"Quit giving me that look, like I was the bloodsucker." Lucky looked down into her boot.
"If you've got any more weapons, I didn't find them." I ignored the dirty look she gave me. "I'm not stupid, Lucky. I had to bring a stranger upstairs, to save her life, but I thought I'd disarmed you. If you keep giving me attitude, you can just head out and let your money-lending family take care of you. I'm sure one of their vamp clients would help you get used to your new status. Especially if taking you on could work off some debt."
"Hey, now who's got attitude? We provide a service. My family's been dealing honorably with the paranormal community for decades. My grandfather started the business and my father took over from him. I'm just a . . ." She looked down at her hands twisting in her lap. "An enforcer-I collect from delinquent accounts." She looked up, chin high. "I have an almost one hundred percent success rate too."
"Wow, impressive." I'd saved a damned loan shark. No, make that an enforcer for a loan shark. That explained the knives anyway. And the bodyguard. I had to admit she was right about one thing. When you live a nontraditional life, getting traditional financing can be a bitch.
She looked me dead in the eye. "I'm not ashamed of what I do. Someday I'll head the company."
"Good for you. But after last night, you won't be able to keep regular daytime office hours. Of course if you're used to doing business in alleys at three in the morning, maybe that won't be a problem. I'd double the guard though."
"I'll never see daylight again?" Some of the starch went out of Lucky and she collapsed. "No food. No reflection. You didn't save me, damn it, you ruined my life."
"Sorry about that. Next time I see a dying mortal, I'll just walk on by. Valdez and I never did get to put up the Christmas lights." I dug my cell phone out of my purse. "I'm supposed to indoctrinate you, so to speak. Help you get used to the life. But if we've got a personality conflict . . ."
"Hey! You can't just send me out there alone!" Lucky's eyes filled and she sniffed. "You did this to me, you have to help me figure things out."
"This is exactly why I never turned anyone before." I sighed and called the shop. "I hope my day help can stay late, because bringing you up to speed will take a while." The long list of "don'ts" ran through my mind. Don't go out in daylight. Don't try to eat. I could tell her horror stories about me and Cheetos. Don't bite humans unless you wipe out their memory. Hmm. I could wipe Lucky's memory and . . . Naw. I knew my duty. Unfortunately.
"Looks like we're going to be stuck with her for a while." Valdez had read my mind, of course. I rubbed his silky ears.
"Yep, she's got a lot to learn." The phone in the shop was ringing. And ringing. When nobody answered after ten rings, I jumped up and headed for the bathroom. Either they were really busy down there or something was wrong.
"Trouble?" Valdez stopped by the bathroom door.
I stopped and looked back at Lucky. She'd finished her Fangtastic and was busy trying to rub out the bloodstain on her boot.
"Yeah, trouble."
Four
"Come on, Lucky. Decide. Either come down with me or stay up here. Take a shower. Raid my roommate's closet." Did I have a death wish? Nobody raided Flo's closet. And she still hadn't come home, something I'd worry about later. "She's about your size. And she has great shoes." Hey, I was desperate.
Lucky sat slumped on the couch. In the same position she'd been in when I'd hit the shower. I was desperate to get downstairs and check on things. I'd called twice more and still no answer.
"Go. I'll stay here." She picked up her purse and pulled out her cell phone and flipped it open. "Oh, God."
"What?"
"My father's called six times. I didn't check in. If I don't report by . . ." She glanced at her wrist. "Shit. My Rolex is gone. Doesn't matter anyway. I've got to call right now or Daddy will send his goons to check on me."
"Goons?" I didn't have time for this. But if an invasion was imminent . . .
Lucky wasn't listening to me. She'd obviously hit speed dial.
"Dad, it's me. I'm, uh, okay." She put a shaking hand over her eyes and sobbed, then handed me the phone. Oh, swell. I cleared my throat. "Hello?"
"Who the hell is this? Why's my baby girl crying?"
"I'm Gloriana St. Clair, uh, Lucky's new friend." I tried to hand the phone back to Lucky but she slapped it away.
"Listen, lady, put Luciana back on. Now."
"She's a little upset, sir." Hey, this guy sounded like a "sir." "She had a near miss last night."
"Near miss? What the hell does that mean?"
"I'll let her tell you." I dropped the phone in Lucky's lap and ran into my room to get my shoes and purse. I could hear Lucky talking and crying. By the time I got back to the living room, she was sniffling and held out the phone again.
"Daddy wants to talk to you."
"I don't have time. I've got-"
"Goons on your doorstep?" Lucky stuck the phone in my hand. "Talk to him. He's, uh, grateful." A grateful loan shark. Okay, I guess I could spare a moment. "Hello, this is Gloriana."
"You got any idea who tried to take my girl out?"
Hmm. Cut to the chase, why don't you? "No, we didn't see anyone. And Lucky's bodyguard is missing. Maybe-"
"Don't make sense. Brittany's been with us for years."
"Well, sir . . ."
"Call me Carl. You did good, little lady. Sure, having a vampire daughter ain't my notion of a swell time, but we'll figure it out. I want to repay you. Anything you want." The man coughed. "Within reason, of course. Just tell Lucky what you want."
"That's very kind of you." I saw Lucky pull a tissue out of her purse and wipe her eyes. "There is one thing Lucky has . . ."
"Put her on. I'll make sure she gives it to you. And, little lady?"
"Yes?" I couldn't stop grinning. Maybe saving someone would actually pay off.
"You spread the word. There's a million cash for whoever finds the asshole who tried to take my little girl out."
"A million. Dollars?" Visions of financial freedom made the room spin.
"You bet. Put Luciana back on the phone. And thanks."
"You're welcome." I handed the phone to Lucky.
"Glory, we've got to go." Valdez dropped his leash at my feet. "I've got to go ."
"One more minute."
Lucky snapped her phone shut, her face pale again. "He said to give you whatever you want. As a reward." She saw my gaze move to the object of my desire. "No! Please! You have no idea how many months I waited to get this. I had to bribe the salesclerk." She snatched up her purse and clutched it to her chest.
"Sorry, Lucky. But immortality comes with a price." I stalked to the kitchen and pulled out a plastic garbage sack. "Here, you can use this for your stuff." I dropped it next to her. "Have it ready for me when I come back." I almost skipped to the door, Valdez on my heels. My own Birkin bag. Sweet.
"Can't I just write you a check?" Lucky pulled out a leather checkbook.
"Nope. Taking cash for turning you vampire would seem kind of, umm, sleazy. But I'll accept a token of your gratitude." I ignored Lucky's grumbling as I walked to the door. "Come straight down to the shop when you're dressed. No wandering off."
"Maybe I should take a look around. Whoever attacked me thinks I'm dead. And Brittany's missing." Lucky had a speculative look I didn't like. "Got a stake handy?"
I grabbed her hand and squeezed hard enough to make her look at me.
"What? Ouch, you've got a grip like a linebacker." She jerked her hand free. "And trust me, I've been gripped by more than a few." Trust her? Not on your life. Especially not with a stake. I looked into Lucky's eyes and put the whammy to work. "Listen to me, Lucky. You are to come straight downstairs. My shop is right outside the door." I told her the code to get the door open.
"You are not to tell anyone you're a vampire until we've had time to go over the ground rules. Nod your head if you understand what I'm saying." She nodded, obviously unable to do anything else. God, I love the whammy. Maybe I'd hold off teaching her that particular vamp trick. I released her and told her to snap out of it.
"I'll change and come downstairs. You say I can raid your roommate's closet?"
"For now. When you come down, maybe we can find you a few things to wear in the shop. Unless you brought luggage."
"No, I was flying in and flying out. There's a makeup bag in my rental car downstairs. I don't suppose . . ."
"Use my makeup for now. I've got to go."
Lucky got up and sighed. "I don't know how the hell I'm supposed to do makeup without a mirror." She wrinkled her nose when she spied the blood-soaked coat I'd stuffed into a plastic garbage bag the night before. "Why don't you dump that thing on your way out?"
"Let's give a dry cleaner a shot at it first."
She shuddered. "I'll never wear it again. Toss it."
I picked up the bag and carried it to the door. If I could get it clean, it was perfect to sell in the shop. Oh, hell, the shop. What was going on down there?
"Fine." I opened the door. "Valdez stays with me. I'm worried about what might be going on down at the store."
"Go. I can take care of myself." Lucky headed down the hall toward Flo's room. I bit my tongue before I made a snarky comment. Take care of herself? I don't think so. If I hadn't stumbled across her, she'd be in the morgue downtown right now. My cell rang when I was halfway down the stairs. Caller ID told me Jerry was checking up on me.
