Real Vampires Don't Diet (26 page)

"Oh, aren't you in a great mood. Here I was so worried I chewed my toenails off and you're laughing and planning to
freakin' levitate?"
Valdez chuffed.
"Oh, what the hey? I've been bored to death and obviously you're okay. Go for it,
Glory. See how far you can get."

"After Ray feeds. Right now he'd be lucky if he got a foot off the ground. Valdez, you're on guard duty. You know what to do." I looked down the alley and saw a pair of Goths come out of the back door of the tattoo parlor next to my shop. The girl was pretty if you could get past the hardware decorating her eyebrows and nose.

"Ray? Check her out. Can you handle the piercings and tattoos?"

"No problem. Let's go." Ray pulled me along. "You take the guy. I assume you want to feed again." He walked up to the couple.

"Either of you got a light?"

They turned, the boy digging for a lighter. I had him frozen in an instant. I heard Ray talking to the girl, taking longer, but getting the job done.

"Glory, what's this blood type? I like the smell of it."

I leaned over and sniffed. "Ordinary O positive. But that's good. Universal donor. Happens to be my blood type."

"Ah. That explains my craving for it." Ray grinned.

"Move her out of the light to a dark place. Over there between the car and the Dumpster. Valdez will bark if anyone comes down the alley."

"Man, this is exciting. My fangs are down without even trying. How cool is that?" Ray led the girl by the hand. "She's a little thing. I won't hurt her, will I?"

"Just don't take too much. Count to thirty slowly while you're feeding. You know, one thousand one, one thousand two, like that. Then stop, no matter how great it tastes." Might as well fill up while I had the chance. I was about to put my arms around my guy when I caught a whiff of something in the air.

Previous

Top

Next

bat.jpg

"Okay I'm ready."

r

"Wait, Ray. Smell her again. Anything familiar there?" I knew he was acquainted with it. It had been on his deck New Year's Eve and you couldn't convince me he hadn't enjoyed his own share in the past.

"Shit. She's been smoking weed. What'll that do to me?"

"Might make you a little high. Depending on how much she's had. Can you deal with that?"

"Will it hurt my voice? Like the Jack did?" Ray's eyes were glowing and I could tell he really didn't want to stop and think about things at this point.

"I've run across it a few times and it never gave me a hangover like the booze did. You have to decide."

"With Aggie threatening to take us out anyway? I say I might as well go for it." Couldn't blame him. He'd really missed the buzz from alcohol. I decided to take care of myself. In a few seconds, I realized I should have paid more attention to my own donor. Whoa. My guy had enjoyed a
lot
of weed tonight.

"Uh, Ray. Don't forget wipe her memory. She saw your pretty face." I noticed something interesting a few feet away so I threw my guy at Ray. "Here, take care of mine too." I headed down the alley.

"Glory, what the hell's the matter with you?" Ray grabbed my arm.

"Huh?" I reached into the Dumpster. "Wow! Why would anyone throw this away?" I picked up a half-eaten Snickers and was about to pop it into my mouth when Valdez leaped up and snatched it. He gobbled it down in one bite.

"Hey, you almost bit off my hand. Bad dog." I wagged my finger in his face and stumbled.

"You're stoned."

"Am not. You see my guy's tat?" I giggled. "Ray, you should get one." I grabbed him around the waist and held on. "With my name on it. Tabloids'd love it. They'd have to catch it quick though. Vamp sleep would wipe it out." I pulled open his shirt, popping a button. "Put it right there." I patted his chest. Mmm. Nice chest. I smiled up at him. "Probably hurt. Would you suffer for me?" Funny. I laughed until I hiccupped.

"Don't think Caine would go for it. Even temporarily. Unless you got him high like that loser who, by the way, is still
over there where you guys left him and the chick."
Valdez wasn't laughing.
"Someone else could come out of that tattoo
parlor any minute."

"Yeah, yeah, but about that tat He's right, but what did it say?" Ray held me up when my knees went limp. "Wow, you really are smashed. Your guy must have smoked a buttload of pot."

"Umm-hmm. It was dee-licious." I pushed Ray away and headed for the Dumpster again. Was that a Cheetos bag? "Naked guy in chains. Said 'Stacy's Sex Slave.' Cute, huh?"

"I'd be happy to be your sex slave, babe, but no need to put it in writing. Now I'd better get those mortals out of here. Valdez, you keep an eye on our girl." Ray pulled on me again but I shrugged him off. "Glory, stay away from that Dumpster." I heard Ray, but forget him. He was a new vampire. Probably eaten Cheetos a million times. Not like me, who'd only had them once and then suffered agony afterward. I finally got the bag just as Valdez's teeth clamped down on my pant leg. Empty. The bag, not the pants.

"Let go, Valdez, I'm coming out."

"You'd better be." Ray lifted me out and into his arms.

I grinned up at him. "Hey, cutie." I gave him a loud kiss. "Nothing but trash. Buy me Cheetos, fella, and I'll give you anything you want." I nibbled on his lips.

"Forget it, Blondie."
Valdez bumped my butt with his head.
"Put her down, Caine."

"Mind your own beeswax, dog. I like it here." I bit Ray's ear. "Ray and I need some alone time."

"Now
she says it." Ray set me gently on my feet. "Let me deal with these mortals first. Then if you want to stay down here and make out, we can send the pooch up to the roof first."

"Sounds like a plan." I swayed for a moment and grabbed a handful of fur. "Oh, sorry, pup."

"You're not sending me anywhere."
Valdez led me to a wall.

I leaned against it until I slid to the ground and closed my eyes.

Some time later Ray squatted down beside me. "You okay, Glory?"

"Sure. Help me up. I haven't forgotten, Ray. Time to levuh, levfloat."

Ray helped me stand and I looked up at the roof. The earth swirled around me for a second, then steadied. "Let's go."

"Fine. Maybe the cold air up there will clear your head." Ray smiled and held me when I wobbled. Valdez sat beside me.
"Glory, I don't think you can do it, not with the buzz you've got going."

"Buzz? Me?" I reached down for an apple core but Valdez beat me to it. "Ouch. That time you bit my finger."

"Would you quit trying to eat?"
He chewed, then swallowed.
"Gack. Snap out of it, Glory. I'll bite you again if I have
to."

I stuck my finger in my mouth. He'd barely grazed me. "Okay, forget eating." I sighed. "Ray, I'll tell you how to float." I leaned back against the building. "Look at me, Ray. At my
eyes."

"Can't help it, Glory. Your sweater shrunk last night. I like you like this. Relaxed. Not so guarded."

"Watch it, Caine."
Valdez showed his teeth.
"A gentleman doesn't take advantage
"

"Give me a break. Oh, right. I forgot you and the rest of Glory's friends come from prehistoric times or something like that." Ray threw his arms around me. "The best thing about Glory coming from back then is that she's the real deal. So many women these days are made with manufactured parts. Plastic." Ray squeezed me until I pushed him back.

"Yeah, I'm real, handsome. And I'm here. Quit talking to my dog and talk to
me"
I smiled at him. "So you like what you see and, um, feel?"

"Damn it, Glory." Valdez growled. "Back off, bozo, she doesn't know what she's saying."

"Relax, fur face. I know she's buzzed. Look at her eyes. Unfocused. And her silly smile." Ray kissed the corners of my mouth.

"Sweet. I tell you, Valdez, worst invention of this century? Botox, my man. Women are ruining themselves with that stuff. Hell, you can't tell what they're feeling. Blank faces. Like nobody's home."

I snuggled against him. "I'm
always
home, Ray. Want a demo?" I slid my hand inside his shirt. I really liked his chest. Too bad he wouldn't get that tattoo.

"Glory, if you think I'm going to stand here and watch you
" Valdez snorted when I smiled and nodded.

"You'd better. Or I'll make sure Blade fires your furry butt."

"That's it. Glory, you're wasted." Ray quit smiling. "We'd better get you upstairs. Valdez, can you tell me what to do or should we take the stairs?"

"In a minute." I gave Ray a full-throttle kiss that made Valdez growl. I pulled back and grinned. "Aw, calm down, Valdez. Ray appreciates me. That was a thank you."

"You bet I do." Ray kept his hands firmly planted on my butt. "You seen some of the lips on the actresses I dated? Inflated like they've been hooked up to a bicycle pump too long. Hell, I was scared to really kiss those lips. What if they pop?"

"So kiss me again, Ray. I really like the way you kiss." Valdez's growl was getting louder, but I ignored it.

"Nope. I figure your bodyguard's patience is stretched pretty thin." Ray put some space between us. "Sorry, Valdez. Seems you've really got it rough stuck there in a dog body. Wouldn't blame you if you hated Blade. It's not right. A decent boss would let you shift to whatever the hell you wanted. Blade must not trust you around Glory as a real man."

"Hush, Ray." Maybe I was finally coming down to earth, but I could see how this was hurting Valdez's pride.

"You don't know what the hell you're talking about."
Valdez stalked toward Ray and I jumped between the two.

"Valdez, cool it. Ray, get off Valdez's case. He's my friend. Now I'm aggraggrapissed." I sent Ray a mental message. His eyes widened. "Glory! A lady shouldn't think words like that."

An arrow whizzed past me and hit Ray in the arm. "Damn!" Ray grabbed it, then threw himself against me. "Get down!" My vampire reflexes, even impaired, were good enough to help us dodge more arrows as they hit the wall all around us.

"Not down. Go up."
Valdez peered into the darkness when there was a brief lull in the barrage. Maybe the enemy was reloading or something.
"Go straight up, Glory."

"Hang on to me, Ray." I was suddenly stone-cold sober. Staring Death in the face will do that to you.

"Save yourself, Glory." Ray grunted when I wrapped my arms around him and stared up at the roof just as more arrows flew past our heads and hit the wall behind us. Way too close.

"I'm saving both of us. Come on, Valdez. No heroics now. Forget going after them. You're coming too." I issued orders as Ray locked his arms around my neck, the smell and feel of his blood dripping near my mouth a distraction I couldn't afford. I took a breath, held on tight to Ray and soared.

To my relief, Valdez came flying past us like he wore spring-loaded tennis shoes. Thank God it took only moments for Ray and me to reach the roof and land on the flat surface.

"Let go of me, Glory. You all right?" Ray pulled back and looked me over.

"Me? I'm not the one with an arrow through my arm. Sit down, Ray. No, lie down." Ray looked at the blood dripping from his wound and sat suddenly. "Holy crap that hurts." Valdez glanced at us to make sure I was okay, then trotted over to check out the alley below.

"Well? What do you see, Valdez?"

"Westwood's back and he brought along those two bozos who came after you at Game's house. Guess their paycheck's
bigger than their brains. He armed them with bows and arrows too but, lucky for us, they can't shoot worth a damn.
Surprised West wood missed, though. Guess the injury Blade gave him Halloween is still bothering him."

"Yeah, Westwood definitely wasn't shooting up to par or I'd be dead right now. Lie down, Ray." I hated to leave him, looking so pale, but there was something I had to do. "I'll be right back."

"Where do you think you're going?" Ray jumped back up again, clutching his arm and leaving a blood trail. I ran to the ledge, ready to jump off and end this Westwood feud once and for all.

"No way in hell, Glory."
Valdez grabbed the waistband at the back of my jeans with his teeth.
"You're outnumbered. Take
care of Caine."

"Screw that, Glory. You stay up here because down there is suicide." Ray grabbed my shoulder with his good hand. "Get back. He might try to take another shot."

"Damn it, Valdez, Ray. Westwood keeps hurting my friends." I swiped the tears off my cheeks. Don't you hate it when you cry because you're mad? "I want to rip out his throat. Valdez, you and I together could take that man apart. The two guys with him are clowns, we could handle them in our sleep. Sorry, Ray, but you're in no shape to be more than a liability."

"
I swear to God, you jump and you're going bare-assed, 'cause I'm not letting go of your jeans."
Valdez growled and I heard cloth tear.

"And, liability or not, you jump and I jump with you." Ray was right beside me, his face white as paper.

"You two don't get it. Westwood shouldn't get away with this. I'm tired of being afraid to walk in my own freakin' alley behind my own fr-freakin' apartment." I swiped at another tear and backed up a foot. I knew better than to try to get physical with Valdez. He wouldn't hurt me, but he could and would keep me from doing something he thought was too dangerous. And Ray was just idiot enough to jump with an arrow in his arm and get himself staked in the process.

"He won't get away with anything. We'll take care of him another night. In the meantime, while we've been having this
debate, Westwood's not stupid. He's gone. He peeled out in his SUV as soon as he saw you look over the ledge with fire
in your eyes."
Valdez let go and stood beside Ray.
"Caine looks shocky to me. Since you like him so much you play kissy
face with him, take care of him."

"Ray!" I put my arm around him and got him down. "Oh, God, I'm sorry."

"What did
you
do?" Ray stared at the arrow sticking out of his arm. "Who the hell uses a bow and arrows?"