MERLOT AND DIVORCE AND DEADLY REMORSE

by Jodi Vaughn

  “Brad, I’m really fine. But I would love a ride home.” I sighed. “It’s been a long day, and I really want to get home.” Too much had happened. Too much had changed in a day for my world to ever be the same again.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to go to the hospital?” he pressed.

  “I’m sure. They released me at the scene of the accident, so I’m good to go,” I said, hoping he would buy it.

  “All right. If home is where you want to go, then I’ll take you.”

  “Thanks so much.” I slid into the passenger’s seat, and he shut the door behind me.

  He walked around the front of the Chevy and got into the driver’s seat. “I was on my way to pick up the rent check from one of my tenants.”

  “I don’t mind if you want to stop there first.”

  “Great. It’s in the bad part of town, and the guy never pays it on time.” He forked his fingers through his hair and shifted into drive.

  He drove through town into the older part. It used to be nice homes with older couples who took pride in keeping the houses and yards pristine. But over the years as the older people moved out or died, it had become the bad part of town. Homes fell into disrepair, and foreclosures ran rampant. Wealthy people swooped in and bought up the houses, did minimal repairs, and then rented them out.

  I remembered Nikki telling me that Brad had about twenty rental houses in this part of town. He didn’t mind renting to sketchy people as long as they paid.

  “What happened? Did someone pull out in front of you to cause you to hit the building?” He cut his eyes over at me.

  “No.” I sighed. “Someone cut my brakes.” I looked out the window as the town lights started to fade with each passing block.

  “What? But who would do such a thing?” Brad’s eyes widened, and he looked from me back to the road.

  “Miles. He doesn’t want to pay me child support or give me the house. It costs him money to have me around. Money he could be spending on Nikki.”

  Brad stopped in a deserted-looking cul-de-sac. There weren’t any security lights, and none of the lights were on in the houses.

  I looked over at him. He gripped the steering wheel and dropped his head. A sob broke from his lips.

  “Oh, Brad. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to mention Nikki.” I grimaced. “I know it must be very upsetting. I don’t get why some people are so shitty.” I reached over and patted his shoulder.

  He flinched at my touch and jerked up his head. Tears streamed down his face. “You know what I don’t understand?”

  “Why they betrayed us?” I shook my head. “I don’t have that answer.”

  “No. I don’t understand why you don’t just die already.” His eyes turned angry and dark.

  I froze in my seat, trying to comprehend the words he had just uttered.

  “What did you say?”

  He reached his right hand to the driver’s door and pulled out a gun. He cocked it and aimed it at my head. “I don’t understand why you don’t die.”

  “What’s gotten into you?” My voice trembled. My heart raced, and hopelessness washed over me.

  “You ruined everything. If you had just stayed with Miles and not said a word about their relationship, Nikki never would have asked for a divorce. She needed me as long as Miles was with you. Now, she doesn’t need me anymore. Miles can give her the lifestyle that she wants. You should have just learned to be content with breadcrumbs.”

  I was frozen in fear. My mouth wouldn’t form words, and all I could think was that I was going to be killed by mild-mannered Brad.

  “I tried to crush you with the garage door, bash your brains in with a shovel, and poison your wine. None of it killed you. But the brakes? No one should have been able to walk away from that. How is this possible?” He glared with intense hatred.

  I was not going out like this.

  “No. I could never be like you, Brad. I could never be content with breadcrumbs.”

  An evil grin creased his mouth. “And that’s why you will die.”

  I lunged forward, grabbing the gun. A shot went off in the truck. I screamed and blinked. My ears started to ring.

  Despite the pain in my ears, I continued to struggle to gain control of the gun.

  Someone would have heard the shot. Someone should be coming outside to see what was going on.

  He backhanded me across the face. Blinding pain and stars exploded behind my eyes. I grabbed my cheek with one hand.

  I heard an ungodly roar, and then the gun went off again.

  Warm liquid started running down my face. I looked at Brad, who was staring at me in horror.

  The driver’s side window exploded, and Khalan’s face appeared. He grabbed Brad by the throat and pulled him halfway out of the window.

  Brad screamed. Khalan’s teeth flashed before he clamped his mouth down on Brad’s throat.

  In one moment, Brad was alive. And then Khalan ripped out his larynx.

  I didn’t have time to scream before I was swallowed by darkness.

  Chapter 39

  I opened my eyes and looked around. I was lying in my bedroom, fully clothed. A single candle burned on my bedside table.

  I eased up on my elbows and looked at the large figure sitting in the chair by the window. As if sensing my eyes on him, Khalan looked up.

  “What happened?”

  “Brad shot you in the head.”

  I remembered Khalan showing up. “Is he dead?”

  “He is,” Khalan stated. “He won’t hurt anyone again.”

  I touched my head and felt the rough patches of dry blood.

  “It will heal in a few days. Just don’t go out in the sunlight for a while or you will have a bitch of a headache.” He stood.

  “What about Brad?”

  “What about him?”

  “Won’t the police be looking for him? What about his body? Did anyone in that neighborhood see what was going on?”

  “That neighborhood is owned by Brad. Rental properties. All of them are empty. I’m sure someone will miss Brad, and they will find a note saying he planned to kill himself. They will eventually find his truck at the bottom of the Mississippi River, along with his decomposing body. It will look like a drowning.”

  I shook my head. “I still don’t understand why. Why would Brad try to kill me? He should be killing Nikki.”

  “Brad was a weak man. He didn’t care that Nikki was fucking around on him as long as she never left him. He blamed her actions on you. And he wanted you dead because he would never have the guts to take his anger out on Nikki or Miles.” Khalan walked over to me. “I should be going.”

  “No. stay a little while longer. Please.” I grabbed his arm.

  “Where are the girls?” Khalan’s eyes narrowed.

  “At sleepovers with friends.”

  “You’re alone?”

  “Yeah. I had hoped to celebrate my final mediation tonight with a glass of wine. But circumstances changed.” I pulled my knees to my chest and wrapped my arms around them.

  “How did it go?” Khalan eased onto the side of the bed.

  “Better than expected.” I looked at him. “When I went into that room with Miles, he told me he wasn’t going to give me anything. No child support, no alimony, but what cut the most was that he wanted full custody.”

  “Figures. He just doesn’t want to pay you a dime.” He narrowed his eyes. “I hope you negotiated.”

  “I glamoured him.” I dropped my head. “I thought Miles was trying to kill me, and I was angry about that and hurt about him wanting full custody because he said I was a bad mom. So, I glamoured him into giving me whatever I asked for. Child support, alimony, even the house, which he still has to pay for. And now, I feel guilty.” I looked up at my Maker.

  He frowned. “You feel guilty for asking for money to support your daughters and give them a home?”

  “But I asked for a lot. I practically took everything.”

  He stood and looked at me. �
�Rachel, you need to start learning your true worth and stop listening to some prick that can’t see what he had. He’s filled your head for years with nonsense about how lucky you were to be chosen by him. And that’s a load of shit. He was the lucky one. He blew it when he didn’t keep his dick in his pants. And if you’re half the woman I know you are, you will stop feeling guilty about wanting something more for your life.” Khalan stood.

  My mouth fell open, but I recovered quickly and grabbed his arm.

  “What?” He glared at me. I stood.

  “Thank you.” I reached up on my tiptoes and pressed my lips to his beard-covered cheek. It was quick and innocent. But when I put my feet on the ground, it felt like a whole lot more.

  He looked at me and leaned into my space.

  “As your Maker, I could command you to leave this place and come live with me and learn all you need to know about being a vampire.”

  “You know how I feel about that. I can’t leave my kids.”

  He leaned in closer. “I could also command you to do other things you would find enjoyable.” His eyes darkened, and my stomach warmed.

  Khalan was flirting with me. He never flirted with me. He hated me.

  “And yet, you haven’t.” I lifted my chin.

  “Not yet.” He grinned. His lips were inches from mine. My breathing became faster, and my heart sped up.

  My eyes fluttered closed. I waited to feel his cool lips on mine. When I didn’t, I opened my eyes.

  Khalan was gone.

  “What an asshole,” I breathed out. “Leaving me hanging like that. I really need to get laid.”

  I headed into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. Sitting on the middle shelf was a stack of blood from either a hospital or a blood bank. I picked one of the bags up and looked at the label.

  It was from a blood bank. I knew I couldn’t keep them here because the girls would see. But we had a small refrigerator in the garage that Miles and I had used in college. I could put it in my room with a deadbolt and keep the rest of the blood in there.

  I took a unit and popped it into the microwave for a few seconds. I cut the plastic tubing and poured the blood into a cup. I put the mug in the microwave for a few more seconds until I got the temperature just right.

  I took my cup and walked out into the backyard.

  I eased into one of the overstuffed chairs and gazed up at the night sky. The stars seemed bigger and brighter than I’d ever seen them. The air even smelled crisper. The sound of new green leaves blowing in the breeze and birds settling in for the night seemed more vibrant.

  Maybe life was always like this, and I’d just never taken the time to slow down and enjoy it. Right now, I was counting my blessings that I had escaped a murderer and stood up to my ex. If things went like they were supposed to, I would never have to worry about my girls being taken care of.

  And, more importantly, they would have an example of what a strong woman really looked like.

  Chapter 40

  Easter arrived on a frosty morning. I had gotten the girls up early to look at their Easter baskets before getting ready for church. It was a new day, a new beginning for our family, and a new tradition for all of us.

  “Gabby says she’s taking robins’ eggs to church to eat,” Arianna groused. “I thought you said no candy in church?”

  “I did say no candy in church.” I looked at my girls all dressed up in their beautiful dresses. My heart tugged with sadness that Miles had given this up. But that was on him. “But I think each of you can have one piece of candy before we leave. But please be careful not to get it on your dresses.”

  “We will be careful,” Gabby assured me. She went straight for the cream-filled chocolate egg. I grimaced. I was never a fan of that kind of chocolate, but Gabby wasn’t as picky as I was.

  “What about you, Arianna? What are you choosing?”

  “This.” She held up a package of malted eggs. “Want one?”

  She knew those were my favorite.

  “Sure.” I held out my hand, and she poured three out.

  “I’ve got to grab my purse, and then we need to leave.” I headed into my bedroom. I stopped in front of the full-length mirror and admired my reflection. I looked stunning in my new dress.

  A new dress for a new me.

  I popped an egg into my mouth and immediately ran to the bathroom sink. I spit out the confection. Too sweet.

  My taste buds were changing. Soon, I wouldn’t want any kind of human food.

  I shook away my sadness at the thought of losing my humanity.

  I grabbed my purse and herded my girls into the Mercedes. The insurance had totaled my car, and I was driving Miles’ old Mercedes until I could decide what I wanted next.

  Despite Harold cajoling Miles to rethink our mediation agreement, I ended up getting everything I wanted. We were just waiting on the judge to sign the final divorce papers, and then we would be officially divorced.

  Nikki had gone to the police with the suicide note that Brad had left behind. They searched for him for weeks until they said he was probably dead somewhere in a deer stand in the woods.

  As we took our seats, people looked at me differently. Especially the wives—looks of admiration.

  The pulpit was drowning in white Easter lilies, and the smell was wonderfully overwhelming. The sermon was full of hope. Hope for the future, and hope for mankind. I hoped that was true. I needed hope more than ever. Even if I could only find pieces of it here and there.

  At the end of the sermon, I gathered up my girls and started down the aisle.

  Miles thought I couldn’t make it in this world without him. I was determined to prove him wrong.

  “Mommy.” Gabby tugged my arm. “Look in the balcony. It’s the wizard.”

  I looked up in the balcony and my breath caught in my throat.

  Khalan was wearing a dark suit with his trenchcoat. His long hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and his beard had been groomed. He looked down at me for a brief second.

  Gabby waved up at him. He looked back and pulled the hood of his coat over his head and then waved his fingers in the air like he was doing magic.

  “I wonder what he’s doing here,” I murmured.

  “It’s church, Mommy. Everyone is welcome at church. Even wizards.” Gabby grinned.

  I laughed.

  And vampires.

  * * *

  The End

  About the Author

  Jodi Vaughn is a USA Today best-selling author of over twenty-five novels. She writes worlds of strong females and protective men who love them. When she is not writing she can be found in Northeast Arkansas with her family, three dogs, and a very fickle swan who travels the neighborhood in search of greener pastures.

  Check out her website to keep up with her latest releases and upcoming book signings at jodivaughn.com

  Also by Jodi Vaughn

  The Vampire Housewife Series

  LIPSTICK AND LIES AND DEADLY GOODBYES book 1

  MERLOT AND DIVORCE AND DEADLY REMORSE book 2

  BULLETS AND BOOZE AND DEAD SUEDUE SHOES book 3

  ACES AND EIGHTS AND DEAD WEREWOLF DATES book 4

  * * *

  Rise of the Arkansas Werewolves Series

  BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOON book 1

  BENEATH A BLOOD LUST MOON book 2

  DESIRES OF A FULL MOON book 3

  DARKSIDE OF THE MOON book 4

  SHADOWS OF A WOLF MOON book 5

  SECRETS OF A SILVER MOON book 6

  FALL OF A BLOOD MOON book 7

  RISE OF AN ALPHA MOON Vol 1 book 8

  RISE OF AN ALPHA MOON Vol 2 book 9

  RISE OF AN ALPHA MOON book 10

  SHIMMER OF A CELTIC MOON book 11

  KILLIAN’S MOON book 12

  * * *

  Veiled Series

  VEILED SECRETS book 1

  VEILED ENCHANTMENT book 2

  * * *

  Contemporary romance

  CLOVERTON Series


  CANDY CORN KISSES AND CANDY CANES AND TRACTOR CHAINS

  CHRISTMAS IN CLOVERTON

  LOST WITHOUT YOU book 1

  LOST ALL CONTROL book 2

  * * *

  Somewhere Texas Series

  SADDLE UP book 1

  TROUBLE IN TEXAS book 2

  BAD MEDICINE book 3

  SOMEWHERE IN PARADISE book 4