by Megan Hawke
She also had a rather large stock portfolio, so technically Desiree was a millionaire. Heidi's family was filthy rich. Like almost billionaire rich. But none of that money was hers. Her parents were paying her bills, and that was it. Once they discovered she was undead they might cut her off.
After half an hour we changed it all up. Heidi lay on her back in the middle of the bed. I got on all fours and started eating her out. Desiree sat on her face, and she ate out Desiree. Kale started screwing me doggie style, while he and Desiree kissed. It worked better than I thought it would when Desiree suggested it.
And that's how we spent the last half hour of daylight. And then it was time for dinner.
"I gotta go," Desiree said. "Boney will kill me if I'm late again."
"Take my shoes off!" I cried, but she just waved and ran out the door. "What was that? Why doesn't she listen to me?"
"You have no bite in your commands," Heidi said. "She knows you won't do anything to her."
"Dammit."
"What are you going to do to her when she gets back?" Heidi said. She was taunting me. Everyone needed a hobby; tormenting me was Heidi's. I scowled at her. "I didn't think so."
"Kale, can I have a lock on my closet?" I said.
"Sure thing, babe. I'll put it on tonight," he said.
"Can I have a locked closet, too?" Heidi said.
"Sure thing."
"Can I have a key to her closet?" I said. She had really nice clothes, and the best of the best shoes and boots. I had my eye on those Jimmy Choo boots she was wearing.
"You're the boss."
"Damn," Heidi said.
I stood up and stepped up to Heidi. She tensed. I cupped her chin and looked deep into her eyes. Her expression softened. That electrical charge of mutual attraction bound us in the most base way.
"If you really don't want me borrowing your clothes, I won't."
"Good. Don't," she said.
"Bitch."
Heidi grinned and I laughed. Kale shook his head, heading for the door in nothing but a blue terrycloth robe.
"What do you girls want to eat?" Kale said.
"Bacon and eggs. Duh," Heidi said. "I can't get fat, so let's go for it."
While the girls went to our separate bathrooms, Kale headed for the kitchen. I didn't bother with a shower, though most days I did shower. I morphed into a wolf, then back to human. It was the best way to get perfectly clean, but showers and baths were so ingrained in my psyche that I didn't really feel as clean.
After putting on my face, I stared at my closet a long time. What to wear? I had no plans to go to The Crimson Knot, or any other kinky hangout. Were they even open on the night before Thanksgiving? Probably were, since someone told me The Crimson Knot had a Thanksgiving orgy, but I couldn't recall if it was on Thanksgiving night or the next night.
I put on a pair of faded low-rider jeans that made my butt look great. A black Metallica T-shirt caught my eye, so I added a wide black belt to the low-riders, with silver studs. It would all go so well with my black biker jacket. Finally, I stuffed my feet and my pants legs into a pair of lace black calf boots, with a sweet stiletto heel. I really wanted to wear those Jimmy Choo boots of Heidi's, but couldn't ask now that I made a big deal out of Desiree borrowing my shoes.
I strapped myself into a shoulder holster. It was my second best holster, holding the pistol firmly to my side. No bouncing around when I ran. Needless to say, it was a little restricting and more than a little uncomfortable. I took the Glock 31 out of the backpack holster, and shoved it home. If felt comforting, if not good, to have that weight there.
The biker jacket had like a bejillion zippered pockets. I loved it. I started emptying my purse of essentials, and zipping them up in that jacket. A purse I could wear with ease. I loved it.
"Is my blood ready?" I asked as I strode out of the master bedroom. I put on big silver hoops as I walked, paired off with a couple silver Tiffany bangles Heidi gave me.
"Coming up," Kale said.
I heard him punch in the time on the microwave. It didn't take long to heat blood up to ninety-seven degrees. Body temperature. Only way to drink it. Cold blood is yucky.
Heidi was sitting at the kitchen table chowing down on three fried eyes, toast, hash browns, and bacon. Lots of bacon. The girl couldn't get enough bacon. There was a small juice glass with the remnants of her orange juice, and a tall wine flute half full of blood.
Mmmm, made my mouth water.
"I only want one egg and one piece of bacon," I said.
"I'll take her leftovers," Heidi said.
Heidi was all glammed up. Hair was up, and makeup perfect for evening. Her jewelry was exquisite and highly expensive. For Heidi, she was rather conservatively dressed in a pink on blue silk print dress and strappy pink high-heels.
"Do you have a date or something?" I asked, sitting across from her. I considered asking about the Jimmy Choo boots, but didn't.
"Kind of," she said. "My family is getting together tonight for Thanksgiving cocktails."
"Huh?" I said. Who had Thanksgiving cocktails to celebrate the holiday? "Because you can't be there tomorrow for lunch?"
"They don't know," she said, and frowned at me. "No, my parents are leaving for Cabo tonight. We never celebrate Thanksgiving. Not in a traditional way, at least. We've always used the long weekend to visit some exotic, tropical holiday spot. Tonight is our nod at that sacred holiday."
Spending Thanksgiving Day in Cabo San Lucas sounded like a great holiday tradition to me. I've never been out of the country. Heck, I've never even been to the beach at all. That thought kinda depressed me. I have never, and now will never, lay on a beach and get a tan.
Fortunately, Kale arrived with my blood and breakfast. He scraped the other two eggs he fried up for me onto Heidi's plate, along with the hash browns and extra bacon. Her big blue eyes lit up with delight.
"Why are you filling up before going over?" I said.
"They don't serve anything but hor d'oeuvres," she said. "And I can't drink anymore."
Heidi liked alcohol. A lot. I think she missed drinking more than anything. She tried drinking, but one stiff drink put her under the table. I could at least drink two or three before I passed out.
I pulled out my phone and text messaged Dane. I didn't text a lot, but I thought it would be rude to call Dane in front of Heidi. She still had a place in her heart for him. I offered to meet him somewhere, or drive over to his house. He texted back that should I come over to his house.
On the way now, I typed in, and hit send.
Heidi was watching me suspiciously.
Plate clean, blood drank, I rinsed my dishes off and stuck them in the dishwasher. I gave Kale a big, lingering kiss, then gave another to Heidi.
"You are spending Thanksgiving here, right?" I said.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Heidi said. Her eyes twinkled. "Cowboys are playing tomorrow. Wahoo!"
"Cowboys!" Kale cried joyously.
"Great."
"Is Dane coming over?" she said.
"He said he would," I said. "Kale, I don't expect to be back tonight."
"Dane," Heidi said bitterly.
"Gabe," I said. "I'm going to try to get him to join us, too."
"How many people are coming?" Heidi said.
"Well, the four of us in the house. Dane. I hope Gabe. Roger said he'd come," I said, mentally ticking them off. "Sabrina was kinda wishy-washy on it. Desiree invited Boney, but I haven't heard if he accepted or not. If he comes don't be surprised if some of his girls come, too."
"Desiree said Boney was coming, but alone," Kale said. "And her special friend, Brandon, is coming over, too."
Heidi slanted an amused look my way. Brandon tended to moon over me. Between him, Desiree, and Heidi my jewelry box was half full again. Brandon was especially generous, and filthy rich.
"How many turkeys did you order?" Heidi said.
Was she talking about food, or some of my friends and suitors? Heidi
didn't have a very high opinion of either Brandon or Roger.
"Two, and all the fixings," I said. "Is Desiree still picking up my order?"
"Yes. Stop worrying," Kale said. "She's picking it up first thing in the morning. She'll put it all away in the fridge, then go to her mother's house."
Kale didn't have his two kids for Thanksgiving this year. But he would have them for Christmas, which meant all vampires and minions would have to find alternative residences during that time. Desiree was the only other person in my little circle of friends that had family in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Aside from my own family, which were celebrating Thanksgiving at high noon.
I was not invited to the annual Hart family Thanksgiving Day. In fact, my sister Yvette specifically called to say I wasn't invited. Could you uninvited a family member? It was enough to make even a vampire curl up in a ball and cry. Just thinking about it set my heart to racing. Heidi gave me a curious look, probably wondering what set me off. We had a strong psychic link that allowed us to feel what the other felt, unless one or other shut it down. I of course did not burden anyone else with my family problems.
"Y'all have a great time with your families," I said, throat tight. "See you tomorrow night."
I stepped out to find it cold and dreary. Even in the dark I could see those were rain clouds. Extremes in temperature were no concern, but rain messed up my face and hair when riding a motorcycle. And if I wore anything other than latex, it soaked my clothes. Of course I wasn't wearing latex.
"I'm really going to have to start watching the weather reports," I grumbled.
Firing up the ole Ninja, I was off in a flash. There was a lot more late rush hour traffic than I anticipated. As I pulled up to Dane's house, his garage door started to rise. I glanced at the big picture window and he pointed at the garage. Smiling, I rode into the garage and parked.
"Thank you," I said when Dane opened the garage door into the house.
"I know," he said. "I have a lot of Total Jerk time to make up for."
"What?"
"I haven't been as understanding of your trials and tribulations as I could've been," Dane said. "My withdrawal of support and affection, and downright suspicion of you at times, hasn't helped you cope with your new realities. I'm sorry."
I just stood there gawking at him. I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. What had changed? Last night he was cracking jokes about me being undead, now this.
"Are you fixin to stake me or something?"
"Oh Lord no!" he said, laughing as he enfolded me in his arms. He hugged me tight. A hug that lingered, and felt utterly divine. "After first Desiree, then Heidi chastised me, I've been thinking. Thinking hard on my feelings, of what happened to you, to us. I didn't like what I saw in myself, in my reactions and treatment of you."
"Wow. I'm stunned," I said. "But you shouldn't blame yourself. I think you handled it better than most men would. You certainly handled it better than my own parents."
"I should talk to them," he said.
"No! Don't you dare," I said. "They need time, and then I'll speak with them. The holidays might not be the best time to discuss their abomination of an undead daughter."
"Never call yourself an abomination again," he said. "Ever, ever again. Promise."
"I can't – "
"Promise."
"But – "
"No, promise me," he demanded. He was so intent, so resolute. I wavered. "No woman I love could ever be an abomination. You are not an abomination."
"I promise," I whispered.
"How precious," a familiar and very unwelcome voice said.
Mercedes Trudeau and four goons stood just inside the garage door. She was dressed to impress, in a blue halter dress and matching pumps. It occurred to me she could shed those clothes pronto, and then turn into a wolf or wolfwoman. Very practical, and she looked great in them.
The four goons weren't dressed as practically, but less formal than before. Two wore jeans and biker jackets, and the other two wore work slacks and button down shirts under light jackets.
"You should learn to keep your garage door down," I said. "As you can see the dogs will get in and sniff through your trash."
Their eyes all narrowed. One of the goons growled.
"What do you want?" Dane said, a bit more reasonably.
I guess I could've gone that route. Polite cooperation. Not sure it would work with Mercedes.
"Time is running out," Mercedes said. "The boss wants the killer. Now."
"We're almost there," I said. "The week's not up."
"Yes it is," she said. "Tomorrow starts the weekend, so your time is up. Give us the killer, or we start killing."
"It'll go down in history as the Thanksgiving Day Massacre," one of the goons said, and the others snickered. He was a good six foot seven, with a mustache, goatee, and long ponytail. Very sinister looking. "I called dibs on that pretty little sister of yours."
I pulled my pistol. They all smiled.
"That won't kill us," he said.
"Bullshit," I said, and shot him between the eyes. "You're not going to kill anyone, Cujo."
He got an embarrassed look on his face, and then fell straight back. The others scowled at me. It took them a few seconds to realize he wasn't getting back up.
"Silver bullets," I said. "Kills werewolves dead."
One of the biker wolves started towards me, so I shot him in the heart. The remaining three looked at their dead with disbelief. Then they turned hostile, hate filled eyes on me.
"You're going to pay for that, Black Heart," Mercedes snarled. They all froze when I turned the pistol on Mercedes. "If you kill a Trudeau, the whole Family will come after you."
"According to you, the whole Family is coming after me, Dane, my family, and the membership of The Crimson Knot," I said. "I have nothing whatsoever to lose by nailing your ass right here and now."
"I may have misspoken," Mercedes said.
"Killing her will guarantee the Trudeau Family kills everyone," Dane said. It was easy for him to be reasonable. No one was threatening to kill his sister. "I think Mercedes needs to give us through the long Thanksgiving weekend. It's hard to investigate anything when everyone is away on holiday."
The alpha werewolf licked her lips, then bit her lip. She looked torn. I wondered what kind of pressure the Boss was exerting on her. She might be family, but sometimes family was the harshest, most unforgiving taskmaster.
"I've made promises. I'll look bad if I don't produce," she said.
"I'm not happy, either," I said. "A friend of mine was murdered Sunday night because I haven't found the killer yet. I suspect I am unhappier than you by far."
She closed her eyes, clenched her fists, and growled. I glanced at Dane. She was worrying him, too.
"You have the weekend," she said. She looked at the two dead wolves. "You will not go unpunished for killing my wolves. I will have my pound of flesh."
"You mess with me, and you'll end up with a pound of sanctified silver pumped into your fat ass."
"This would be a good time for you to leave," Dane said.
"And take your dead friends with you," I said. "They're bleeding all over Dane's driveway."
Mercedes looked back me. I didn't like the way she looked Dane up and down. It was a hungry look. An "I want to eat you up and have your puppies" look. I could smell her desire.
"You have bad tastes in friends, Dane," Mercedes said. At a signal the other two goons started dragging their dead brethren away. "Vampires can't be trusted. Wolves are renowned for their undying loyalty."
"That coming for a werewolf mobster, from a vampire mafia Family," I said.
"You should let me bite you," she said to Dane. "You'd make a great wolf. I bet you'd be alpha."
"Bet I would shoot you if you bit him," I said. "Think about that, Dog Girl."
"I'm thinking, Black Heart. Thinking about what I'm going to do to you for killing my wolves," she said.
Chapter 11
&nb
sp; We took Dane's Jeep. A light rain kept me off my motorcycle. Mercedes' visit had changed our focus just a bit. We agreed it would be a good idea to find out more about the Trudeau Family. We needed to know more about who we were dealing with.
I needed to speak with Boney. He worked Harry Hines, so that's where we headed. I did try to call him, but his voice mail picked right up. Didn't matter. I knew where he worked, the parking lots and motels he frequented, and even the house where he spent his days. We had all night.
We went west on Loop 635 to Harry Hines. There was no Harry Hines north of Loop 635, just south to downtown. The first major intersection was Royal, and that was where the sleaze factor began. Sweet Hearts was on one corner, and The Crimson Knot on the other. We pulled into Sweet Hearts' parking lot first and cruised through slowly.
I spotted a car like Boney's. It was a charcoal gray Mercedes Benz four door. I'm not good with models. I could feel a woman inside having sex. I didn't feel her lover, so she was with a vampire. Boney was famous for "boning his babes." Keeping hookers happy and hooking.
"Stop," I said. "I think we found him."
It was raining harder than when we started out. The rain quickly started soaking my hair. Hurrying over to the driver's side window, I knocked on it urgently.
"Boney! Boney," I said. "It's Sable."
The window rolled down a few inches. The eyes that peered out were not Boney's. The girl under him was not one of Boney's hookers.
"Oops. Sorry, wrong – Ugh!" I cried, struck hard in the upper belly. Pain lanced through me and I fell to my knees. Looking down, I found the end of a crossbow bolt sticking out of me. "Oh shit."
Was a vampire slayer after me? A lot of slayers used crossbows. The arrowhead on the bolt inside me wasn't blessed silver, but the point of a bolt was to impale the heart on naked wood.
The vampire in the car next to me started his engine and drove straight ahead, going over the curb and racing away amid the squeal of tires and horns. A second later a second bolt hit me, transfixing my throat right to left.
"Shooter over on Northwest corner," I called hoarsely.
My windpipe wasn't damaged, so I could speak somewhat. The pain of naked wood piercing my neck made it a little difficult. Dane didn't hesitate. He hit the gas, raced out of the parking lot and around as I scrambled behind cover. I took the time to pull out the two bolts.
