Real Vampires Know Size Matters (24 page)

“Ian, calm down!” I tried to go to him but Rafe held me back. “What happened here that set you off?”

“Stay out of this, Glory.” Ian didn’t spare me a glance. “Obviously you have shit for brains, man, but hear me. If I find one single thing missing, you’re dead. Do you understand?”

“Sir! I swear. She’s a mortal and was only in here for a minute. What could she take? She didn’t have on enough to hide anything.” He choked, Ian’s fist in his mouth.

“Out of my sight!” Ian threw him toward the door. “Don’t stop until you’re out of the state, the country. If I see you again, you’re a dead man.” Ian paced the length of the room, picking up containers and sniffing them then flinging them to the tile floor.

“Damn it to hell!” Ian ranted as he went up and down each aisle, throwing things like a wild man. The room had hardly been disturbed before. Soon it was a complete disaster and reeking of strange and very unpleasant odors.

“Ian! Tell us. What happened? What did Aggie do?” I didn’t dare approach him. He finally stopped in front of a glass-fronted case filled with notebooks and glass bottles. It was locked. He sighed when he realized the lock hadn’t been broken.

“That bitch contaminated every experiment I had going. Bleach. She poured common household bleach into everything.” He swept his arm across a table full of test tubes in metal holders. They all crashed to the floor. The smell was so overpowering I quit breathing altogether. “You realize how much work that represented? How much
money
?” His voice rose and trembled. I swear, if he’d been a woman, he would’ve been sobbing. Instead, he hit the metal tabletop until his fist bled.

“Aggie hated him this much?” Rafe whispered.

“Of course she did. That cursed Siren. She knew just how to pay me back for making her work for once in her useless life. Thank God I keep my computer locked in my office or she’d have dumped bleach on it too.” Ian kicked over a table. It slid into another one and started a chain reaction. “Ellis, Desmond, Cox! Get the fuck in here!”

Three men ran into the room. Why they hadn’t already come when the crashes started I couldn’t imagine. Unless they were used to Ian’s temper fits and had instructions to ignore loud noises until called. Whatever. They focused on Ian, who still looked totally out of his mind.

“Sir?” Ellis took the lead. “What do you need?”

“First, get a crew and have this room completely emptied and scrubbed down. I want everything replaced. Brand-new equipment. By tomorrow night. I’ll have to start all my experiments over again. No one is to touch this cabinet.” He pointed to the locked one behind him. “I expect you to oversee this personally. Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir. Do you have a list of what you need?” Ellis whispered to the other two men and they started carrying out the tables.

“It will be in your e-mail by the end of the night.” Ian strode over to me. “I’m sorry, Gloriana. I’ll work on your potion tomorrow night. I swear it. It will be a good distraction from this.” He swept his arm toward the chaos he’d created. “Now I need to go.”

“Wait.” I grabbed his arm. “Where are you going? What are you going to do, Ian?” I was afraid I knew.

“Find that bitch and kill her. What did you think?” His fangs were down and I knew he meant it.

“Stop. No.” I searched for the right words. Were there any? “She’s simply not worth it.” I held on to him. He was shaking with rage. “She’s a mortal, suffering because she’ll grow old and has no powers. Let that be her punishment. She’s broke too. I’m kicking her out of my apartment tonight.” I glanced around at the destruction. “This is the last straw. Yep, she’s gone. As soon as I leave here. So she’ll be homeless.”

“The whore will find another bed. One with some unsuspecting man no doubt. Let me go, Glory. She’s gone too far.” Ian kicked a beaker aside. “Fuck! This is my life’s work. You have no idea what she’s done.”

“I do. It’s important work too. But she did this to get a rise out of you, Ian. Do you really want her to see how hurt you are?” I touched his shoulder. Surprise. He was trembling. Aggie had definitely found his vulnerability.

“You think I’m hurt?” Ian tried to shrug away from me but I wouldn’t let go, just gripped his arm instead. He wasn’t about to admit to such a weak emotion. “I’m pissed. Furious. And determined to make the bitch pay.”

“Right. But if you let her see you like this, she’ll revel in how she affected you.” I stood between Ian and the door.

“That’s all right. Mine will be the last face she sees.” Ian looked like he was prepared to drag me to the door. Rafe stepped closer. I couldn’t let it become a battle. Especially since the men working to clear the room were paying attention to our conversation and had only one loyalty and it wasn’t to me.

“Seriously, Ian? Why not make her think this stunt didn’t even make a ripple in your world? She’s beneath contempt.”

Ian did pull me out of the room then, but gently. He was stronger than I was, older by centuries. Rafe kept his eyes on us, ready to intervene if he thought Ian was hurting me. When we got to the living room, Ian stopped and faced me. I guess he didn’t like having his bodyguards as witnesses to his pain.

“Pretend this didn’t matter?” He ground his teeth. “It’s not enough, Glory. My work is my life. And she betrayed me. Made me think that I loved her with her Siren magic. She made a fool of me. I’ll never forgive her for that.”

“But then you made a fool of
her
. Let her believe that you’d turn her vampire. Like you’d ever meant to do that.” I smiled. “What did you call it? Pillow talk. She told me you were the best lover she ever had. That you talked her into your bed, promised her eternity, then used her, just like she’d planned to use you. I saw how that devastated her. How she hated working here. No wonder she acted out.”

“She did hate the housekeeping. Bitched about it enough. Not to me. I wouldn’t see her. But I got reports.” Ian was at least listening to me now. “So she’s been crying on your shoulder? How about that.”

“Right. She’s so desperate to get away from here, she’s trying to sing for a living.” I glanced at Rafe. “Ask Valdez. He was there. Aggie got the job but was humiliated. She has to work as a backup singer for a band. Backup. When she expected to be a star. Fat chance of that. The bitch can’t even read music.”

“Really. I’d like to see Aggie humiliated.” Ian walked over to the French doors to stare out into the night.

“Good. Come with us Halloween night. She’ll be singing at N-V. You can enjoy the show and let her see how little her idea of revenge affected you.” I could see that he’d calmed down. He was thinking, not just reacting.

“Glory’s making her stage debut too. Showing off her voice. She got it back, courtesy of her mother.” Rafe finally relaxed and finished the drink Ian had poured him earlier. I picked up mine.

“Really? Hebe gave you your singing voice back?” Ian turned, looking intrigued. “I’d like to hear you, Glory. And Aggie is just doing some kind of doo-wop in the background?”

“Not for me, for Israel Caine and Sienna Star. Come to N-V and hear for yourself. Rafe has a table reserved for vampires. If you can stand to sit with Jerry, you can be part of the party.” I crossed my fingers that Jer would be back by then.

“All right, Gloriana, relax. You’ve talked me down. For now.” Ian patted my arm. “I know what you were doing and it worked. I won’t kill her. Yet. But I will have payback. You have no idea what those experiments meant to me. Years of work. With the possibility that vampires could walk in the sun for hours at a time. Eat whatever they wished.” He sighed. “Shit. I may cry yet.”

I squeezed his hand, actually sorry for him. “Don’t cry, don’t kill, get even. We’ll think of something.”

Ian nodded, definitely thinking and planning. Which was almost as scary as his murderous rage. Rafe and I said our good-byes and got out of there. We were in the car on our way back to the city when my cell phone rang. Jerry. Finally.

“Are you in Florida?”

“Yes. It was a long trip but I made it safely. I found Mel’s sister. I’m going to talk to her later tonight.” Jerry sounded tired.

“Let’s hope she has some ideas about how we can make Mel give up on you.” I wished I could touch him, make him feel better.

“She wouldn’t say much on the phone. She wants to meet me. Meet Mel’s latest crush. Apparently Mel has quite a history with the men in her life.”

“Bring her back to Austin if you have to. But I’m anxious to see you again and get this whole Mel thing behind us.” I tried to imagine a future without that woman and her threats hanging over us and couldn’t.

“I don’t know if this sister, Alexandra, is into voodoo or not. But I’ll see what I can get from her to help us. Any luck with that book of spells you ordered? You know I’m not in favor of you trying your hand at any of that.”

“I know. It scares me too. It’s a last resort. I just left a recipe for the potion at Ian’s.” I told him about Aggie’s latest trick and my determination to kick her out of my place.

“Good. She doesn’t deserve a damn thing from you. I’m glad you finally realize that.” Jerry told me a few details about his trip but I could tell he was anxious to get off the phone.

“Call me after you meet with the sister. I love you.” I smiled into the phone when he said it back then ended the call.

“There was a lot you didn’t tell him,” Rafe said as I stuffed the phone back in my purse.

“I want the singing to be a surprise. And let’s keep the seminar our secret. Hopefully we’ll go, learn something and definitely convince Mel I’ve moved on to you for good. What could go wrong?” I shivered. I hate when I tempt fate like that.

Rafe didn’t say anything but I knew he felt the same way. “Where to now? The shop or your place to see if Aggie’s there?”

“Let me check.” I pulled out the phone again. I called my apartment and got voice mail. “Aggie, if you’re there, pick up. I need to talk to you.” I waited but no answer. “I guess she’s with Sienna. They probably had rehearsals. Or went down to the shop for costumes. Let’s hit Vintage Vamp’s. I need to do some costume shopping of my own.”

“No, you don’t, darling.” My mother materialized in the backseat and Rafe hit the brakes.

“Shit. Was that necessary?” He looked around, checking for other cars. Luckily we were still on the back roads near Ian’s and there was no traffic. “Do that in town and you’d have caused a wreck.”

“Sorry.” Mother clearly wasn’t. “Gloriana, I’ve found the most darling fifties dresses for you to choose from. I brought them to your shop and put them in that back room. You can wear what you want and sell the rest. See how I think of your benefit?”

“Thanks, Mother!” I patted her hand where she gripped my seat. “That’s really very thoughtful.” And unusual for her. I was waiting for her ulterior motive. What did she want?

“Darling, you shouldn’t be so skeptical. But I do have a plan. I was thinking. If your grandfather were to discover your existence, it would be helpful if I could prove your worth to him. He’s a music lover, you see.” She leaned back. “Honestly, Valdez, could you drive a little faster? I’m eager for my daughter to see those clothes. I outdid myself this time. It’s not easy finding vintage designer dresses in mint condition.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Rafe grinned and stepped on the gas.

I grabbed the armrest between our bucket seats. “Go on, Mother. What’s this plan?” I was sure there was something I wouldn’t like about it.

“Oh, relax. I was just thinking that I want to make a video of it, or maybe just an audio.” She sighed. “You will insist on that figure.” She waved her hand. “Anyway, I’m sure he’ll absolutely love your voice.”

“Why, that’s actually nice.” I turned and smiled at her.

“I do try. You see I’m afraid he’s going to be royally peeved at me for keeping you a secret all these years.” She looked upward and lowered her voice. “It’s been over a thousand, you know, counting your time in the Sirens. And Zeus really does hate a secret. Especially in the family. If he loses his temper . . .”

“What will he do to you?” Of course there was the question of what he’d do to
me
.

“Strip me of my powers. Make me a pariah. Sentence me to time in a really horrible place. I won’t describe it. You’d have nightmares.” She shuddered.

“Vampires don’t dream, Mother.”

“That’s another thing!” She gripped my shoulder, suddenly way too close. “When he finds out a child of his blood is one of those . . . Well, I can’t imagine his reaction.” She rested her forehead on the seat back. “His temper is legendary. He gets a hangnail? Volcanos erupt. Stubs his toe? Earthquakes. Why do you think dinosaurs are extinct? He caught one of his favorite mistresses in bed with a hobbit.” She shuddered. “You don’t see those creatures around now either, do you?”

“Uh, no.” I glanced at Rafe, who was fighting a grin. “I’d just as soon stay a secret from him. But it makes me wonder why you’re so determined to drag me up there.”

“Too many of the gods know about you already. The clock’s ticking on this secret coming out. I really want to be the one to tell him. Not have him find out from someone else. If I didn’t wield so much power, one of the men you met would have already tattled to him.” Big dramatic slide as my mother collapsed on the leather seat. “You have no idea how tedious my life can be.”

“Not a recommendation for my ever venturing up there. I’ll do whatever I can to help you keep that secret.” I saw that we were getting close to town. Ian lived in the boondocks because he liked his privacy.

“So glad to hear you say that, darling. I may need you to be extra nice to one of the men I’m afraid wants to cause trouble for me.” Mother perked up. “Oh, we’re almost there.” She pulled out her compact and lipstick from a designer handbag. Tonight she was in a gray wool pencil skirt and white fuzzy sweater. She wore ropes of luminous freshwater pearls that set off the outfit perfectly. Her knee-high boots in gray suede made my mouth water.

I’d dressed casually for Ian’s in black slacks and a black cashmere sweater. My vintage red leather jacket was my pop of color. I didn’t look bad, just not sophisticated like my mother did. She smiled as she stroked on red lipstick.