"No. Not yet. Having some made this week."
"If I give you one of mine, would you contact me?"
"Of course." Vampire or not, I'd take his money. Then I'd kill him when I confirmed he was the one attacking people. More specifically, me.
He fished one out of his jacket pocket and set it on the table beside me. "I look forward to hearing from you." He slid his fingers over my arm and went back to his seat.
"Uh. What just happened?" Daniel looked at me confusedly. I'd fill him in when we were alone.
"I'll tell you later."
∞ ∞ ∞
"So, what was all that about?"
I was scrunched in the front seat of Brady's car, sandwiched between him and Daniel and loving every moment of it.
"He's the one who owns The Candy Shoppe," I reiterated.
"Yeah, we know. And he wants to send his new dancers to your studio for training. I meant, why was he all over you like cheap French perfume?"
"He's a vampire. That's what they do…"
"He's a what?" Daniel turned to look at me fully, a feat in the narrow truck.
"Vampire? Sexy? Fangs? Blah blah blah?"
"I know what a vampire is, Kara. Don't you think he might have been the one that attacked us?"
"Yep. That's why I'm going to get closer to him."
"How close?" Brady shifted slightly in the driver's seat, not taking his eyes of the road.
"Close enough to find out if he's been munching on the neighbors."
They both got silent after that, until we pulled into Daniel's driveway. "Kara…"
Here we go. "Yes, Daniel?"
"Be careful." He nodded once for emphasis and popped the door open on the truck.
"What he said," Brady reiterated, and opened his door. They left me sitting there in shock.
I slid out, and Daniel closed the door while Brady walked around the truck. "That's it? You're not going to try and talk me out of it and tell me what a horrible fucking idea it is?"
They both shook their heads. "Would you listen?" Daniel chuckled.
"No." I scoffed.
"Didn't see much point in arguing. You're the supernatural one. We're the humans in this relationship. If you think you can handle it, then we just have to trust you. Please don't be wrong."
"I'm not."
"Then there's nothing to worry about," Brady added, and headed for Daniel's front door.
We followed, Daniel getting ahead to open the door with the keypad. I was jealous, our door still used keys. "That's neat. I want one."
"I'll put one in for you this weekend," Brady offered. "It's easy. I did Daniel's."
I turned at the sound of crunching tires behind us. Another car pulled into the driveway. One I didn't recognize. "You have company."
From the look on his face, it had to have been his ex-wife. Nobody could possibly have that look for any reason other than walking the green mile. "What's she doing here?" He stopped and looked at us. "Go ahead, I'll see what she wants."
Brady nodded and walked inside. Me, not so much. I stepped into the shadows and darkened my skin, fading into the blackness. I wasn't spying, I was being a witness and keeping an eye on the obviously crazy bitch.
"Sam?"
"Hello, Daniel." Her voice echoed the sneer I was sure was plastered on her face. The streetlights were reflecting on her windshield, hiding her face from view.
"What can I do for you?"
I was very grateful for my preternatural hearing.
"I see Brady is here."
"Yes?"
"What about your whore? Is she here?"
"Goodbye, Sam." He turned and walked away from her.
"Dan, wait! You were supposed to give me an answer…"
"I already did. It was no, remember?"
"You said you were going to think about it!"
"No. You told me to think about it."
"Did you?"
"No. I didn't see the point. I'd already given you the only answer you'd ever get."
"Please?" The angry, condescending tone to her voice vanished.
Daniel's sigh sounded more tired than exasperated. "Sam, I loved you with all of my heart. You stomped on it and left me. Now, I'm happy for the first time in two years, and you want me to take you back? When hell freezes over!"
"Oh, it's okay for your slut to bang other guys, but when I do it, I'm a horrible person?"
"Kara didn't hide it. She talked to me about it before Brady. You could learn a lot from her, and I'm not just talking about relationships, Sam. You're self-centered, egotistical, maniacal, untrustworthy, and a thousand other things."
"But I love you."
"No. You might have at one point, but those days are long passed. Go home, Sam. I'll mail out your check on Friday." He turned again and headed toward the front door, ignoring her sobs and then angry shouts.
Instead of sneaking inside and pretending I didn't see anything, I lightened my skin and stepped from the shadows. He gasped when he saw me standing there, but smiled when he realized I'd been watching. "You worried about monsters or ex-wives?"
"Both. Especially when there isn't much distinction between the two." I winked at him to let him know I was kidding.
"You were looking out for me, right? You weren't being a nosy girlfriend?"
"Me? Nah. Perish the thought. Rampant vampire roaming the neighborhoods. Just wanted to make sure you were safe. That, and I don't trust your ex."
"That makes two of us." He opened the door, and we walked inside his house. Brady had a beer and a glass of wine waiting for us.
"So, what did the ex-hag want?" Brady set the remote down and stood up, joining us in the kitchen.
"She's still a hag," Daniel answered with a chuckle.
"How come you didn't tell me she wanted to get back together?" I narrowed my eyes at him.
"Would you have told you?"
"Good point."
"Really? What happened to Mr. Dreamcoach?" I assumed Brady was talking about Samantha's personal trainer, since technically, he was the dream coach.
Daniel shrugged. "Beats the hell out of me. I didn't ask or care."
I tinked my glass against the neck of his beer bottle. "To us, then," I said, and raised my glass.
"Does that include Alana?" Daniel shot me a shit-eating grin.
"Do you want it to?"
"Doesn't matter. Do you want it to?"
I just smiled into my wine glass. Things were definitely getting interesting between all of us. I just hoped Brady could handle it. It was his sister, after all. Most guys didn't like anybody dating their sisters. I could only imagine what it would be like to have your girlfriend do it. "Maybe." I left it at that.
"Well, there's been something I've been meaning to discuss with the both of you." Daniel coughed to clear his throat.
"What?" Brady tilted his head, a little bit of worry etching subtle sexy lines around his eyes.
Daniel opened his mouth and closed it a few times, at a loss as where to start.
"Spill it." I elbowed him in the ribs.
"Since we're both dating Kara, why don't you move in here? It's a friggin' five-bedroom house. The kids will still have their rooms for the weekends they're here…"
Brady held up his hand. "Dan, I appreciate it, but when I got divorced, my sister got a bigger house so I could move in with her. The rent is a lot more, and I couldn't just dump all that on her."
"Ah. Okay. Just thought I would offer."
"I appreciate it." Brady grinned and smiled at his friend.
"You guys could bunk here, and your sister could move in with me." I grinned at him and chuckled. I'd meant it as a joke, but I kind of liked the idea. My chuckle deepened.
They were staring at me like I'd lost my ever-loving mind.
"You and your sister move in here. I'll live with Kara." Daniel grinned at Brady.
"Oh, hell no. You move in with Alana, I'll take your house, and Kara can sneak over here at night."
"You
r sister hates guys."
"She doesn't hate them. She just doesn't find them attractive."
"Plus, she's scary. Why the hell should I go move in with her and let you have all the fun?"
"Exactly."
"Girls, girls. Stop fighting. You're both pretty." I leaned over and kissed each of them on the cheek.
That shut them up. For a moment. "Why don't you both move in here?" Daniel looked up at Brady.
"Huh?"
"You and Alana. Move in here. I have five bedrooms."
"Because one of those is your office. I'm not bunking in the same room as my sister. No way in hell."
"I'll move my office to the basement. I need more room anyway."
"I vote for that idea." I grinned mercilessly. "Like having a smorgasbord next door."
"You're serious?" Brady narrowed his eyes in suspicion.
"You guys are renting, and you gotta be coming up on the end of your lease. You got divorced the same month I did."
"Yeah, we're supposed to renew next month."
"So, don't. Move in here."
"How much?"
"How much what?"
"Rent?"
"None. The house is paid for, and I bought out Sam's half."
"Then let us pay for the utilities."
"Half the utilities."
"All of them, except for what you claim for your business."
"Deal." Daniel grinned and held out his hand to shake on it.
"Oh, hell no. Let me talk to Alana first."
"Want me to?" I volunteered helpfully.
"You stay out of this," they said simultaneously.
"Sheesh. Well, I'm going to go check on the kids and go to bed. Night, boys." I gave them each a kiss and headed for the door.
Chapter 15
Strip bars in the early afternoon were a lot different than strip bars at night. They were less crowded, quieter, brighter. Which wasn't a good thing. With the lights on, you could see how disgustingly dirty they usually were.
The Candy Shoppe was cleaner than most I'd ever seen, but I wouldn't rely on the five-second rule if I ever dropped a piece of candy.
The music moderately thrummed as one of the older dancers took the stage. I headed for the bar and sat down. "What can I get you?"
The bartender wore a black button-down long-sleeved shirt with the cuffs rolled halfway up his muscular forearms. "Rum."
"And Coke?"
"Rum."
"You got it," he answered with a chuckle. He grabbed a tumbler, put a scoop of ice in it, and poured a rather generous amount of Bacardi over it. "Ten."
I fished out a twenty and set it down on the bar in front of me. He gave me my change in ones. "Is Michel around?"
"You have an appointment?"
"No. I thought I would surprise him."
"It's a little early for him to show up, but I'll let him know you're here, miss…"
"Kara."
He picked up his phone from behind the bar and sent him a message. I turned around to watch the dancer while I waited. At least for an answer.
The music was soft enough that I heard the bartender's phone bleep. He picked it back up, and his eyes widened in surprise. "He'll be here in ten minutes. Drinks are on the house." He opened the register and tried to hand me the rest of my money back from the twenty.
"Keep it."
"Thanks." He stuffed it in the tip jar.
The sets were longer during the day. The second dancer had just taken the stage when Michel entered through the front entrance, his presence a sweeping coolness that settled over the club.
"Kara, I am surprised to see you."
"Good to see you again," I lied. Okay, not really. He was damn pleasant to look at. Especially in the floofy white shirt that was only halfway buttoned up.
"Care to step into my office?"
"Is it safe to sit?"
"Avoid the couch." A dreamy look passed over his face, and a small smile lifted the corner of his mouth.
"Will do."
He offered me his hand and I took it, letting the coolness of his skin calm my nerves a little. As soon as I'd sensed his presence, I'd been on edge. Not like he was a predator and I was prey. More like, I was a predator and stumbled into his territory, and a big pissing match was about to go down.
He opened a red wooden door at the back of the club, and I braced myself for cheesy, but gasped at elegant. A rosewood desk sat in front of the back wall, brown leather chairs in front of it. A matching leather throne, for lack of a better word, sat behind it. To the side were video monitors mounted to the paneled wall. The infamous couch threatened to block the entrance as the L-shape filled the rest of the wall.
"Have a seat." He motioned to one of the leather chairs in front of the desk as he walked around and took his throne.
"Thank you."
"You must be eager to bring in some business to your studio."
"Pardon?"
"Is that not why you are here? To offer your services to my dancers?"
"Oh. Yeah."
His eyes narrowed. "Let us cut to the chase. I know you are not human. I can feel your power. If you were a vampire, you would already be dead. What is it you really want, Kara?"
I decided to opt for the truth. "The other night, my human and I were attacked by a vampire. I just dropped by to let you know if it was you, I will kill you."
"Could you?" He wasn't being challenging, merely curious.
"Easily."
"You see, Kara? That is the thing about being a predator. Every so often, you are reminded that you are not the deadliest one around." He smiled at me. "Fortunately, it was not me who attacked you or your mate."
"But you just said if I were a vampire, you would have killed me. Are you telling me there is another in the area, and you're allowing them to attack people?"
His smile vanished. "You are sure it was a vampire?"
"Not a hundred percent, but one has to ask oneself, what are the odds that three different types of monsters settled in the same suburban town?"
He nodded. "Slim to none."
"Exactly."
"So, where does that leave us?"
"Either you are lying to me to save your hide, or the odds really just weren't in our favor."
He leaned forward and rubbed his chin with his fingers before settling his head on his hand. "Then we are unlucky. For I am not lying."
"I wish I could believe that."
"So, where does that leave us?"
"At a very precarious place. I'll take you for your word, for now. Either the attacks will stop, and I'll be happy you heeded my warning. Or they keep happening, and I catch the real culprit, or I catch you and kill you."
"Then I have nothing to worry about." He smiled, almost as if he were enjoying my threats.
"Let us hope so."
"Now, shall we get down to business?"
"Fine."
"I get a lot of new dancers. Up until now, they had always formed sort of a mentorship program with the more experienced members of my dancers. It has worked well for years, but honestly, the girls coming in for work…"
"Millennials are killing the stripping industry?" I laughed.
"To put it succinctly… Yes. Yes, they are."
"And you want me to train them?" I blinked at his audacity.
"My dancers train the newer ones out of generosity. I would rather pay you."
Sighing, I nodded. It was more than I wanted, but with Sage's help, it might be quite lucrative. Strip clubs went through dancers rather quickly, for a multitude of reasons. Business might actually be pretty steady just from Michel.
"Now, the only question that remains is your qualifications."
"Well, I attended Julliard…"
"Truly?"
"No. I'm a fucking stripper. From my ass to my nose. I've been employed for forty years, and I'm…" I almost let loose with what I was. It would probably be better to keep him guessing. "Really fucking good at it."
"Would you prove
it?"
"Pardon?"
"I am about to make a very solid investment in your company. All I ask is you put your money where your mouth is. Show me."
"Here?"
He pointed at the door behind me.
"Fine."
We left his office, him leading the way, and I was surprised at how much the club had filled in the short time we'd spent behind the closed door. The excess illumination had been toned down, and the music had increased in volume. Apparently, inversely proportionate to the age of the dancer on the stage. She looked like she might have been the daughter of the dancer performing when I walked in.
"Michel?"
He stopped to look at me over his shoulder. "Oui?"
"I'm not wearing any panties."
"Since you are not an employee of the club, we shall call this amateur hour. I am not responsible for what happens when others take the stage."
"Fine by me," I answered his challenge.
His grin told me he had been expecting me to back down, but happy I hadn't. He nodded and headed for the DJ booth, pushing the pimple-ridden youth out of the way and turning up the volume. "Ladies and gentlemen, the Candy Shoppe has a special guest star for you this evening. May I introduce you to Kara!"
Still rather early, the applause was underwhelming, but I strode out to the middle of the stage anyway. Putting my hands behind my back, I leaned back against the pole and looked at Michel over my shoulder. An epic cover of “Paint it Black” pounded out of the speakers. Closing my eyes, I reached above my head, grabbed the pole, and swung my legs up above me.
The crowd actually cheered at my brief acrobatic display. Since that was what I wanted to showcase, that's what I focused on. Gripping the brass between my legs, I let go with my hands and used the upper half of my body to swing my head behind me, twisting the pole as I circled around the stage, arching my back.
Coming back around, I grabbed the pole beneath me and let myself drop, stopping just before I touched the floor. From there, I went into a handstand and spread my legs. My ass was toward the audience, and my loose skirt billowed around my thighs as it dropped down around me. That's when the real cheering started as a few of the patrons surged toward the stage, offering me dollars to come closer.
The rest of the song became a blur as the beat throbbed in tune with the blood in my veins. Ignoring everyone around me, I focused on the art of the dance and used every acrobatic trick in my repertoire. I landed on the stage and fell back against it, spreading my legs and offering everyone a view of my excitement at the exact moment the song crashed to a stop.
Succubus Soccer Mom: A Reverse Harem Tale Page 14
