Sucker Punch: A Paranormal Women's Fiction Novel (First Fangs Club Book 3)

by Painter, Kristen

  “Point taken. Still, I worry it would bring a new element out of the woodwork. Those interested in finding out exactly how you’re able to daywalk.”

  “Do you think we’re not equipped to handle that?”

  He seemed to weigh that. “I’m sure we could. I think. Temo would have to be the final word on that.”

  “Well, that’s what I want to discuss. The pros and cons. What everyone thinks about it. Because this decision definitely affects all of us.”

  “Have you talked to Cammie about it?”

  “Yes. I’ve asked her to set up a meeting for me with the Venari so I can talk to them about it. I figure being proactive would be a step in the right direction.” She ran her finger down the crease in the menu. “Have you ever heard of a vampire who could daywalk?”

  “Just the legend about the Viking shield maiden. My brother used to talk about how lucky she was.”

  Donna nodded. “You miss him, don’t you?”

  “I do. But it’s gotten easier since I’ve come to work for you.”

  She smiled. “That’s kind of you to say.”

  He turned in his seat to face her a little more. “Are you and Kace going to start dating?”

  She laughed. “That came out of nowhere.”

  He shrugged. “I know he likes you. I wouldn’t be surprised if you were attracted to him. He’s young and handsome and well built. I’m not blind.”

  “There are no plans for any such relationship. Although I think he’d be okay with it.”

  “He’d be an idiot if he wasn’t. You’re the hottest woman he’s ever seen, that’s for sure.”

  She snorted as she shook her head. “I don’t know about that, but you are so good for my ego.” She put her hand on his arm. “Will you come with me to the funeral tomorrow morning? For the fallen wolf?”

  “I’d be honored.” He narrowed his eyes. “Is that why you want to announce your ability? So you can attend without questions?”

  “No. I want to do it because of what I told you. I’m tired of hiding it, and I’d like to make my enemies think twice. But I wouldn’t announce it before the funeral anyway. That would draw too much attention to myself, and it needs to be about the fallen hero. Besides, they’re all under the impression that I used a potion by Jerabeth to keep me safe during the raid. I’ve already hinted to LV I’d be using it again. No reason they can’t keep thinking that’s what’s making me immune.”

  “That works.” He patted her hand, then picked up a menu. “If I order now, we could all eat together in the conference room. And then have our pie with the movie.”

  “I’m in. I’ll go see what Charlie wants to eat.”

  Pierce was right. The food came about the time everyone was sitting down. He and Charlie passed everything out. Neo had joined them, arriving a few minutes before Temo, but smelling very much like his cologne, which probably meant she’d gone to see him first.

  Or had already been downstairs, as Donna had suspected.

  Either way, it didn’t matter. Donna liked them as a couple very much. And if being closer to Temo meant Neo moved to New Jersey, Donna heartily approved.

  She let everyone eat for a few minutes and get the small talk out of their systems.

  When the food was mostly gone, she dunked a French fry in ketchup, ate it, then looked at her friends gathered around the table. Neo, Temo, Charlie, Pierce, and Cammie, plus Jerabeth via a laptop. “Thank you all for joining me.”

  “Thanks for dinner,” Temo said.

  She smiled. “You’re welcome. I appreciate all of you very much. And I am so grateful you all came through the raid on the fae safely.”

  “You too,” Neo said. “I would have had to waste a lot more of them if they took my girl out.”

  Donna laughed. “Thank you for having my back.”

  “You know it.”

  She took a moment, her thoughts focusing on the reason she’d called them there. “I have something on my mind. Something I want to discuss. And I’d like your honest opinion, so please don’t hold back. Understood?”

  Everyone nodded, expressions ranging from serious to curious.

  “Neo, everyone else knows this already, but I’ve been keeping a pretty significant secret. I trust that you’ll help me keep that secret, should this conversation not go as planned.”

  She crossed her heart. “Until I turn to dust.”

  “Thank you.” Donna knew Neo meant that. She’d become a good friend and a valuable asset. “Shortly after I was turned, I discovered I am immune to the sun.”

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Neo’s mouth fell open. “Are you for real?”

  Donna nodded at her friend. “Yes. I understand it’s an extremely rare occurrence, although not unheard of. But sharing that secret with all of you isn’t really why I asked you here. What I really want to talk about is making that secret public. I’m tired of having to hide it. I’m tired of a lot of things.”

  Charlie nodded. “You’ve had a heavier burden to bear than any new governor in a long time.”

  Temo nodded. “For sure.”

  “That’s all part of why I want to reveal this,” Donna continued. “My hope is that knowing about my ability would make my enemies think long and hard about coming after me. But I understand it would also likely make me a target and thereby put you all in that line of fire. So I want your opinion on whether I should do it.”

  They all just stared at her for a moment.

  Pierce spoke first. “I worry about you becoming a target. But I’ve seen what you’re capable of. And I support whatever decision you make. There’s a part of me that thinks it would absolutely make someone think twice about coming after you.”

  Temo nodded. “I feel the same way, boss. And if we need to bump up security, we will.”

  “Do it,” Neo said. “Who’s going to come after a daywalker? No one with a brain, that’s for sure.”

  “You don’t think it’ll cause problems?” Donna asked.

  Neo nodded slowly. “Is there any decision in life that doesn’t make someone unhappy? Blowback happens. Doesn’t mean anyone will act on it. Plus, people know you’re not alone. They know you have a killer team around you.”

  “Yeah, they do,” Temo said as he popped a fry in his mouth.

  On-screen, Jerabeth raised her hand. “Governor, would you rather tell people that I’ve come up with some kind of permanent spell that allows you to daywalk?”

  “Thank you for the offer, but no. I fear that would only make you the focus for other vampires who’d want you to re-create it for them. And there’s no need for you to be in danger.”

  She nodded. “I should have thought of that.”

  Cammie hadn’t touched her food since Donna had started talking. “I was against this initially, but I’ve been thinking. It absolutely could work in your favor. Consider this. If I was a vampire, and another of my kind came out as a daywalker, I would definitely consider them more powerful than I was. And that would make me wonder what else they were capable of.”

  Neo nodded. “She’s right. I mean, if you’re bold enough to reveal that, what haven’t you talked about? What else you got up your sleeve? Know what I mean?”

  “I do,” Donna said. “I’d like to think others would see it that way too.”

  Cammie’s eyes narrowed slightly. “How would you make the announcement?”

  Donna glanced from her sister to Charlie. “I guess sending out a press release on the governors’ loop would be the best way.”

  Charlie finished the bite of cheesesteak she’d taken. “An official notice would be the easiest. After that, the entire vampire world—and probably most of the supernatural one—would know within twenty-four hours. Probably less. News like that will travel like wildfire.”

  “Okay, then that’s how we’ll do it.” Donna looked around the table again. “Anyone opposed?”

  Temo shook his head. “If you’re good, so am I. When are you going to do this?”

 
; “Soon. But not before the funeral tomorrow. I don’t want to draw attention from the man being buried. For now, I’m just letting the wolves think I’m using the same potion Jerabeth provided me with to get through the raid. I may tell LV and Toni in private, if the opportunity arises, but I’m not making an issue of it.”

  “Smart,” Pierce said.

  “I also want Neo to see if she can hack into the Venari’s database and find info on any other daywalkers that might have existed.”

  Neo’s brows shot up, and she looked at Cammie. “You approved this?”

  Cammie snorted. “Of course not, but I’m not Venari anymore. And Donna can make her own decisions. She is the governor, after all.”

  “True.” Neo shrugged. “I’m not confident I’ll be able to get through their security.”

  “You won’t,” Cammie said.

  Neo wiggled her brows. “You don’t know my skills.”

  Cammie laughed softly as she shrugged one shoulder. “I know Venari security. You won’t be the first to try. And fail.”

  “Any tips?”

  “No, sorry, that wasn’t my department. I was never even issued a passcode.”

  Donna interjected. “I’d just like to know more about other daywalkers. From any source. Specifically, what happened to them after the information became known.”

  “You mean,” Temo started, “if they had problems with other vampires because of it.”

  “In a nutshell, yes.” Donna didn’t want to share her secret if every daywalker before her had died a horrible death at the hands of a jealous rival. Or the Venari.

  Neo wiped her hands on a napkin. “I’ll start on that tonight.”

  “I can ask around,” Temo said. “See if any of my sources have heard anything. Don’t worry, I’ll keep things on the DL.”

  “Thank you.” Donna took a sip of her water.

  Charlie folded up the paper her cheesesteak had been wrapped in. “We can start drafting the letter tonight.”

  “You know what?” Donna gave a little shake of her head. “No to any work being done tonight. Tomorrow is soon enough. Tonight, I want to veg out in front of a good movie and have a slice of that pie Pierce ordered. Maybe two. I need to not think about all of this for a while. I’m hoping you’ll all join me. I’d certainly enjoy the evening more with your company, and we could all use a distraction.”

  Jerabeth laughed. “I should have driven back.”

  “I’m in.” Neo looked at Temo.

  He smiled back. “Yeah, me too.”

  Shocker. Donna smiled. “Cammie?”

  A little reluctantly, her sister nodded. “Okay.”

  It had to be hard for her to go from the austere, focused life she’d known to living in a penthouse with a crew of supernaturals. Hopefully, the transition wouldn’t be too difficult for too long. Cammie deserved to be happy. In whatever way that meant.

  Charlie’s phone chimed. She ignored it. “Sorry. Just an incoming email. I meant to put it on silent.”

  Donna looked at her. “It’s okay if you want to check it.”

  “I’m sure it’s nothing important.” Charlie glanced at the screen. And kept staring. Then she picked up the phone and tapped it. A low groan emanated out of her. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  “What now?” Donna asked. “Are zombies arising from their graves? Because it’s probably about time.”

  Charlie swallowed. “Fitzhugh has just sent a letter of his own to the governors’ loop.”

  Donna braced herself. “And?”

  Everyone around the table was silent.

  “That power-hungry idiot.” Charlie looked up. “He’s claiming you’re responsible for the death of Queen Artemis. He’s calling on the council to investigate. Which they’d do anyway. The death of a queen isn’t a small matter. But he’s pushing it.”

  Donna quelled the urge to curse. Or flip the table.

  Pierce did the cursing for her. He pushed back from the table with such force that his chair fell over. “That’s enough. I’m not going to stand for this. It’s one thing to come after me for something I actually did, but to make up lies about you? No. He needs to be stopped.”

  Donna felt the same, but those were easy words to speak. “I’m not arguing with that, but how exactly do you propose we do that? And honestly, my actions did set things in motion.”

  Charlie sighed. “There will be a council hearing. There’s no way around it. And Pierce won’t be able to represent you, because he’s already involved in a dispute.”

  “Fitzhugh is a no-account scrub with a big feeling about himself.” Neo was practically twitching with anger. “I’m done being one of his constituents. I’m moving to Jersey. And I’ll tell you what else I’m doing. I’ll hang with you for the movie, but I’m also going to work tonight on hacking into a different computer. His. I’m gonna get some dirt on him. He wants to fight dirty? Fine with me. I grew up on the street. No one knows how to play dirtier than me.”

  “Neo, as much as I appreciate that, hacking into his system is illegal. Let’s table that for now. I don’t need another charge brought against me.”

  “Okay.” Neo’s voice held some reluctance. “But if you change your mind…”

  “I’ll give you the word.” Donna appreciated the enthusiasm, but Fitzhugh’s public accusation stung. She was furious and hurt and on the verge of snapping. Slowly, she got up from the table. “I need a minute.”

  She walked out, leaving them stunned and silent, but they erupted in conversation before the door had closed.

  She went straight to the balcony and stepped outside into the bitter night air. Her gaze fixed on the cityscape across the river. How could something so beautiful be under the care of a man as ugly as Fitzhugh?

  Why did he hate her so much? Was this all because she refused to treat him like a god among men? Because she’d rejected his offers? What was his problem?

  She didn’t know. But this continued animosity was going to make it impossible for her to go forward.

  Something had to change. Fitzhugh had to change. But how? She ran both hands through her hair, stopping about halfway to massage her scalp. No answer came.

  “You’ve dealt with men like him before.”

  She glanced over her shoulder at her sister. She was standing by the open slider, looking chilly.

  Cammie pulled her cardigan a little tighter. “Joe. Big Tony. Every lunk that ever traipsed through your house expecting you to make him a sandwich and bring him a beer. You handled all of them.” She smirked. “And once you did, they knew better than to try anything with you again.”

  That wasn’t entirely true. They hadn’t really all expected her to make them a sandwich. But Donna understood what Cammie was saying. “This is a little different.”

  “How? Because he’s a vampire? So are you. Because he’s a governor? So are you. On top of that, you’re a mother and a survivor. What’s he ever done besides boss people around?” She shook her head. “He’s playing head games with you, Donna. That’s Mafia 101 right there. You need to get in the action, or you’re going to lose.”

  “You’re not wrong. But how do I do that?” Right now, the only idea she could come up with was putting a stake through his heart, and while effective, there would undoubtedly be repercussions. Killing your political rivals, even if they were jerks, wasn’t approved behavior. Which was probably to her benefit considering Fitzhugh’s attitude toward her. “Without involving the council any more than they already are?”

  Cammie smiled like Donna hadn’t seen her smile since she’d arrived. “Well, you have a vampire hunter living with you…”

  Donna came back inside so her sister wouldn’t freeze to death. She pulled the slider shut. “I’m listening. What are you proposing?”

  Cammie’s eyes narrowed, gleaming with a curious light. “Let me pay him a visit.”

  “To do what?”

  She lifted one shoulder nonchalantly. “Have a little chat with him.”

 
; “Yeah, I don’t think that’s a good idea. He’s a vampire, Cammie. You’re human. I know you have a sword and a crossbow and some great armor, but you’d need it. He’s not going to want to chat with you, and I don’t want to have to avenge your death. Plus, if anything happened to you, it would kill me. Not to mention the kids would be inconsolable.”

  Cammie frowned. “Do you have any idea how many vampires I’ve confronted? I may be human, but I’ve been anointed by the church. Just because the Venari kicked me out doesn’t mean I’ve lost my powers, my protection, or my skills.”

  “What kinds of powers and skills? What kind of protection? Don’t you normally do your hunting in a group?” Donna knew her sister meant well, but what could she really do alone? What had she done at the raid? Donna hadn’t seen much of her after she’d arrived.

  Cammie poked Donna in the shoulder. “You don’t need to know specifics. Just that I do. And nothing will happen to me. Especially because he’ll think I’m still Venari. Trust me, a little warning that the Venari are watching him, and he’ll straighten right up. Besides, he doesn’t know that I’m your sister.”

  Donna thought it over. Cammie did look pretty impressive in her gear. “I don’t know…”

  Cammie leaned in. “How about if you go with me? Not to the actual meeting, but you can watch from a safe distance. That sort of thing. Just so long as he doesn’t know you’re there. I don’t want to risk him figuring out we’re related.”

  “Okay, the invite makes it tempting.” Donna chewed on her bottom lip. “You really think this would work?”

  “Ask Neo what she’d do if a member of the Venari showed up on her doorstep and told her she was being monitored.”

  “Pretty sure Neo would attack them with her drone. But that’s a good idea. Let’s get Pierce’s opinion. He’s a little more levelheaded and has been around vampires a lot.”

  He walked into the kitchen behind them, hands up apologetically. “I wasn’t eavesdropping, but I heard my name. I can go.”

  She didn’t really care if he had been listening. “No, stay. I need to know something. If you were a vampire and Cammie showed up at your door in full Venari regalia and told you to chill or be permanently put on ice, what would your reaction be?”