Francine chimed in. “Lionel can levitate. It’s very useful if you need something off a high shelf.”
Donna laughed. “I could see that it would be.”
Neo crossed her arms. “My sires can all read minds. Not deep, probing stuff, but enough that they can get the measure of a person. They said it’s how they knew I was worth saving.”
Bunni rolled her eyes but said nothing.
“It’s what they told me,” Neo added sharply.
Donna found it all fascinating. “I’d love to be able to read minds. Can you do that, Neo?”
“Not yet. Just because my sires can doesn’t mean I’ll get that ability. Or any ability. It’s not a guarantee. And there’s no rhyme or reason to when you get one either. Mostly, they seem to come in the first year. But I also know a guy who got the ability to become invisible on his tenth anniversary of being turned.”
“That would be a cool thing to do.” Donna thought about how easy it would be to eavesdrop on Big Tony if she was invisible. “Has anyone ever gotten more than one?”
“It happens,” Bunni said. “Meghan said Claudette can perfectly imitate a baby’s cry, and she can shrink herself down to the size of a gnat.”
Donna frowned. “Neither of those seem like especially useful powers. Maybe the shrinking one.” Was that how Claudette had gotten into the house without setting off the alarm?
Francine shrugged. “They’re not levitation, that’s for sure.”
Neo laughed. “Yeah, there are definitely some great powers and some not-so-great ones. Although I guess shrinking yourself could be useful, and being able to cry like a baby was probably a good way to lure unsuspecting humans to their death, back when there were no rules about consent.”
Donna looked at her. “There are rules? Who made them? I need to know this stuff. Are there consequences for breaking them?”
Neo held up her hand and ticked her answers off on her fingers. “Yes, the Immortus Concilio, and yes.”
“Whoa. Back up. The Immortus Concilio?” Donna didn’t like that. It sounded way too mobby.
Dr. Goldberg held up a hand. “Our time is almost up, but this is an important conversation. Is anyone willing to continue this with Donna?”
“It’s really Claudette’s job,” Bunni said. “If she’s not going to do it, Donna should file a grievance. But yeah, I can hang out for another minute.”
“I appreciate that,” Donna said. “But I think if someone could just tell me what the Immortus Concilio is, I’ll be good for tonight. And maybe give me the name of a blood bank. Then I’ll be set. I’m sure Claudette will call soon.”
Francine nodded. “I’m sure she will. The Immortus Concilio is a group of seven vampires who oversee vampire activity across the globe. Nearly two hundred years ago, they declared it unlawful for a vampire to take a human life, even for sustenance.”
Donna’s mind went to Yuri. She might already be in trouble. “Are there any extenuating circumstances allowed?”
Francine looked around the group. “There could be, I suppose.”
“Self-defense?” Bunni offered.
Neo nodded. “I think that would be okay. Or if the human was especially terrible. Like, I think there’s a special exception for high-ranking criminals.” She laughed. “Why? You thinking about having a drink of Big Tony?”
Donna’s lip curled back. “Ew. No. Way too much garlic in him anyway. Or isn’t that an issue?”
“Depends,” Neo said. “Some can tolerate it, some can’t.”
Francine raised her hand. “Repeats on me something awful.”
“And there are other rules? I need to know these. Or at least get a copy of them.”
“Claudette—” Bunni started.
“I know,” Donna interrupted her. “But I don’t really want to wait on Claudette when there could be something I need to know now.”
“Basically,” Neo said, “don’t kill humans, don’t kill other vampires, don’t start trouble with the other supernatural races—unless they’re fae, and then you can have at it. Also, don’t tell humans about vampires or any of the other supernaturals unless they’re sworn to secrecy.” She looked at Francine. “Did I miss anything?”
“No,” Francine said. “You got all the big ones.”
Dr. Goldberg closed her notebook. “That’s our session, then. We went a few minutes over, but that’s understandable. I’ll see you all next Friday.” She stood. “Have a great week.”
“You too, Dr. Goldberg,” Francine said. Then she turned to Donna as Bunni and Neo said goodbye. “Would you like to come up to the house? I’ll give you some blood to take home.”
Neo got up and stretched. “I can take her to Lifeline.” She hooked her thumb back behind her. “It’s just a couple blocks up. Then she can stock up and see about setting up her own account.”
Donna nodded. “I think that would be good. Not that I don’t appreciate your offer, Francine. I really do. It’s very generous. But I feel like I should get enough to last me awhile, you know?”
“Oh, sure, honey.” Francine got up, unzipped her fanny pack, and pulled out her phone. “We still need to get you onto the group text.”
“Right. That would be great.” Donna stood as well, waiting until Francine had the appropriate screen up, then rattled off her cell number.
Francine tapped a few more buttons, and Donna’s phone vibrated. “There you go. I just sent an intro text to the group.”
Bunni had walked Dr. Goldberg to the door, but she returned now and joined them. “You really think your FBI friend can help me? I want to nail Sergio, but he’s slippery as an eel.”
“I’ll reach out to him tomorrow, I promise.” Donna held her phone up. “And I have your number now, so I’ll let you know what he says.”
“Great.” Bunni gave her a big smile. “See you guys later. I gotta party to go to. Nice to meet you, Donna.”
“You too, Bunni.”
She wiggled her fingers at them and sashayed out of the room.
Neo frowned as she watched Bunni go. “She’s a freaking piece of work, that one.”
Donna had to ask. “What’s with the bad blood between you two? No pun intended.”
Neo shrugged. “She’s low-rent. I don’t like her. She’s dumb. And phony. Running with those gangbangers, then acting like becoming a vampire turned her life around.” She sucked air through her teeth. “I just think she’s full of it.”
Donna’s brows lifted. “You must not think much of me either, then. Seeing as how I was running with gangbangers of a sort.”
Neo’s expression shifted, and she shook her head. “I…no, that’s not what I meant. You’re different. You’re a lot more sophisticated.” She sighed and frowned toward the door. “Bunni just gets on my last nerve.”
Donna nodded. “Hey, I get it. Some people are like that.” Lucinda, for example. “But she strikes me as a woman who could use a friend. I know I could.” She smiled at Neo and Francine, thinking what unlikely women they were to be those friends, and yet, here she was thinking they were exactly who she wanted to spend time with.
Were vampires really that different than mobsters? These women seemed different than that. They weren’t caught up in ill-gotten gains and getting one over on somebody, but then, she’d just met them. She prayed they truly were different. Because she hated feeling like she’d traded one prison for another.
Chapter Twenty-two
Francine put a hand on Donna’s arm. “Anything you need, you just reach out.”
“Thanks. I really appreciate that.”
“C’mon,” Neo said. “We can walk over to Lifeline and get you hooked up.” She laughed. “Pun intended.”
They all headed out to the elevator.
As they rode down, Donna’s thoughts got the best of her, and she laughed softly.
“What?” Neo asked.
“Every once in a while, it just hits me how crazy this is. I guess it still hasn’t sunk in that I’m a…a vampire. See?
I almost can’t bring myself to say it.”
“You’ll get there,” Francine said. “Everyone adjusts in their own time.”
Donna nodded. “I’m really glad I met you ladies. It’s already helped.”
Francine beamed. “That’s what First Fangs Club is all about. Helping our sisters adjust.”
The elevator touched down on the first floor, and the doors opened. They all got off and went through the foyer to the sidewalk. Francine waved as she headed in the opposite direction. “See you next week.”
“Bye,” Neo answered.
Donna waved. “Next week.” She and Neo stood on the sidewalk. She looked at the other woman. “Which way?”
Neo grinned. “Listen, I will absolutely take you to Lifeline, but if you’re in the mood for something a little fresher, I know a place we can go first.”
Donna wasn’t exactly sure what that meant, but she had an idea. “You mean…”
Neo nodded. “Right out of the vein.”
Donna couldn’t stop her face from showing her horror. “I don’t know.”
“They’re willing. It’s not like anything’s happening that’s not supposed to.” Neo leaned in. “Trust me, there are a lot of humans that get off on it. Big-time. In fact, some of the older, wealthier vampires have live-in feeders.”
“Feeders? As in people who live with them for the sole purpose of feeding the vampire?”
Neo nodded. “Feeders, blood babies, donors, assistants, whatever you want to call them. Although assistants usually do more than just supply blood. It’s a symbiotic relationship. The vamp pays their bills, gives them a place to live, all that. And the feeder supplies them with an unlimited supply of blood.” She shrugged one shoulder. “It’s a sweet deal if you can afford it. Not sure I’d want a human living with me, though.”
“Yeah, me either.” Donna’s lack of knowledge about her new lifestyle became more and more evident with every minute she spent with Neo.
“So you wanna hit up Redline or no?”
Tentatively, Donna nodded. “Okay.” How else was she going to learn?
Neo grinned. “Cool. Word of warning, cover is steep. Not as much for us as it is for the humans. But that’s partially how they weed out the riffraff.”
That was interesting. “What do you consider steep?”
“Seventy-five bucks. I don’t go to blood bars very often, but I thought it would be fun to take you to one since you’re new and all. Kind of a special occasion.”
“That’s nice of you.” Donna already knew she’d pay Neo’s cover. That was just the polite thing to do, especially when Neo was doing this for her.
“This way.” Neo got them walking again.
“Are there a lot of these places? These blood bars?” Donna slipped her hand into her purse, pulled two hundreds off the bundle, and tucked them into her jacket pocket, ready to go.
“There’s a good handful in the city, by which I mean five or six. Deep Six is pretty good. Kiss Club is a pit. I don’t think they test their donors at all. Crimson is the show. I mean, it’s super bougie. You have to be a member or know a member to get in there. And membership is, like, fifteen grand a year.”
“Ouch.”
“Yeah. I went about a month ago when my sires were in town. They took me.” Neo shoved her hands in her pockets. “Where do you live? If you don’t mind me asking. Some vampires aren’t big on giving out that kind of info.”
“I don’t mind. I’m about an hour away in Jersey. East Verona. Near Westbrook.”
Neo whistled. “That’s a nice place, right? Lots of expensive homes and private schools. I did a job out there once for a guy who needed some heavy-duty encryption for his business.”
Donna nodded. “It is. But very controlled. The Villachis have a lot to do with that. Big Tony likes it that way.”
Neo was quiet for a moment. “I’ve never met anyone in the mob before.”
Donna slanted her eyes at the woman. “You might be surprised. The family’s reach is far.”
Neo’s brows rose, but she didn’t say anything more about it. Half a block more and she pointed ahead. “There’s Redline.”
There was no line, just a small square in front of the door, roped off with standard burgundy velvet. Within that square sat a large man Donna assumed was the door guy. Another, smaller man stood outside the ropes, showing his ID.
Neo slowed. “Hang on. Let him go in first.”
“Okay.”
When the human entered, Neo approached the bouncer. “Hey, Marcus. This is my friend Donna.”
“Neo, Donna.” Marcus nodded. His muscular build made it appear that his head sloped directly into his shoulders, but his pale eyes against his dark skin really caught Donna’s attention. He looked otherworldly. “I still need proof, ladies.”
The Southern accent surprised Donna.
Neo turned to her. “Show him your fangs, or make your eyes glow.”
“I don’t know if I can.” She gave Marcus a nervous smile. “I’m new to this.”
He smiled back, showing slightly larger-than-normal canines with wicked points. “You can do it, sugar. Think about blood.”
She nodded, but that was easier said than done. While she’d popped her fangs out with no trouble in the Bloomie’s dressing room, being put on the spot made it feel impossible. “I’m trying.”
“Hang on,” Neo said. She faced Donna. “Look at me.” Then she bared her fangs, her eyes lighting up like embers.
Without meaning to, Donna reacted, lips curling, fangs jutting out.
Neo looked at Marcus again. “There you go.”
He unhooked one side of the rope separating them. “Welcome to Redline. Cover is seventy-five each.”
Before Neo could pay, Donna handed Marcus the two bills she’d put in her pocket. “Keep the change.”
“Thank you.” He tipped his head in gratitude as he opened the door for them. “Y’all have a good night.”
“Hey,” Neo said. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I wanted to,” Donna said. “My way of saying thanks for the extra help.”
“That’s really nice of you. I appreciate that. And with that tip, Marcus will remember you.”
Donna just nodded as she looked around. Being married to Joe had definitely taught her the power of overtipping.
The bar was decent inside. Very clean. Dimly lit but in a way that was more atmospheric than shady. Textured gold walls were broken up with black leather booths along one side and a marble-topped bar along the other. Battery-operated candles flickered in mercury glass globes on each table and spaced along the bar.
Some kind of European trance music played loud enough to make eavesdropping impossible. Or maybe it was the faint but purposeful hum that lay under the tracks. Like a supernatural white noise.
The staff wore all black with red ties. That made it easy to see who was an employee and who was a patron, but there were also a number of humans in street clothes. Humans. Interesting that, without really trying, she could pick out who was a vampire and who wasn’t.
An older woman approached them. Human. “Welcome to Redline. I’m Caroline. Would you like a booth?”
“Yes,” Neo said.
She smiled at them. “Follow me.”
She took them to one, waiting as they sat. “What can we get you this evening?”
Donna looked at Neo, hoping she’d take the lead. She did. “Male. Wait. Is Hector here?”
Caroline nodded. “He is. I’ll see if he’s available.” She looked at Donna. “And for you?”
“I have no idea. This is my first time.”
Caroline smiled. “I understand. Do you prefer a male or female donor?”
“Male, I guess.”
“Very good. Do you have an age preference?”
Was that a thing? Apparently. “No. Any age is fine. Within reason. No kids. But then, you probably don’t let kids in here. Do you? No one too young.” She took a breath. “I’m sorry, this is all really
new to me.”
Caroline’s smile turned sympathetic, and Donna wondered if she was the most pathetic vampire the woman had ever seen. “Not to worry. I have someone in mind. What recovery package would you like to order?”
Donna had no idea what that meant. She looked at Neo, clueless. Caroline seemed to understand. She presented them with a menu board.
Recovery packages were apparently for the humans. There were four of them: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum. Bronze was cookies and orange juice. Platinum was fresh fruit, imported chocolates, champagne, and pineapple juice. She pointed to the Platinum, but looked at Neo. “What do you think?”
“Yeah, let’s do Platinum. Hector loves chocolate.”
Donna nodded to Caroline. “Two of those. Or one, if that’s enough for two.”
“Very good.” Caroline took the menu and left.
“Thanks,” Neo said. “But we’re splitting that check.”
“No, we’re not. I ordered it. I’m paying.” Donna leaned across the table. “But isn’t this bizarre? We’re ordering people. Is that not weird? Because it seems weird to me.”
“It only seems weird because you still don’t think of yourself as a vampire. That will change.”
Donna wasn’t so sure about that.
Neo went on. “Also, we’re expected to tip when we’re done.”
“How much?”
“Up to you, but I think twenty percent is about the minimum.”
“Thanks for telling me.” Donna’s nerves were up. She wasn’t sure she’d ever get used to this. “Is Marcus, the guy at the door, a vampire?”
“No, werewolf. He’s a good guy.”
Caroline returned with two men. The younger man, a Latino, greeted Neo with a grin. The older man was handsome and graying at the temples, but incredibly fit. Everything about him, from his gorgeous dress shirt to his expensive watch and alligator belt, said money. Interesting. “Here are your gentlemen for the evening. Let me know if I can do anything else for you.”
“Thanks, Caroline.” Neo patted the seat next to her. “How’ve you been, Hector?”
Sucks to Be Me Page 17
