Real Vampires Hate Skinny Jeans (29 page)

“You’re serious about listening to a Transylvanian witch? They’re kooks, Lucky.” I did step back and threw her tablet at her. Interesting that this crone had obviously picked up on Lucky’s Siren blood. “Here’s a message: Get lost.”

“No. Pay attention, Glory. The really ancient Trans witches are powerful and have valuable knowledge that I paid to get.” She arched a brow at me. “Like I said, I’m willing to throw money around when I want something and I went over there needing to find out more about this vampire business.” She
sighed and studied her nails. “Without a sire to guide me, what else could I do?”

“They obviously saw a sucker coming.” I grinned. “You just wasted a trip. And know this.” I got sober in a hurry. “If you pulled a stunt like turning Ray vamp today, the vampire council we’ve got now would terminate you.”

“They’re playing hardball? Radical.” Lucky didn’t look concerned. “Especially for Austin, home of the proudly weird.”

“It’s not an empty threat. They offed a vampire recently who turned a college student.” I sat on the table again.

“I stand warned. Now listen up. I bet, in spite of all this ‘poor Ray’ crap, I can get you interested in my little proposition.” Lucky smiled, sure of herself on this turf. “I
am
my father’s daughter. A verbal contract will do. You clue me in with stuff I need to know. About our blood. I called this doctor, Ian MacDonald, when I got here. He won’t tell me jack now except that he would like a sample of my blood. For some kind of experiment. Now you know I’m not just handing over something without an explanation.” Lucky shook her head. “But he just kept mum. Said any details would have to come from you. So here I am. I’ll give you fifty large to tell me what you
should
tell me for free,
sire
. Deal?”

“Fifty large. Is that fifty thousand?” I swallowed, the amount more than adequate to get me to Scotland. Damn her for tempting me.

“Yeah, Glory. American dollars, in case you didn’t know that part. Not euros or dinars. Is it a deal?” She held out her hand.

I thought about it. Hard. Could I be a sellout? But that money would buy all the plane tickets I needed to get overseas. Maybe I should give Jerry time, but with this much in my bank account I’d have options. Maybe I
should
tell her about the blood. Ian swore it might be addictive. It was what any sire owed a vampire they’d made.

“I have conditions. First, you stay the hell away from Ray.”

“No problem. I figure I got my licks in. But if he comes after me…? My boys don’t let anyone get near me with a
stake. They don’t care who he is or how many Grammys he’s won. You might pass that word to your lover man.”

“He’s not—” I closed my eyes against the temptation her outstretched hand represented. This was wrong. I should let Jerry have the next century or so to lick his wounds, or maybe I could—

“Clock’s ticking, Glory. Don’t you owe me a little guidance? Why not make a chunk of change and do your duty at the same time?” Lucky dug into her purse again and pulled out a designer checkbook. “A thousand bucks to get this party started.” She filled out the check and signed it with a flourish then dropped it in my lap before settling back in her chair with a satisfied smile. “Come on, Glo, spill.”

I bit my lip as Lucky obviously tried to read my thoughts. Not gonna happen. If Lucky stayed in town and began loaning money or collecting debts, she was bound to pick up gossip. Aggie didn’t believe in keeping secrets and we hadn’t exactly bonded.

“One more condition. You leave town again. I don’t want you hanging around here where Ray can run into you.”

“Aw, gee. Thanks for the warm, fuzzy feelings.” Lucky showed her fangs. “Give me two weeks. I do have some business here. And I want specifics, not some generic story you make up to get rid of me. Ways to verify the facts. First, what’s up with our blood? What’s special about it? That check is a down payment. Are we doing this deal or not?”

Two weeks. An eternity or a mere blip when you live forever. I swallowed my guilt and held out my hand.

“Deal. You’d better not make me regret this, Lucky.” I sat on the table and crossed my legs. I hated to admit it, but Lucky had been right about my clothes. My long black skirt and saggy black sweater had suited my mood when I’d gotten dressed but they both needed to hit the charity gift bag sooner rather than later. I kicked at the table with my new black boots, the only stylish things I wore. Even my bra was old and comfy, stretched out and gray from too many washings and spins in a hot dryer.

“Great.” Lucky had her tablet in hand again, ready to write.

“Okay. About our blood. I started out life as a Siren. My blood is Siren blood and, even though Jerry made me a vampire, I still seem to have some Siren attributes.” I almost laughed at the look on Lucky’s face. “You’re not typing. Don’t you believe me?”

“If you’re going to make this into a joke, don’t expect to keep my money.” She tossed her things into that fabulous designer bag and jumped to her feet. I grabbed her arm before she could snatch that check.

“I wish it was a joke, Lucky. Read my mind. I’ll let you in this time. Or ask Dr. MacDonald. You can tell him to call me and I’ll give him permission to share the blood test results.” I sighed. “I recently had a horrific meeting with the Storm God, Achelous, and he confirmed the whole thing. Before I met Jerry and he turned me vampire, I was a Siren. One of those creatures who lure sailors and their ships onto the rocks with their song. I killed over a hundred thousand men before Achelous kicked me out of his harem for being too soft on my victims.”

“You’re serious.” Lucky looked me in the eyes. She was obviously reading my thoughts and checking my facts. “That is freaking awesome.”

I sagged back on the table. I should have known that Lucky would be impressed rather than repulsed. After all, look at her idea of revenge on an old boyfriend.

“Awesome? Are you kidding me? I have to live with the fact that my relationships with men aren’t because they truly love me but because I have this power over them.” I jumped when she moved closer and put her hands on my knees. “And the doctor claims my blood may even be addictive. He wants to market it as a drug, to enhance power and libido.” I really needed to shut up. Lucky looked like I’d handed her the keys to the kingdom.

“Are you listening to yourself?” She was intensity personified. “Glory, do you think you still have this fantastic power over men?”

I forced myself to shrug like this was no big deal, like it hadn’t caused my life to crash and burn.

“Apparently. I lost my memory of sitting on a rock, but seem to have kept some of the powers. Not sure exactly what yet. It’s all new to me.”

“Well, it’s the coolest thing I’ve ever heard. You can make men fall in love with you. Girlfriend, that is freaking amazing.” Lucky stepped back and sank onto her chair. “Could I have possibly inherited that Siren thing from you when you gave me your blood? This old woman in the Trans told me she could tell by the smell that a nonhuman had made me. I laughed it off, called her crazy. I mean vamps aren’t human, but used to be. Aw, shit, you know what I’m trying to say.” She closed her eyes and pressed her fingertips to her forehead. “Let me think.”

“About what?” But I was thinking too. Could this Siren power be hereditary? I’d had to give Lucky my blood to turn her. But I’d given my blood to Jerry during sex how many hundreds of times? And to Ray whenever he’d overdosed on alcohol. Even Rafe had needed to drink my blood once when he’d been wounded. Surely my Siren magic couldn’t be passed on so easily. Ian had discounted the possibility.

I rubbed my own forehead. This wasn’t making much sense. But then we were talking paranormals. Freaks. Logic rarely had much to do with our world, even if Ian was always trying to make a case for it.

“I’m trying to remember how I attracted the men I had relationships with in Europe. If I had to put any effort into it.” Lucky opened her eyes and smiled. “Of course I’d had work done before I was turned and was in the best shape of my life, thanks be to God. So I had plenty of success. Men were after me all the time. But I thought, okay, it’s the vampire thing. It’s sexy to flash your fangs. And we have that great libido.” She winked. “Of course men go for a woman who wants it often and likes to get her kink on. I know my way around a bedroom too. I certainly never had any complaints in that department before or after I got my fangs.”

“TMI, Lucky. But I get what you mean.” She didn’t look close to her real age which I knew was pushing fifty. She’d had a top-tier plastic surgeon on speed dial when she’d been mortal so her “work” had been flawless. Now she’d forever look like a midthirties woman in her prime.

Yes, no wonder they called her Lucky. But the fact was our history made me hate being in the same room with her. Ray was going to go ballistic when I told him I was cooperating with her. And I had to get to him fast, before he heard it somewhere else. Two weeks. Was there any way to speed her on her way out of town faster?

“I think my numbers were up in Europe. So the Siren thing could have been working for me.” She adjusted her jacket so that it showed even more cleavage. “But I never stick with one guy for long. My experience with Ray ruined me for long-term relationships. I have trust issues.”

“Oh, please. You know he was forced to break up with you back then. Your father’s goons threatened him.” I would never forget the story of how Ray had almost been castrated by Mr. Carvarelli’s men. Her father had decided the unknown singer wasn’t good enough for his daughter. That incident had convinced Ray to break up with Lucky and leave town without a word of explanation to her. This had been way before Ray had become famous.

“I know that now. I didn’t know it when I was young and in love!” Lucky jerked the scarf off her hair and stuffed it into her purse. “I’ve been trying to get over my issues. Europe was good for me. In the man department anyway. I had my pick and played the field. But I can’t really say I was
that
much more successful.” She shrugged. “Could have just been the vamp thing. So I’m not sure I’m buying your Siren story.”

“Buy it or not, it’s true. About me anyway. Go by Ian MacDonald’s house. He has a lab there. He can test your blood and see if it matches mine. I have no idea whether you inherited the man magnetism or not. I don’t control stuff like that.” I sighed. “Look. I held up our side of the deal and
I need to get out of here. We’re done. I’ll take the rest of the money now.”

“Oh, no. We’re not done. There have to be powers that go with the blood thing. We’re meeting again. After I get MacDonald’s confirmation.” She handed me a business card. “I know where you live. I expect to hear from you soon. And don’t think you’re getting any more money yet. That little tidbit wasn’t worth even the first grand. I want to hear more about this Siren business.
Capite?
”

The Italian word made my eyes mist as I thought about my buddy Flo, so far away. I could really use her wise advice right now.

Lucky wasn’t finished. “I want your best sire effort for fifty large. And we have a contract. So I don’t want to hear any more about it. You don’t like dealing with me? Tough.”

I stalked over and threw open the door into the shop. “I’ll tell you what’s next, fledgling. As your sire, I call the shots. Now get the hell out. Don’t call me, I’ll call you.”

“Hah! Look who grew a pair. I like the way you’re standing up to me, girlfriend.” Lucky patted me on the shoulder and sauntered toward the cash register. “Ring me up, sales girl.”

“Erin, that scarf Ms. Carver has in her purse is one fifty. Add it to her bill.” I smiled as Lucky narrowed her eyes. “That’s one hundred and fifty dollars, not large at all. And I am not your girlfriend.” I walked into the back room and closed the door. Then I leaned against it. Lucky Carver. God, I hated that woman. She’d called me “girlfriend” and patted my shoulder with Erin as a witness. If Ray heard about that he’d feel so betrayed. I had to get to him. But there would be no way to diffuse the rage he’d feel when he realized she was here, close enough to kill.

I dug my cell out of my purse and dialed his number. We exchanged pleasantries then I got down to business. Could he see me tonight?

“Glory, babe, of course, come on over. Or do you want to
meet me at N-V for a drink and dancing?” He sounded sober and happy to hear from me.

“That would be fun another time but I have something serious to talk to you about.” I cleared my throat when nerves seemed to close it. “I’ll be out there as soon as I can.”

“Is it about your meeting with the Storm God? You know I hired your old bodyguard Laurie. She didn’t give me details, of course. She’s discreet. But she did say you had a rough night when I asked her about it.”

“Yeah, I did. I’ll tell you all when I get there.” I ended the call and walked out the back door to my car parked in the alley. No need to get Ray stirred up about Lucky before I had a chance to tell him face-to-face. I dreaded this. But somehow I had to calm him down and get him to accept the fact that I wasn’t betraying him by working with her. Hah! Now if I could just convince myself of that, it would be all good.