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Authors: Jess Tami; Haines Angie; Dane Alexandra; Fox Ivy

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BOOK: The Real Werewives of Vampire County
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Dammit to hell.
What was it with people busting her windows lately?
They were not only a pain in the ass to replace, but they left a mess that she was in no mood to clean.
Picking her way over the glittering shards, Sophia reached to pluck the brick from the sink, not at all surprised to find a note scribbled on the back.
“Leave or die.”
Predictable. Tacky. And downright cliché.
Tossing the brick onto the countertop, she moved to retrieve a broom, sweeping up the broken glass and dumping it in the trash.
She’d just finished when Luc returned, his eyes glowing with the fury of his wolf.
“Anything?” she demanded, although she already knew the answer.
“No,” he growled, his frustration thickening the air until it was difficult to breathe. “Whoever threw the brick had already taken off, and there are too many scents to pick out a specific person.” His jaw knotted as he struggled to leash his emotions. “I do know it wasn’t a human.”
“How?”
He moved to pick up the brick, testing its weight as his gaze skimmed the words of warning.
“Unlike a demon, they would have to be standing in your yard to pitch this through the window. There’s no way they could have escaped before I could catch them.”
She nodded in agreement. “Then that narrows down the options.”
“Not far enough.”
Sensing his self-disgust, Sophia frowned. “What is it?”
“There’s something off,” he growled.
“Off?”
“If someone genuinely wants you dead they don’t warn you,” he muttered, throwing the brick into the trash.
He was right. She was trained well enough to know that the best assassin was the one who moved through the shadows and struck before their prey ever sensed the danger.
“The gunshot was genuine enough,” she pointed out, sharing his confusion.
“So was the bullet.”
“Yeah, the bastard ruined my desk.”
“I went back to dig it out.” His expression was grim. “It was silver.”
She shivered. “I suppose crazy doesn’t always make sense.”
He looked like he wanted to bite something.
Hard.
“What are your plans for the day?” he abruptly demanded.
She shrugged. “A few hours by the pool and then off to the club.”
“I’m calling a security firm to install your alarm system.” He prowled toward the door. “Don’t leave without me.”
 
Ignoring the crowd of drunken females who screeched in wild abandon at the male Were gyrating on the stage, Luc leaned against the carved oak bar and sipped his Cognac.
No one would blame him for being in a foul mood.
Not only was he no closer to discovering who was trying to harm Sophia, but he was so tormented by his raging lust he could barely think.
Mierda
.
This was supposed to be a simple job.
Get in, fix the problem, and get out.
That’s what he did.
He fixed problems.
But from the instant he’d caught sight of Sophia, the job had gone from simple to simply insane.
Proving his point, his gaze skimmed over the mingling crowd, landing with unerring accuracy on the golden-haired female who was responsible for his current discomfort.
She looked exquisitely elegant in a silky ivory pantsuit.
The jacket was perfectly tailored to her slender frame, the plunging vee neckline revealing the lush curve of her breasts. The pants clung to her long legs before flaring above a pair of three-inch heels.
Her pale hair was pulled into a smooth knot at the back of her head, the style perfectly designed to rouse his wolf into a near frenzy as he pictured his lips and teeth nuzzling down the length of her neck.
Wondering what she would do if he tossed her over his shoulder and headed for her office, Luc’s pleasant imaginings were interrupted as he watched a red-haired imp move to stand beside Sophia.
The tall fey looked a bit like Troy, but his hair was cut short and his far more bulky frame was covered by a black Armani suit instead of spandex. A smile touched his handsome face as he bent down to whisper something in Sophia’s ear.
A growl trickled from Luc’s throat as his fingers clutched the glass he was holding until it shattered.
Ignoring the Cognac that spilled over his hand, Luc prowled forward, his gaze locked on the fey who appeared unaware he was toying with death.
The crowd parted before him, the females giving tiny gasps of nervous excitement as they avidly watched him cross the room. He was indifferent to the stir of interest caused by his tight T-shirt and black slacks and the fluid grace of his movements.
He had only one thought in his mind.
Halting directly behind Sophia, he reached around her just as the fey was intending to take her hand. He grabbed the fool’s wrist, barely repressing his urge to crush the bones beneath his fingers.
“Touch her and I’ll make certain you never use that hand again,” he warned, his voice thick with his wolf.
“Shit.” Pale green eyes widened as the imp regarded him with a startled alarm. “Who the hell are you?”
“Luc.”
“You work here?”
Releasing his grip on the imp, Luc wrapped his arm possessively around Sophia’s waist, his chin resting on the top of her head.
“My only job is pleasing Sophia.”
Holding herself rigid, Sophia covered his hand with hers, covertly allowing her claws to dig into his flesh.
A tiny warning that she wasn’t pleased by his public claim.
“We’ll finish our discussion tomorrow, Andrew,” she smoothly promised the wary imp. “My office?”
“Four o’clock,” the fey murmured, cautiously waiting for Luc’s tiny nod of agreement before backing away and disappearing into the crowd.
Smart imp.
He obviously had enough sense not to piss off a Were. Especially not one in heat.
Of course, a female Were was equally perilous.
Tugging out of his grasp, Sophia turned to stab him with a furious glare.
“Are you demented?” she hissed.
“Odd.” His lips twisted. “That question has been running through my mind with growing frequency.” He nodded toward the fleeing imp. “Who was that?”
“My liquor distributor, who was giving me a very sweet deal until you came stomping over here like Conan the Barbarian,” she rasped. “What were you doing?”
Ah, now that was a loaded question.
For the past centuries Weres hadn’t been jealous creatures. The overriding need to produce children had destroyed the instinct to find that one special companion.
Was it any wonder he was as baffled as Sophia by his urgent desire to make certain that every male in Chicago understood this woman was his property?
“Have you considered the fact that you opened this club at the same time you moved into your new house?” he hastily improvised.
“So?”
He waved a hand toward the stage where yet another overly pretty Were was stripping off his clothes.
“So your mysterious stalker might be someone you met here.”
Her lips tightened, but it was obvious that she was considering his words.
“And how does pounding your chest and publicly branding me as your latest bimbo help?”
His brows lifted. “Bimbo?”
“Don’t push me.”
He shrugged. “Now everyone knows they have to go through me to get to you.”
“Great.” She didn’t appear particularly pleased by his logic. “What if they decide to lie low until you leave? Then I’m back to where I started.”
“But I’m not leaving,” he assured her, moving forward to trace the line of her stubborn jaw. “Not until I’m absolutely certain you’re safe.”
Perhaps sensing that nothing short of death was going to pry him from her side, she heaved a sigh, her gaze shifting to the horde of females who were studying him with a rapt attention that was intended to be reserved for the entertainment.
“So much for blending in,” she gave in with a sour frown.
He smiled, his finger lowering to follow the plunging neckline of her silk jacket.
“You were right to begin with,” he murmured, his voice thickening as she gave a small shiver of pleasure. “I don’t blend.”
CHAPTER 5
T
he human caterers had arrived precisely at eight to transform the back patio into the predictable cliché of an oriental paradise.
Paper lanterns were glowing near the pool. Black and red tablecloths covered the long buffet tables that were lined with platters of sushi. And cheesy silk fans had been placed on every chair to be given as party favors.
Not Sophia’s usual style.
She preferred champagne and caviar.
But considering one of her guests was quite likely trying to kill her, this was as good as it was going to get.
She did, however, manage to get her hands on the nectar she needed, and liberally dousing the drinks of the nymph and her cur lover, as well the vampire, she’d done her best to ensure that the party wasn’t a complete flop.
Not that it was necessary, she sourly acknowledged, watching the flock of women fluttering around Luc like bees to honey.
But then, why wouldn’t they flutter?
He looked like a bronzed god stretched on a lounge chair beside the pool wearing nothing more than a black Speedo that left nothing to the imagination.
The half dozen female mortals were so enthralled by the sight they were actually kneeling next to the chaise, as if they were worshipping him, while the dark-haired vampire with brown eyes and pale, pale skin had planted her ass on the edge of the chair, leaning forward as if afraid that Luc had missed the pair of boobs she had barely covered in a scarlet bikini.
Whose stupid idea was it to make this a pool party? she wondered in disgust.
Oh yeah, hers.
And why?
Because of the damned Were who had spent the past four days practically ignoring her.
Standing near the French doors that led to her kitchen, Sophia heaved out a frustrated sigh.
She supposed she should be pleased.
Hadn’t she made it clear she had no intention in sharing her bed? Or her body?
But after the alarm system had been professionally installed, and Luc had moved into the guest room down the hall, she hadn’t been nearly so relieved as she should have been. And she’d been even less relieved when he began disappearing for hours on end, popping in and out without warning.
Was he hunting for her mysterious stalker? Or had the fact that there hadn’t been any more attacks given him the excuse to find another woman to ease his lust?
She told herself she didn’t give a damn even as she’d abruptly decided to hold the party by the pool. Why not show off her new hot pink Dolce and Gabbana bikini? But even as she sent out the invitations she’d suspected that her reasons were a lot less about vanity and a lot more about Luc.
Stupid werewolf.
Sipping her apple martini while she imagined the pleasure of shifting so she could more easily rip out the throats of the twits paying homage to the man driving her nuts, Sophia abruptly caught a whiff of an approaching nymph.
Turning her head, she watched the auburn-haired woman with smoke-gray eyes halt at her side.
Victoria was lushly curved like most nymphs and at the moment was displaying those curves to full advantage in a black strapless one-piece swimsuit that was cut down to her navel.
The female smiled as her gaze shifted toward Luc. “You never mentioned that you had a lover.”
Sophia barely swallowed her snarl.
Get it together, Sophia,
she silently chided herself.
The opportunity to question this female was precisely why she’d agreed to hold this stupid party.
“My private relations are just that... .” She pinned a cold smile to her lips. “Private.”
“If you wanted privacy then you should never have moved into this neighborhood,” the nymph drawled. “We are incurably curious and far more interested in one another’s lives than our own.”
“Isn’t that a little pathetic?”
“Perhaps.” A sly expression crossed the nymph’s pretty face. “Of course, I do understand your reluctance to share. He’s yummy.”
“Obviously you’re not the only one who thinks so,” Sophia snapped as Kirsten ran a provocative finger down Luc’s bare chest.
Victoria wrinkled her nose. “That vampire should be staked and left for the sun.”
Sophia was thinking more along the lines of ripping off her head.
Quick and easy.
“Not a big Kirsten fan?” she instead forced herself to ask.
“She’s a whore.”
Sophia lifted a brow at the sharp edge in Victoria’s voice. “Don’t hold back. Tell me how you really feel.”
“She pretends she has no interest in my Morton, but I’ve seen how she sniffs at him when he’s near.”
“She’s still a foundling, no doubt she sniffs everything with warm blood.”
“Really?” The nymph sent Sophia a mocking smile. “Then you don’t mind that she’s currently latched on to Luc?”
“Of course not.” It was a miracle that the words didn’t choke her. “I trust Luc.”
Victoria snorted. “Don’t lie. You want to toss the bitch into the barbeque pit and watch her go up in flames.”
Sophia hastily squelched the delicious image.
Focus, Sophia. Focus.
“If I do decide I need to defend my territory, I’ll confront her directly.” She narrowed her gaze. “I have no tolerance for creatures who attack anonymously.”
The nymph paled, hastily backing away. “I don’t know what you mean.”
Sophia rolled her eyes. The stupid female might as well have tattooed “guilty” across her forehead.
Grasping her upper arm, Sophia yanked her to a halt. “Don’t run away, Victoria. We have so much to discuss.”
“Please,” the nymph pleaded. “Don’t hurt me.”
“That all depends on you,” she growled. “Confess and I won’t kill you here and now.”
The silver eyes shimmered with terrified tears. “How did you know it was me?”
“I’m a pure-blooded Were.”
Victoria frowned at Sophia’s deliberately vague response. “The witch promised me that the amulet would disguise my scent completely.”
A disguise amulet.
That’s how the woman had waltzed into her yard without leaving a trail.
“Why?” Sophia demanded.
“You know why.”
It was Sophia’s turn to frown, her gaze moving toward the short, stocky male cur built like a fireplug. He had brown hair and pale eyes with unremarkable features.
“You can’t possibly imagine I would be interested in Morton?”
Victoria sucked in an offended breath. “He’s perfect. Why wouldn’t you want him?”
Where to start?
Sophia picked the first one that came to mind. “He’s a cur.”
“So?”
“So Weres and curs don’t mix,” Sophia snapped. “Now tell me why you’ve been harassing me.”
The nymph licked her lips. “I ...”
“What?”
“I didn’t like how Morton watched you when he thought I wasn’t looking.”
Sophia swore. “So you thought you could badger me into leaving?”
“It was worth a shot.” The nymph shrugged. “I couldn’t physically force you to leave.”
“And when that didn’t work?” Sophia pressed.
“I don’t understand.”
“Did you decide on a more permanent solution?”
There was a stunned silence before Victoria at last gave a slow shake of her head.
“Permanent?”
“Running me over in your car?” Sophia suggested sweetly. “Releasing a rabid pit bull to attack me?”
Victoria lost another layer of color. “I’m in love, not insane.”
“Not much difference,” Sophia muttered.
“Perhaps not, but I know that none of those things would actually kill you,” Victoria said. “Only piss you off.”
Her words teased at the edge of Sophia’s mind, but for the moment she was too preoccupied to sort through the sensation that she should be disturbed by the comment.
“A silver bullet through the heart would be lethal,” she pointed out.
The nymph held up pleading hands. “Look, I left a few notes, a dead rat, and slashed your tires.”
“The brick through my window?”
“Yes, the brick,” she admitted. “I’ll pay for the damages if that’s what you want.”
Sophia gave the spiteful female a small shake before shoving her away in disgust.
“What I want is for you to leave me the hell alone.”
“You got it.” Victoria visibly struggled to regain her composure, smoothing her shaking hands over her hair as her gaze shifted to Luc. “I think it’s obvious to everyone in the neighborhood that you’re taken.”
Sophia stiffened. “I’m not ‘taken.’ ”
“No? I doubt the Were would agree. The way he looks at you ...” She gave a tiny giggle. “It gives me the shivers.”
Sophia followed the nymph’s gaze, finding Luc staring at her with a heat that made the very air sizzle.
Shivers? Her entire body trembled.
“He’s an alpha,” she lamely retorted.
“It has nothing to do with him being an alpha and everything to do with him being a man.” Victoria heaved a feminine sigh of pleasure. “And what a man he is.”
Sophia’s power made the nymph’s hair stir in warning. “I thought you were desperately in love with your cur?”
“I am, but I’m not blind.” Not entirely suicidal, the female returned her attention to Sophia. “Take my advice and lock him away before some tart tries to steal him.”
Sophia clenched her hands, her gaze still locked with Luc as she absently considered the logistics of holding such a powerful beast captive.
Preferably in her bed.
 
Luc was a typical male Were.
Warm-blooded, fully functioning, and possessing a fine appreciation for the opposite sex.
Tonight, however, he had to clench his teeth against the soft female hands that took every opportunity to touch his exposed skin and the plethora of boobs waggled beneath his nose.
There was only one woman he wanted touching his body or offering him the temptation of her firm, delectable breasts.
The knowledge should have sent him howling into the night in terror.
But if the past few days had taught him nothing else, it was that it was far too late to avoid his obsessive need for Sophia.
Even when he was miles away from Chicago she consumed his thoughts, the overriding need to return to her side a nagging ache that couldn’t be denied. And when she was near ...
Dios
.
Pretending indifference to disguise his acute awareness of the female Were, not to mention his savage need to haul her nearly naked body away from the gawking male guests, Luc covertly monitored her every movement.
Which was why he knew the second the nymph approached her.
Tensing, he battled back his instinct to rush to Sophia’s side. He didn’t have to overhear their words to know that Sophia was in charge of the heated exchange, or to suspect that she was managing to bully information from the nymph.
A fact confirmed when Victoria crossed the terrace to grasp her lover’s arm and with nervous glances toward Sophia urged him across the lawn toward the side gate.
Clearly, Sophia was more than capable of holding her own. At least when the enemy was face-to-face.
But when she turned to enter the house through the French doors, without so much as a glance in his direction, he could no longer deny his primitive male urges.
Nothing like the sight of his prey attempting to escape to send a predator into a frenzy.
Nearly bowling down the gaggle of females leaning against his lounge chair, Luc was on his feet and following in Sophia’s wake. He didn’t give a damn about the cries of protest. The only thing that mattered was getting to the female who had him so twisted in knots he couldn’t think straight.
He caught up with her as she crossed the shadowed kitchen, moving with a burst of speed to block her path.
“What did you discover?” he demanded.
She came to a grudging halt, her hands on her hips. “How do you know I discovered anything?”
“You were looking very chummy with the nymph. I doubt you were exchanging recipes.”
Emerald fire sparked in her eyes. “Is that an insult of my cooking abilities?”
His lips twitched as he recalled coming home last evening to find Sophia waiting for him at the table, her expectant expression revealing her pride in the hideous creation steaming on his plate.
It was a testament to his devotion to her that he’d managed to choke down more than two spoonfuls.
BOOK: The Real Werewives of Vampire County
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