Sucks to Be Me

by Painter, Kristen

  He took the seat. “Great. You?”

  While they chatted, the older man gestured to the spot beside Donna. “May I join you?”

  “Yes, please.” He was very good-looking and certainly seemed willing, but it still felt odd to her.

  He smiled. “I’m Pierce, by the way. Caroline said this is your first visit to Redline.”

  “Hi, Pierce. I’m Donna. Oh! I just got it. Pierce. That’s funny.”

  “What?” He frowned. “No, my name really is Pierce. Like Pierce Brosnan.”

  “Oh.” She stopped smiling. “Sorry, I just thought—”

  He laughed. “I’m teasing you. In here, I get that all the time.”

  She pressed her fingers to her forehead, smiling again. “I walked right into that one.”

  “You looked tense. I just thought it might break the ice a little.”

  “Yeah, I am tense. I was only turned a few days ago.”

  His brows rose. “So you really are new to this. I’m honored to be a part of that journey.”

  His sincerity was touching. “Thanks for being understanding. To be honest, I don’t really know what comes next.”

  Pierce’s gentle smile made that seem okay. “It’s really up to you. Some patrons like to talk a little, some like to get right to feeding. I serve at your pleasure, so whatever you’d like is fine with me.”

  She’d never had a man speak to her like that. It was heady. She shot a quick look at Neo and Hector. They were chatting away. “I wouldn’t mind talking to you a little.”

  He nodded. “Wonderful. I certainly wouldn’t mind talking to you. As I’m sure you can imagine, I find your kind endlessly fascinating.”

  “Is that why you do this?”

  “In part. But this is also a pleasurable experience for many of us. Myself included.” He went silent then, seemingly lost in thought.

  She probed gently. “Why else?”

  He glanced at her, then away just as quickly. “I’m attracted to the power. Serving a woman such as yourself creates a thrill in me unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before.”

  She sensed there might be more to it than that, but didn’t want to pry. “Can I ask what you do for a living?”

  He made eye contact again. “I’m a lawyer.”

  That surprised her. But then things started to make sense. Like his nice clothes and expensive watch. And how a powerful man might really enjoy a more powerful woman.

  “You’re shocked by that,” he said. “I can see it in your face.”

  “I am,” she admitted. “But intelligence is a wonderful quality. So let’s call it more of a pleasant surprise.”

  He smiled again. “Thank you. I like that.” He stretched his arm out and rolled up his sleeve, then put his hand on the table before her, wrist up. “I am yours, whenever you are ready.”

  In a sudden attack of the senses, she could instantly hear his heart beating and the thrum of the blood in his veins as the rich scent of that blood just beneath his skin reached her nose.

  Her fangs extended and her mouth opened. She couldn’t tear her gaze away from his wrist. “I’ll do my best to be gentle.”

  He leaned in to whisper in her ear, “I don’t care about that.”

  Chapter Twenty-three

  She took his wrist in her hands as if cupping water and brought it to her mouth. She was vaguely aware of him closing his eyes and leaning back against the booth. Then vaguely aware of Neo preparing to do the same thing with Hector.

  Donna opened her mouth wider, pressing her fangs into his wrist. The flesh was warm and soft and smelled faintly of whatever soap he’d used. She took the moment in, because it was another first. But her hunger rose up like a beast, so she didn’t linger long.

  Still, she was aware of what she was about to do. She decided a decisive bite would be better than a hesitant one, so she drove her fangs in. The instant they broke his skin, he let out a soft moan. The sound was a mix of pain and pleasure.

  More pleasure, if she had to bet.

  Which was good, because she couldn’t have stopped if she wanted to, a feeling that scared her a bit, but she was lost to the sacrifice. He was willing, and somehow, that made the blood sweeter.

  Yuri had been bitter in comparison. The taste of fear, she now understood. Pierce was a fine wine. Yuri had been scummy pond water.

  But this was not Yuri. Although something similar was happening. Images were once again flashing through her mind. Maybe that was just what happened when a vampire drank from a human. She had no idea.

  Afraid to repeat her first mistake, she made herself disengage. She could have had more. A lot more. Even so, she was sated and warm with the life she’d taken in.

  A sweet calm filled her, like lounging in the sun on a day when there was nothing else to do. It was the purest sense of relaxation she’d experienced, elevated beyond what she’d felt with Yuri.

  She turned her head to the side. Beside her, Pierce looked at her, eyes a little sleepy. His gaze shifted to his wrist, still in her hands. “The wounds. You have to run your tongue over them to heal them.”

  “Oh.” She did as he said, cleaning away the last of the blood. The punctures sealed up and disappeared. “Wow.”

  Pierce smiled. “You are amazing creatures.”

  She licked her lips. “And you taste so much better than the first guy I had.” She laughed, a little light-headed from the feeding, but too deliciously warm to care. It was blissful. “Pretty sure I’ve never said that to anyone before.”

  “It was my privilege to be your first here at Redline.”

  Neo finished up with Hector, and a moment later, a server showed up with a silver tray loaded with an array of chocolates, fresh fruit, and small pastries. Behind her was a second server bearing a champagne bucket filled with ice, a bottle of whatever champagne had been part of the package, and a third server with a carafe of pineapple juice.

  As the servers set things up and opened the champagne, Donna looked at Pierce. “I hope this is okay. Would have been better if I’d been able to ask you what you like.”

  “This is perfect,” he assured her. He accepted a glass of half champagne, half pineapple juice from one of the servers, but offered it to Donna.

  “No, thanks,” she said. “I have to drive home.”

  “You know,” he said quietly, “with your new metabolism, you can drink that entire bottle of champagne and barely feel it.”

  “Really?” Kind of sad that a human knew more about being a vampire than she did. “Okay, I’ll have a glass.”

  He handed her his, then took a second from the server, who then prepared glasses for Neo and Hector. When she was done, the young woman looked at them. “Anything else I can get you?”

  Donna shook her head. “I think we’re good.”

  Neo nodded. “Same, all good here.”

  Donna held her glass out to Pierce. “Thank you. And cheers.”

  He clinked his against hers. “Same to you. I would love to see you again. In fact…” He dug into his shirt pocket and took out a business card. “Here’s my contact information. I hope that’s not too bold of me, but I like you. I’d be happy to serve you again.”

  She set her glass down and took the card.

  Pierce Harrison, Attorney at Law. Criminal Defense.

  The firm listed was one of the biggest ones in the city. And he was a partner. She raised her eyebrows at him. “This is impressive.”

  He smiled and saluted her with his glass. “Thank you.” He took a plate and put some fruit and chocolate on it. “I try to only defend the innocent. Thankfully, I’ve reached that point in my career where I can be a little picky.”

  “That must be nice.” She tucked the card into her purse. What would he think of her if he knew who she was connected to? Probably not much. That made her sad.

  Then an image flashed through her mind again. One she’d seen before when she’d been drinking from him. She decided to test a theory. “Did you have a husky when you
were a kid? A big one with blue eyes? Named Mocha?”

  His lips parted in surprise. “Yes. I haven’t thought about Mocha in ages. How did you know that? I could see if you’d read my mind, I know some vampires have that power, but I wasn’t thinking about him.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t know. It just came to me.” She didn’t want to tell him she’d seen it while taking his blood. That felt like revealing too much.

  “You’re just turned,” he said, “so it’s early to get your special power, but it does happen.”

  She sat back to ponder that. The same thing had happened when she’d drunk from Yuri. But the pictures she’d seen had been of Yuri, Joe, and Lucinda. Those images had come back to her as she slept afterward. She’d thought they were dreams.

  Now she wasn’t so sure. What if they were memories? Was that possible? And if it was, what did it mean that she’d seen Yuri with Joe and Lucinda?

  Nothing good, that much was for sure. Like that Yuri had met with the brother and sister before Joe’s death. The implications of that were deeply disturbing.

  “Is everything okay?” Pierce asked.

  She nodded. “Just remembering some things I need to take care of. I should probably go.”

  He looked disappointed. When was the last time a man had genuinely wanted her to stay? She didn’t even care that it was most likely because she was a vampire. He nodded. “I understand.”

  She put her hand on his arm. “I would very much like to see you again. Can I call you sometime?”

  That perked him up. “Absolutely. My personal number is on the card.”

  “Wonderful.” She reached across the table toward Neo as Pierce slid out of the booth to let her exit. “Hey, I have to run. Thanks so much for bringing me here. See you next week?”

  Neo nodded, her smile lazy and sated. “You know it. Stay safe, Donna.” Then she sat up a little. “What about the blood service?”

  “I’m good for now. I need to find one near me anyway.”

  “All right,” Neo said. “Talk to you soon.”

  “You too.” She took her purse and left the booth, Pierce offering her a hand as she did. “Thank you.”

  “I would ask if you’d like me to walk you to your car, but I know you don’t need the protection.”

  “No, I don’t,” she said. Neo’s words about tipping came back to her. But this man was an attorney. A well-paid one, judging by his clothing and the firm where he was a partner. She reached into her purse for a hundred, all the same. “But it’s still a kind offer.” She kissed his cheek and pressed the bill into his hand. “Thank you again.”

  He looked down at the money. “This is kind of you, but I’d rather see you again.”

  She smiled. He was utterly charming. “You will. Good night.”

  He took her hand and kissed the back of it. “Good night, my queen.”

  His words swirled through her head like a drug, intoxicating her. She left the club floating, giving Marcus a big smile on the way out.

  “Have a good time?” he asked as he opened the ropes for her.

  “Yes,” she nodded. “Do you know Pierce Harrison?”

  “I do. Good guy. You need a lawyer? He’s kind to our community.”

  “I don’t need a lawyer.” Not yet, anyway. “I was just thinking about using him for…feeding.” Such a weird thing to say.

  Marcus tipped his head. “Was he your donor tonight?”

  “He was. Very nice man.”

  Marcus smiled. “You’re just his type too. He likes sexy, sophisticated women. Emphasis on women. Pierce isn’t into millennials, if you catch my drift, sugar.”

  “He likes older women. More his age?”

  “Yep. You want him now and then? I bet he’d jump.”

  “So he’d be safe to be alone with?”

  “As a Brinks armored truck.” Marcus leaned in. “Between us, I think what he really wants is a vampire sugar mama. You know, some vampire queen to keep him in her home and treat him like her personal buffet. Crazy, right? ’Cause he’s this powerful attorney, but hey, the heart wants what the heart wants.”

  Donna felt like her storehouse of interesting information was now overflowing. “I’m not there yet, but good to know.”

  “You got it, sugar. You come back now, all right?”

  “I will. Maybe next Friday.”

  “Cool.” He winked at her.

  She smiled back and headed to her car. The walk was uneventful, despite the late hour. She thought about Pierce. About his willingness, his desire, really, to serve a vampire.

  In all honesty, there was something very exciting about that. A man at her beck and call. A man whose sole focus would be her needs, her desires, her well-being.

  She could see how helpful it would be to have a companion who could go out in the sun too.

  She reached her car. In a few minutes, she was headed home, navigating city traffic, which was ever present no matter the hour, and her mind returned to the idea of getting some help.

  That’s what she was calling Pierce in her mind. Help. That was a safe term. But what kinds of things would he expect from her? Besides being taken care of financially. Or would he not expect that as much, since he probably had his own money?

  She shook her head. Why was she thinking about these things? She was in no position to keep a man in her house. Not with everything else going on. The Villachis. The Russians.

  Rico.

  She sighed. If there was ever a man she’d like to keep in her house, it was him. But he wasn’t about to get involved with her. She was much too tainted. She knew that.

  Still, maybe once the Villachis were behind bars, he’d reconsider. What was the agency’s policy on dating former informants? She had no idea.

  She groaned. There was too much going on in her head to think such thoughts. Which reminded her about the thoughts she’d had involving Joe, Lucinda, and Yuri. That might be worth mentioning to Rico. Maybe he could see if any connection existed among them.

  Worth a shot, she thought.

  What she needed to do most of all, however, was get ahold of Claudette and get the rest of her questions answered. That was looking less and less likely to happen, though.

  Claudette, where are you? I’m sending up the mental bat signal for the third time. Respond already!

  If she didn’t, Donna was going to have to reach out to the First Fang girls. And as helpful as she knew they would be, she still hated coming off as such a clueless newbie. At least now she knew they wouldn’t hold it against her.

  Forty minutes later, she turned onto her street, not quite ready for bed, but not knowing what else to do with herself. Now that she was a night owl, she supposed she’d have to start rearranging her schedule accordingly.

  Maybe she’d go for a run.

  She pulled into her driveway and approached the house.

  A strange car was parked in front of her garage.

  She slowed.

  And Big Tony got out.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  She froze. She wasn’t ready for this. Her heart was pounding, her chest felt tight, and her hands had gone clammy. She clutched the crucifix around her neck and prayed for deliverance. But regardless of how that request was answered, she had to prepare to get herself out of this.

  All the powerful vampire feelings she’d been having were gone. All she wanted to do was throw the car in reverse and stomp on the gas.

  But doing that wasn’t going to solve anything. Not unless she ran Big Tony over, because he wasn’t going to go away so easily.

  Instead of running, she gave the crucifix a quick kiss and parked alongside his vehicle. Normally, she would have opened the garage and parked inside, but she didn’t want to give him the opportunity to go into the house.

  So the driveway it was. She got out, feeling a little nauseated from nerves. Even so, she tried to keep it light. “Tony, hi. What are you doing here? Is everything all right?”

  He squinted at her, remin
ding her that in this darkness she had the advantage. “I was about to ask you the same thing. You’re out late.”

  She nodded. “Support group in the city. Highly recommended. Couple of us went out for…drinks after.” He didn’t need to know who’d recommended it. Or what it was in support of. Or the details of those drinks. He’d never believe her anyway.

  His eyes narrowed a little more, like he wasn’t sure he believed her. As if he was someone to judge her for lying. “You haven’t returned any of my calls or texts.”

  “I realize that. I’m sorry. Things have been hard lately. Very unsettled. That’s a big part of why I went to the group tonight.”

  He took a step forward, but only so he could lean against the back of his car. His gaze raked her in a shameless appraisal. “You look good. Real good. Like you tightened up all over. You lose some weight?”

  Yeah, that wasn’t weird or creepy. She barely kept the disgust off her face. “A little. Grief does that to you.”

  “Right.” He nodded again, then went silent like he was waiting on her to fill in the gap.

  She wasn’t about to volunteer anything, so she played dumb. “Well, thanks for coming to check on me. I’m going in. It’s late, and I need to go to bed.” She looked him right in the eyes with intent. “See you at mass tomorrow.”

  Her words had no effect on him. He took another step forward before she could go anywhere. “Listen, about the drop-off. I know things didn’t go as planned.”

  She crossed her arms. Finally, they were getting to the reason he’d showed up. “Do you? Do you know that the men I met there tried to kill me?”

  His mouth opened, his brows bent in consternation. “What?”

  Her turn to scowl in disbelief. “You didn’t know that?”

  He scrubbed one meaty hand over his face. “That ain’t what I hired them for.”

  “So you did hire them?”

  “I ain’t gonna—”

  The sound of rapid footsteps filled the night air, then they faded, and Claudette walked out of the shadows. She glanced at Big Tony before looking at Donna. “Who is this?”

  “Tony Villachi. Head of the Villachi crime family. My former brother-in-law.”