As the associate pastor of Spiritual Light, his father’s non-denominational church in Destin, Chad had been a resident of the state of Florida. Nadia moved to Destin after they were married. Lately, Chad had been having some doubts about whether acting as associate pastor of his father’s church was what he wanted to do. Was it his choice, or was it just another attempt to appease his overbearing father? He decided to take a leave of absence to figure it out.
His mother owned the art gallery on Royal Street, but she rarely got to New Orleans anymore. Chad had been overseeing it for her by traveling to New Orleans weekly to check on things. He’d been doing such a superb job; his mother signed it over to him. Chad will run it full time now, and Lacey will be his assistant manager.
Lacey wasn’t overly excited about staying at the mansion until she finds a place to live. It felt a little awkward to her, partly because of Nadia and Quinn’s new wife being friends since they were little girls, and Lacey has known his current wife that long. She had also lived in the same house with Quinn when they were married. Now her former husband shared what used to be their bedroom with Randi.
She planned to start looking for an apartment, so there was no point in putting money into a hotel that could be better spent on a security deposit and the first month’s rent. The smart thing for her to do would be just to suck it up and stay there temporarily. She hoped to find an apartment quickly. Lacey said goodnight and made her way upstairs.
Chad took Nadia in his arms and said, “It means a lot that you drove here with me. I know it’s not your favorite mode of transportation. I’m happy you did that for me.”
She ran her fingers through his hair and said, “It was nothing. Besides, it was fun. I enjoyed it, and I enjoyed being with my sexy husband. You don’t have to thank me. I did it as much for me as I did for you.”
He smiled and said, “I’m glad to hear you say that.”
“It’s true. I was thinking about going to Vampyr to get some blood and catching up with my dad and Randi. Do you want to go?”
“I don’t think so, honey,” he said rubbing his eyes. “I’m tired from the trip, and it’s been a long day. I don’t think I would be good company for a vampire tonight. Why don’t you go to Vampyr and hang out with Randi and your dad.”
She shrugged her shoulders and said, “Well, if you’re sure you don’t mind me hanging out with another man?”
He laughed and said, “As long as the other man is your father, I’m good with it.”
Nadia poked her finger in his chest and said, “On second thought, about me driving here with you, if you want to rest up and later show me just how much you appreciate it, that would be great.”
He looked into her eyes. “You’ve got yourself a deal, babe.”
He walked her to the door, and they kissed. She stepped outside. Chad watched her until she was out of sight.
She descended onto the second-floor balcony overlooking Vampyr’s courtyard. Since an ordinance has been passed prohibiting smoking in bars in New Orleans, Quinn added several black wrought iron outdoor tables and chairs turning it into a designated smoking area. She spotted Randi coming out and inconspicuously rushed to her at vampire speed. They sat at one of the tables outside.
Nadia was aware of a little tension between her mother and Randi. She wondered how her friend honestly felt about her mother and Giselle staying with them. It is her father’s home, but Randi is his wife, and it’s her home too now. She decided just to come right out and ask. “Randi, your house was clean for a while. How do you feel about the ghosts of your husband’s past coming back to haunt you now?”
Randi smiled and said, “It’s temporary. It’ll be all right.”
Nadia wasn’t sure she meant that. “Are you sure?”
Randi sighed and said, “Nadia, I’m fine with Giselle being here. I know she’s over Quinn, and, after all, she’s my maker. If it wasn’t for Giselle, I’d be pushing up daisies right now.”
Nadia thought and said, “Yeah, she did turn you, but I can’t help but wonder. Did she do it because she wanted to save you so you and my dad could be together, or did she do it to get even with Evangeline?
“Giselle was in love with Myles two-hundred years ago, but Evangeline hated him. When Giselle found out Evangeline killed Myles; she would have stopped at nothing to get revenge on her for that. They both believed my father is Myles’ reincarnation and that’s why Evangeline wanted to hurt my dad in the worst possible way. Since my father was in love with you, Evangeline wanted to take you away from him.
“That day at the cabin, when Evangeline was burning in the sun, she was able to muster up enough strength to kill you, but the best revenge for Giselle on Evangeline was to keep you alive. So when Evangeline killed you, Giselle turned you while she enjoyed the tortured cries of Evangeline screaming and cursing at her up to her last breath.”
Randi shook her head from side to side and said, “I don’t know that we’ll ever know for certain what Giselle’s motive for turning me was, but I suspect it was a little of both. I’m not worried about her coming between Quinn and me. I was concerned about it at first, but now I understand why she and Quinn broke up.
“I don’t know if I believe Quinn is Myles’ reincarnation, but Giselle does, and it was enough reason for her to turn him into a vampire and then spend four years with him years later when Quinn finally learned the truth about why she turned him. The only thing Myles and Quinn seemed to have in common was they were both musicians. Myles was a simple man who loved being home working on his compositions while Quinn was a rock star and a businessman. Big difference. I don’t know how Giselle could have ever thought it could work with Quinn. Getting back together is not an option for them, and I’m sure they’re over each other. I know for a fact that he’s over her.”
Nadia folded her arms and said, “Okay, but what about my mother?”
Randi was silent for a moment while gathering her thoughts.
Nadia noticed she was hesitant about saying anything. “You’re not comfortable with my mother, are you?”
Randi sighed and said, “Nadia, when I met Quinn and married him, we thought Lacey was dead. Then, all of a sudden, I come home one day and find her standing in our living room alive and well, and she’s still as beautiful as ever. Don’t get me wrong. I’m glad she’s back, but I don’t think she’s too happy that I’m married to her ex-husband.”
Nadia shrugged and said, “What did you expect? She’s known you all your life, and she’s looking at it from a human perspective. She’s probably concerned about you being half his age.”
“I know. I’m sure Lacey was just as shocked to learn that I was Quinn’s wife as I was to see her alive. Nadia, the thing that concerns me about it is your parents were happy when they were married. They were happy up until the night Quinn disappeared. They didn’t break up because they had problems or irreconcilable differences. Your parents were still in love with each other. You father did what he did because he loved her.
“Yeah, I know they hated each other for a long time. Your mother hated Quinn because she thought he abandoned the two of you. Quinn loved her for years until he reconnected with you and later learned about all of the terrible things she did. That’s when his love for her turned to hate.
“The thing is, they’ve talked and put the past behind them. They both know the truth, and they’re friends now. Let’s face it; Lacey is a different person now. She has faced her demons, and she’s won the battle.
“Nadia, I’m just concerned. Considering the way your parent’s marriage ended, it’s possible they could still have feelings for one another. It does bother me to know Lacey could still be in Quinn’s heart, and he could still be in hers. Feelings buried deep inside. If that’s so, now that they’ve forgiven each other, what could happen if those feelings surfaced?”
Nadia was almost sorry she brought it up because everything Randi was saying made sense. She was at a loss for words, but she knew she had to say something. �
��Oh, honey. I know it’s complicated, but I think you’re worrying over nothing. Even if my mom did still have feelings for him, which she swears she doesn’t, I know she respects the fact that he’s married to you now. She knows he loves you, and she loves you like a daughter. Randi, you’re practically family. Well, now that you’re married to my dad, you are family. I don’t think she would deliberately do anything to come between you.”
“Deliberately, no. But we all know, things happen. Anyway, like I said, it’s temporary.” She glanced toward the back and noticed Quinn walking toward them. “I see my gorgeous husband coming this way.”
Nadia looked up and said, “Yeah, I know he’s my dad, but I have to admit, you did get yourself a hot one.”
Randi looked at her and smiled.
Quinn and Nadia hugged. “Long time, no see. It must have been at least five hours ago,” said Quinn with a grin. “How was the trip?”
Nadia nodded and said, “Not bad. I enjoyed it.”
Quinn looked around noticing someone was missing. “Where’s Chad?”
“At the house. He was tired. He said it’s fine for me to be out with another man as long as the other man is you, so here I am.”
Quinn laughed. “It’s a little warm out here for vampires. Hell, it’s too damn hot out here for a human. It’s a lot cooler in my office. These folks want a cigarette awfully bad to endure this heat.”
Randi and Nadia laughed. They got up from the table and stopped at the bar for a glass of top shelf blood before following Quinn to his office. Quinn sat at his desk, and the two ladies sat in the chairs on the opposite side. Quinn pulled a cigarette from the pack on his desk and lit up.
Nadia looked at him crinkling her nose.
Quinn noticed the way she was looking at him. He tossed up his hands and asked, “What?”
“Um. Daddy. Are you supposed to be smoking? Remember there’s an ordinance prohibiting smoking in bars in New Orleans.”
Quinn waved his hand and said, “Fuck the ordinance. It’s my fucking bar, and if I want to fucking smoke, I’ll fucking smoke. Besides I’m not in the fucking bar, I’m in my fucking office.”
“Yes, Daddy,” said Nadia cackling. “Are you sure you got enough fucks in there?”
Quinn looked at her and sneered.
She looked at Randi making quotation marks with her fingers. “I think we know how he feels about the, quote, fucking ordinance.”
Randi gazed at Quinn and said, “Yeah, I don’t think he’s fucking happy about it.”
“It’s fucked up,” said Quinn shaking his head.
5
AULD LANG SYNE MY FRIENDS
Lacey’s first day overseeing the gallery went well. The gallery hours are 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Nadia came in at dusk to help out thinking daylight savings time is a pain in the ass for vampires. That extra hour of sunlight in the evening makes a big difference in a vampire’s lifestyle. Even though she could leave home before sundown with her amulet, she preferred it to be dark.
Lacey and Nadia stood behind the counter at the back of the gallery. The front door swung open, and a slim busty redhead entered wearing shorts and a crop top with sandals and sunglasses. She tossed her hair behind her shoulders, and her eyes scouted the gallery.
“Hello,” said Lacey. “Welcome to Devereaux’s Fine Art. Our consultants are busy at the moment, but please feel free to look around.”
When the woman removed her sunglasses, Lacey couldn’t believe her eyes. “Laurie?”
Laurie looked at her as if she had just seen a ghost. Stunned, she stepped closer and said, “Lacey?”
Lacey came out from behind the counter, and they hugged. “It’s been a long time,” said Lacey. “How have you been? How’s Jeff, Riley, and Jeffrey?”
“Fine. Jeff and Riley are in town with me. Lacey, I’m shocked but happy to see you. This is morbid, but, I, uh … I heard you died.”
Lacey laughed and said, “No. In between my third and fourth marriage, I got involved with a mob boss and ended up in the witness protection program. My death was staged to protect my life, but after he died, I was able to go back to my normal life.”
Laurie’s hand rested on her chest. “Damn! I’m glad it worked out for you, and I’m happy to see you’re alive and well. You look great. Are you married now?”
“No. I’m single and plan to stay that way. Four was enough,” she chuckled.
Laurie waved her hand and said, “Well, we all know the first one was good. By the way, has anybody ever heard from Quinn?”
Of course, Quinn was going to come up in conversation with the wife of his former band member; especially since Jeff suspected foul play, thought Lacey. She told herself she would try to keep the conversation about Quinn to a minimum. “Nadia talks to him, but I haven’t had any contact with him. I understand he travels the world and never stays in one place too long; a total recluse.”
Laurie shook her head in disbelief. “That shocks me, Lacey. Quinn was always so charismatic and such a great frontman. He seemed to enjoy what he did. It just doesn’t make sense that he would just drop out the way he did. To go from being so personable one minute to a hermit the next. It just doesn’t make sense.”
Nadia could hear their conversation. She could see it was beginning to get a little uncomfortable for Lacey, and apparently her mother needed some help diverting the attention away from Quinn. She stepped up and smiled. “Mom, are you going to introduce me to your friend?”
Lacey took Nadia by the hand and said, “Of course. I’m sorry. Laurie, this is my beautiful daughter, Nadia, all grown up. Nadia, this is Laurie. We go way back. She’s married to Jeff West.”
“Oh, yes! Wow! It’s great to meet you, Laurie.”
“Same here,” said Laurie with a smile. “Nadia you are absolutely beautiful. You have your mother’s face and body and your father’s beautiful blue eyes.” She sighed. “I’ll never forget those blue eyes.”
The front door opened in time to stop the conversation from drifting back to Quinn, and Randi stepped inside. She spotted Lacey and Nadia and waved.
“Randi, hi,” said Nadia. “Come meet my mom’s friend.” Lacey introduced her to Laurie as Nadia’s sister-in-law.
Laurie wrinkled her brow. She wondered how Nadia has a sister-in-law. “Lacey, did you have a son?”
Lacey laughed and said, “No, Quinn did from a relationship before he met me.”
Scratching her head confused and unable to recall Quinn having a relationship before he met Lacey, Laurie said, “Oh, really. I didn’t know about that.”
“Neither did Quinn until a few years ago when young Quinn looked him up. He has a daughter too. That one was conceived when Quinn was in Europe touring with the band.”
Laurie’s jaw dropped. She threw her palms up and said, “Lacey this is shocking. Was it with the other woman? The one he left you for? Did he have a child with her? Is that why he left you? Lacey, none of this makes any sense.”
“No, his daughter’s mother was a one night stand. It happened after their concert in London. He was drunk and stoned that night, and the girl was going to have her way with him. Anyway, he passed out drunk after they had sex. When he woke up and found her gone, he thought it was a dream. He never thought about it again until twenty-two years later when his daughter showed up looking for him. Then he realized it really happened.”
Laurie scoffed and said, “Damn, son of a bitch. That must have been a shock. I had no idea about any of this. I don’t know what to say. How did you find out?”
Lacey remained calm even though she felt the pressure building. “Nadia keeps me informed. It’s all water under the bridge now. Life goes on.”
Attempting to divert the conversation once again away from Quinn, Nadia said, “My brother and I perform at Vampyr under the name After Dark. We do a show on Thursdays at ten. You should stop in and see us if you have time on your trip.”
Laurie’s face lit up. “Really. That’s incredible that the two of you inherite
d your father’s talent. Thursday? That’s tomorrow. I’d like that. I’m sure Jeff would love to go. We’ll plan on tomorrow.”
“Great,” said Nadia raising her hands grinning trying to appear excited. Her attempt worked, but not the way she hoped it would.
Knowing her family had secrets it would not be wise to let their friends discover, Lacey asked, “How long will you be in town, Laurie?”
“A couple of weeks. Jeff and I are here for the unveiling of our daughter Riley’s new painting at the gallery’s grand opening party Saturday night. That’s the reason I came in. I wanted to look around. I had no idea Quinn’s family was involved with the gallery.”
Randi felt as if she had just been hit by a wrecking ball as she began to put two and two together. Obviously, there’s going to be an unveiling at the grand opening party. Her daughter’s name is Riley. The painting Riley is unveiling is here. Fuck! I didn’t see that coming. Wait until Quinn hears this. Her eyes narrowed at Laurie, and she swallowed hard. “Riley, the artist, is your daughter?”
Laurie smiled and said, “Yes. Do you know her?”
“Um, no, but I’ve heard of her.”
Laurie pointed to her display. “Abstract erotica is her thing.”
Randi looked at the paintings and immediately picked up on something her mother seemed to have missed. Apparently, her mother hadn’t noticed, but it’s obvious to a vampire that most of her subjects are vampires copulating with mortals. In a state of shock, she said, “They’re beautiful.”
“Yes, Jeff and I are very proud of her. I’m sure she’ll want to come with us to Vampyr tomorrow night for After Dark’s show.”
“Great!” said Randi. “I’ll see to it that you’re on the guest list.” What else could she do? They’re old friends. Besides, having them on the guest list gave her a little control. She pulled out her cell phone pretending to have a text message coming across. “I, uh, have to go. I’m needed at Vampyr. I’ll see you all later. It was a pleasure meeting you, Laurie.”
Sex, Blood, Rock 'N' Roll, and Vampyr (The Bloodline Series Book 1) Page 5
