
“Oh, God, no!” Then I thought about it. “Wait. How can that be, Jerry? You were cured. It was a sorcerer’s spell that took your memory and you got it all back thanks to another sorcerer. Were you with Mel when your blackout started?”
“I think so. When I finally got her on the phone last night, she insisted on a face-to-face. In her room at her hotel.”
“Of course. Then I bet she put the moves on you. Do you remember that?” I’d lost all sympathy for him. Going to her hotel room when she snapped her fingers. Surely he could have figured out a better meeting place.
“I remember her opening the door. After that . . . nothing.”
“What was she wearing when she opened the door?” Hell, did I have to drag every last detail out of him? Apparently.
“Gloriana, is that relevant? I’m telling you I’m losing my mind. If my amnesia is coming back again, I don’t know what I’ll do. The last thing I recall is seeing her in her hotel room. Then I woke up in my car in the garage this evening right after sunset.”
“Oh, God, Jerry.” I could hear how upset he was so I didn’t press him. But since he wasn’t sharing, I just bet Mel had greeted him wearing the skimpiest thing Victoria’s Secret carried in an extra large. “Didn’t Bart or Cait hear you come in last night?”
“Apparently not. Look. I’m weak and have to feed. I got your messages, knew you were worried so I called first thing. Now I’ve got to go. I’ll talk to you later.” He ended the call abruptly.
I stared at the phone in my hand. Excuse me? He’d sounded almost angry at the end of that call. What had I done? Amnesia? He wasn’t angry at me, of course. Just scared. I didn’t blame him. I looked up, hoping my mother would pop in for a visit. She’d caused the last memory loss. I needed to know if she’d had any part in this one. No answer. Of course not. She only came on her own schedule.
I found Cait’s number. She answered on the first ring.
“I thought I’d be hearing from you, Glory. I don’t know what’s going on with Jerry.” She sighed.
“Does Bart think he could be having some kind of flashback? Going through the amnesia thing again?”
“Let me put him on. Jerry’s gone out. You know my brother. He wants to find a mortal to feed from. Jerk. We can talk freely.”
“Glory, it’s Bart. My first thought was that Jerry had been drugged. He’s the one who assumes his amnesia was coming back. I explained about flashbacks. That it was possible he could have some brief episodes . . . That was all it took. Now he’s convinced this is the start of something bad even though he’s just missing a few hours.” Bart swore. “You know how the amnesia made him feel. I couldn’t reason with him. If he thinks he’s losing his mind again, I don’t know what he’ll do.”
“Oh, God.” I closed my eyes. Mel must have done something to erase his memory of their time together. Did she have any idea how horrific that would be for him? It was like tapping into his worst fear. Maybe she did know and this was his punishment for trying to dump her.
“I got him to give me a blood sample. I called Ian MacDonald and I’m headed over to his place to use his lab and run a test. I’m going to find out if Jerry was drugged. I’m pretty sure that’s what it must have been. There are several common substances that can erase a few hours. The date rape drug for one, though I’d be surprised if it worked on a vampire. The woman probably drove him home herself then did her vanishing act. You did say she could do that, didn’t you?”
“I thought so, but now I’m wondering if it wasn’t more of a magic trick. She is mortal, you know. I’ll just bet it was all smoke and mirrors. But then again I don’t know a damned thing about voodoo.” Date rape drug? I barely held on to my temper. If I showed up at Ms. Own-the-World’s room, would she manage to dose me too? I was on my feet, pacing. I really needed to know more. Fury rode me hard and I had to stuff it back down and try to think things through, rationally. “She could have help, Bart. Backup to drive her away after she left him there.”
“Of course. You’re right. I looked at her Web site. She’s bound to travel with a few flunkies, people to help her set up for her seminars and so on. Apparently she’s quite charismatic. They’d do whatever she told them. Even help her move an unconscious man.” Bart was a scientist and always the voice of reason.
“What gets me is that the bitch claims to love Jerry. If she drugged him and then . . .” I had to stop and clear my throat. “Thanks, Bart. If you can prove she did such a horrible thing, then that should convince Jerry to stay away from her. Or to take some reinforcements the next time he sees her.”
“She’s definitely an evil woman. I sure wouldn’t want to be on her to-do list. Cait asks if you’re coming over. She’d like to see you, but doesn’t want to leave until Jerry comes back.”
“I’d like to see her too. And to check on Jerry of course.” I glanced at Rafe. “But I have a new vampire I’m mentoring. Let me try to make some arrangements. I’ll call Cait before I come if I can swing it.”
“Fine. And I’ll let you know what I find out at MacDonald’s lab.”
“Thanks, Bart.” I ended the call then met Rafe’s interested gaze. “That bitch made Jerry forget half of last night. You have any idea how that made him feel?”
“Like he’s losing his mind?” Rafe got serious. “That’s cold.”
“Are you talking about the woman who’s stalking Jerry?” Sienna was interested.
“Yes.” I really didn’t feel like sharing with her. She was now a problem I had to handle. “You wanted to do some more shopping tonight? Rafe, can you stay with her down there in the store while I go visit with Cait and check on Jerry?”
“I’m supposed to be protecting you.” He wasn’t happy with the assignment.
“Please do this. It will really help me out. I promise I’ll shift and jet straight over there. Once I’m in Jerry’s house, I’m sure I’ll be okay. What mortal would take on a vampire when she’s awake and alert?”
“Seems like that mortal handled Blade last night.” Rafe followed me when I got up and headed into my bedroom. Wardrobe. I wanted to look tough because it helped me feel that way. I pulled out black leather pants and a black satin blouse. My leather jacket was vintage and would help me blend into the night. Perfect.
“Glory, the woman probably drugged Blade and he was at her mercy for hours he can’t remember. You know I could hear your phone conversation, right?” Rafe had Sienna on his heels.
“I don’t need a babysitter. If you want Rafe to be with you, take him.” She pouted, then got distracted. “Cool jacket. I love the look. Got anything like that downstairs?”
“Yes, I do. Ask Megan to show you. There’s one in the back room I haven’t priced yet. If you like it, tell her to call me for a price check.” I pulled open a drawer and collected clean underwear. Rafe raised an eyebrow at the sight of a black thong and pushup bra. So what? He’d seen me in less. I headed for the bathroom but stopped to pin both of them with a stern look.
“Don’t give me a hard time about this. Sienna, you’re too new to be left alone. Rafe, I need this favor. I can’t have my new vamp around mortals unsupervised. I’ll be fine. I hope I do run into Mel. I’ll rip her throat out and we’ll be done.” I smiled, full fang, ignoring the fact that I hadn’t been able to get near her the last time we’d met. “Jerry’s mistake is that he tried to reason with her. I won’t bother.”
“Gee, Glory. I’ve never see you like this.” Sienna shivered. “You’d really kill her?”
“No, she probably wouldn’t. For all her tough talk, Glory’s not like that. Which is what worries me. Let me call someone else to stick with Sienna so I can go with you, Blondie.”
“No, I don’t have time for that. And I can kill if I have to. Quit underestimating me, Rafe. I’m into my powers now and I’m not letting this woman get the best of me.” I tempered my message with a smile. “I know where you’re coming from.”
“Yeah, years of watching over you.” He shook his head. “You’ve changed. That’s good. But don’t get cocky. This voodoo thing is a new threat. You don’t know what you’re up against.”
“You’re right.” I touched his cheek. So dear. How did I get so lucky? To have this strong man care . . . “I’m on it. Flo’s connecting me with a voodoo expert. I’m going to find out what I need to know so I’ll have even more weapons to work with. In the meantime . . .”