Rylie Cruz 2 - How to Date a Vampire (11 page)

When I walked through the door of my
apartment, Jennifer was lounging on the sofa.

“What? No
Ghost Hunters
?” I tried to
sound calm and casual. No need to freak her out.

“It’s on.” She pointed to the TV. “It’s a
rerun. I watch them, but since I’ve seen all the episodes at least
three times, I know what happens. What’s going on with Jack?”

“He’s worse. I was trying to tell him what
happened to him, you know, being a half-turned vampire, but he
walked right to the cemetery. As if it was a giant magnet. Anyway,
these vampires showed up, then another thing—a creature. Then this
shadowy vampire came… I guess it was a vampire. He made the others
run away like scared little puppies. He wanted to take Jack away
too, but we took off. He didn’t follow us as far as I know.” I was
exhausted just from recapping the events.

“As far as you know? As far as you know?”
she repeated with a slight panic in her voice. “There was already
some crazy woman in here. Vampires are hunting you, and this man…
vampire… whatever he was. I gotta tell ya, Rylie, I’m not feeling
all that safe here. I love you, but there’s only so much I can take
of this paranormal stuff.”

I didn’t blame her. I was probably going to
lose her as a roommate. But she didn’t deserve to be involved with
this.

“Oh, about the vampire who was here with the
note. She knows Jack. She was in his apartment right after you gave
me the book. She also came by this morning and wanted me to fix her
up.”

“She wanted you to match her?” Jennifer’s
eyes widened.

I nodded. “She claims she’s friends with
Jack from high school. Well, actually he said that.”

“This is too weird. What is going on?”

Before I answered, the doorbell rang and we
both sucked in a breath.

“See,” Jennifer whispered. “This is what I’m
talking about. I don’t want to be a vampire, or a werewolf.” She
glanced over at me. “No offense.”

“None taken,” I said dryly.

“Can’t we hang crosses around the house to
keep them away?”

“That only works in the movies.”

“Stephen’s supposed to pick me up. I pray
that it’s him.” She sucked in a deep breath.

“Have you heard from Todd?” I asked as
Jennifer grabbed the fire poker and stood beside the door. “Maybe
it’s him.”

“Thankfully, no,” she whispered.

“Careful with that thing,” I whispered as I
jumped from the sofa and made my way to the door. Jennifer holding
that metal poker and having that wild look in her eyes was most
disconcerting. Why did I feel I’d be the one accidentally smacked
in the head with it?

I pressed my cheek against the door. “Who is
it?” I called.

“Police,” the voice boomed.

“The police.” I raised a brow. “I didn’t
call the police,” I whispered. “Did you?”

“What if Lily is up to her old games again?”
Jennifer asked.

“Oh, she wouldn’t do that. She’s too busy
with her new honey man.”

“If you say so,” she said.

I sucked in a deep breath and eased the door
open, ready to pounce. Stephen, Jennifer’s new boyfriend, stood in
front of the door in his typical military stance.

“Rylie.” He nodded.

“Why did you say police? Why didn’t you say
it was you?” I asked.

“Just playing around. Why are you so
edgy?”

I scowled. “It kind of freaks me out when
the police pound on my door.”

He chuckled.

“Stephen, you freaked me out. I was ready to
knock you over the head with this poker,” Jennifer said.

“Good thing you didn’t.” He slipped the
poker from her hand and placed it back in the stand next to the
fireplace.

“I’ll leave you two alone.” I gave a fake
smile to Stephen, then walked out into the hallway.

When I reached Jack’s door, it was open
again. If Isabella was back in that apartment, I would lose it. She
was as bad as Lily. If she wasn’t a vampire, I’d swear she was
related to Lily. Jack attracted the female vamps like Justin Bieber
attracted teen girls.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t Isabella. I froze
on the spot.

“I’ve come for Jack,” Sophie said.

Oh no. This was getting out of hand fast.
Sophie stood in the middle of the room. Jack was at the entrance of
the hallway. His hair was wet and he wore shorts and a T-shirt.

How had she gotten into the apartment? The
better question was how would we get rid of her. I didn’t see a way
out of this without one of us suffering serious bodily harm.

Chapter Seventeen

How to Date a Vampire, Rule #17:

Don’t wear silver jewelry. Not even silver
with gold overlay.

“Listen, this is really getting old. He’s
not coming with you. Why don't you just tell me what you want with
him? Maybe I can help.”

She snorted, looking me up and down. “I
doubt it. I bet his muscles are hard,” she said looking at Jack. “I
already know he tastes good.”

“Well, you'll never know how hard his
muscles are, will you?” I glared.

Jack stepped forward. “All right. This has
to stop. I don’t like the idea of people talking about what I taste
like, smell like, or how hard my muscles are, for that matter. This
is all too weird. I feel like I'll be someone’s dinner.”

“Why are you here?” I demanded.

“Look, I'm trying to help Jack.”

“Is that why you tried to kill us in the
cemetery?” I asked.

“We told you to be at the French Market and
you ignored us. Now it's just going to get worse. And this is all
your fault.” She pointed at me.

Ouch. She had me there, but did she have to
remind Jack? I was hoping that he'd forget. No need to remind
him.

“Why do you want us there? And who wants us
there?”

Jack moved over beside me. “Wait, I didn’t
know anything about the French Market. Does that have anything to
do with the men who showed up today? What about the other vampires
in the cemetery tonight?” Jack asked.

“There were men here today? And you went to
a freakin’ graveyard. You should have known better.” She smirked,
then looked at me. “What is wrong with you, anyway? Why did you
take your boyfriend to a graveyard? Crazy-ass werewolves.” She
moved closer to Jack.

“I didn’t take him there. And yes, a couple
of vampires were here earlier. Friends of yours, I assume? Jack
accidentally went to the graveyard. I figured it was some of the
vampire tricks that made him.”

“No one else with the organization is
supposed to be on this case but me, if someone came out, it's a
very bad thing. I have to protect Jack right now. He'll need to
come with me.” She motioned for him to follow her.

“Like I said, he's not going anywhere. So
why don't you take your pleather pants and beat it. Now you can
make this hard or you can make it difficult, your choice.” I stood
my ground.

“I'm not playing games with you, little
werewolf. This is serious. Do you want them to get your little boy
toy?”

“Stop.” Jack stepped forward. “I don't
appreciate the way you're talking to Rylie, or to me. Not to
mention you've broken into my home. I can call the police and have
you arrested right now.”

“I wouldn’t advise that if I were you.” She
smirked.

“It doesn’t seem as if you're leaving me any
choice,” Jack said.

I shot daggers her way with my eyes. I liked
this tough side of Jack. Very take-charge and very sexy.

Sophie let out a deep breath. “We don't have
time to argue. Now if you'll just trust me and come with me, we can
get this over with. Trust me, I don’t want to be here any more than
you want me here.” She rolled her eyes. “I have more important
things to do than hang out with a werewolf…” She snorted. “And a
vamp...” She cut herself off. “Oops. Mustn’t use that word around
your delicate ears.” She covered her mouth with her hand.

She was a smarmy vampire. I was glad she’d
refrained from using the “v” word. She might be rude, but at least
she'd given me that courtesy. I didn’t want to remind Jack of his
new status over and over again.

“Why did you come to the cemetery and try to
bully us?” I glared.

“What? You call that bullying? You’re too
sensitive.” She waved her hand dismissively.

“Where is the other bully from the
cemetery?” I asked. “You guys really know how to be persuasive. A
real people person, aren’t you? Maybe you should work in customer
service,” I said smarmily.

“You like my people skills? I think I have
natural talent.” She smiled.

“Do we have to come with you now?” Jack
asked.

“It would be wise, yes. Don’t make me use
force.”

“We get it, you’re a tough vamp. You’ve said
that a few times. I’m shaking in my new shoes,” I said.

She looked down at my black flats. “Cute
shoes,” she said.

“Thanks.” I looked down at my feet.

Jack stared from one of us to the other.
“Fine. Let’s just go see what she wants, Rylie.” He ran his hand
through his hair. “This is crazy. I can’t have people breaking into
my home. I don't want this to affect my clients and I especially
don't want this to bother you in any way.” He stared at me. “I need
my life back to normal.”

“Jack, don’t worry about me. I’m not
bothered by these thugs.” I smirked at her. “Are you sure you want
to go with her?” I asked Jack.

“You’re coming too,” she said. “As much as I
don’t want you to, I have orders to bring you along. Why, I have no
idea. I guess they have their reasons.”

“Me? I have no problem confronting whoever
wants to see us. I’m not scared.” Much. “I don’t think Jack should
go, but if he wants to, I guess there’s nothing I can do to stop
him.”

“Good. I’m glad you see it my way. That
makes things so much easier. Less messy too.” She smiled.

“Okay. Enough with your stupid attempts to
be witty,” I snapped.

“We’ll follow you there,” Jack said as he
held the door open. A gesture that said for her to get the hell
out.

“Oh, no. I have to make sure you really go.
You’re coming with me.”

“This is ridiculous. You can’t tell us who
you are, what you want, or where you’re taking us?” Jack
demanded.

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

I stepped forward. “I’m warning you, this
had better not be any funny business, or you’ll be dealing with a
bunch of pissed-off werewolves. And trust me, you do not want a
bunch of angry werewolves after you.”

“I’m terrified,” she said drily. “Oh, my
fangs are chattering.”

As she made her way to the door, she stopped
in her tracks.

I looked to Jack, then to her. “What is it
now?” I asked.

“Someone is around. I can sense them.” She
was probably just smelling my creepy neighbor. He had a distinct
smell that the wind carried over quite often. And it wasn’t a good
smell either.

“Someone?” Jack quirked a brow.

“Another vampire. I can sense him.”

“Now that you mention it. I do get a strange
vibe.” Jack looked around as if a vampire would pop up at any
second.

Was I the only one without this vampire
radar? It looked as if it was something that would come in handy as
of late.

“Maybe it was your little playmate from the
graveyard.” I smirked.

“Don’t you think I can sense him? We are…”
She cut off her words.

They were what?

Before I had a chance to ask, she spoke up.
“Come on. Let's get out of here before this vampire shows up. I
don't know who it is.” She motioned for us to hurry.

As we turned to walk out the door, a man
appeared. He was tall with short black hair, high cheekbones, sharp
green eyes, a muscular body, and he looked as if he wanted to eat
us alive with his stare. I stopped in my tracks.

Chapter Eighteen

How to Date a Vampire, Rule #18:

Forget that vacation to Bora Bora. Your new
vampire lover will much prefer somewhere less sunny.

“Quinton. What are you doing here?” Sophie
asked with surprise.

“Oh, great. Another vampire.” I rolled my
eyes.

Just what we needed. How many vampires were
around anyway? Didn’t they have anything better to do than harass
werewolves and their boyfriends?

“Sophie.” He nodded.

“This is my case, Quinton.” Sophie folded
her arms in front of her chest.

“I'm aware,” he said as he walked across the
threshold.

“Then what are you doing here?” she asked in
a sharp voice.

“I came to check up on you.” He walked
around the room, taking in every detail.

“Did Sergio send you?”

“I came on my own.” He picked up an empty
meat package that set on the top of the garbage. He looked to Jack,
then placed the trash back.

“I don’t think Sergio will like that,”
Sophie huffed.

Jack moved toward the kitchen entrance,
blocking the stranger from entering the kitchen again. “Look, I
don't know who you people are, but you’re in my apartment, and I'd
like answers. You keep mentioning names of people and we don't know
who the hell they are or who you are.”

“I was just taking them to the French
Market,” Sophie said without acknowledging Jack’s statement.

It was as if we weren’t even there. They
didn't acknowledge our presence. We were insignificant as far as
they were concerned.

Finally, Quinton looked to Jack. “Don’t
worry, Mr. Chandler, we won’t take up much of your time. But the
incident that happened at Ms. Cruz’s family home needs to be
discussed. We’d like to apologize formally for what happened.”

“Listen, don’t worry about it. I don’t need
an apology. We’ll just forget about it and everyone can go back to
their lives. I’m fine. No harm done.” He tried to smile, but the
attempt was weak, and not very convincing.

“I’m afraid we can’t do that,” Quinton said.
“My name is Quinton Arlington, by the way.” He held out his hand
and Jack reluctantly shook it.