Real Vampires Get Lucky by Gerry Bartlett Read Free Book Online Page B

practically knocked me back, but I stopped him with a look. "I'm Gloriana St. Clair. I can't tell you how much I rely on Lacy. She's a wonderful asset here." My reward was a snarl. "Sheila Lyons. Devereau is her father's name, which I have never taken."
    "Here we go again." Lacy sent me an apologetic look, then grabbed her mother's arm. "Come on upstairs. You can check me out for any lingering ill effects from the attack. Let me describe the vampire who came after me. I've even got a friend who can e-mail a picture to show you. Maybe you can help me hunt the attacker down."
    Ah. Lacy definitely knew how to handle her mother. That lady was practically vibrating with the urge to take charge of a vamp hunt. I watched them go, then turned to smile at Valdez, who was still snarling.
    "Guess we showed her what's what around here." Valdez sat and scratched behind his ear. "Glad I didn't have to bite her. Were-cats taste like shit. Bet I could have taken her if it came to a smackdown."
    "My money's always on you, puppy. Thanks." I took over the ear scratching. "Just remember that some were-kitties are okay. Especially Lacy."
    "Yeah. Had to admire how she stood up to that mother of hers." Valdez sighed as I went to work on his other ear.
    "And I need her to cover days here. But after this, I wouldn't be surprised if she quit." I looked around the shop. Merchandise had been tossed around in the apparent panic over discovering my bleeding clerk.
    I shut the back door and shoved a table in front of it since the dead bolts were now history. Then I unlocked the front door and posted Valdez next to it in case the attacker decided to make another try. I picked up a vintage cane and wished I had time to whittle it into a point. I'd never staked another vampire, but anyone pushing into my shop with murder on his mind definitely had it coming.
    Customers and the evening rush kept me busy for the next several hours, so it was after midnight when I finally realized Lucky hadn't come downstairs. Damn.
    I picked up my cell phone. The home phone rang until the answering machine picked up. "Lucky! If you're there, please pick up. I'm worried about you."
    A breathless Lucky answered the phone. "I'm fine. You have company. Or I guess I should say we have company. I was on my way downstairs when he was coming up. He says he's a friend of yours."
    "Who's with you, Lucky?" I smiled through my dread as another customer came through the door. Had the vampire who'd attacked Lacy somehow managed to get past our security and up the stairs? And how had he convinced her to stay? My whammy should have made her hell-bent on getting to the shop.
    "Your roommate's brother. Damian?" Lucky said something away from the receiver. "I told him I have to come downstairs, but he said you'd be busy. So he's helping me understand my new, uh, role. As vampire."
    Oh, great. Nothing like a love 'em and leave 'em vampire to initiate Lucky into her new world. Damian was plenty powerful enough to override one of my whammies and he'd be more than willing to give Lucky a demonstration of the perks of vampire sex. Hmm. He did know his way around a bedroom, not to mention a woman's body. I pushed down any residual sizzle and decided to give in to the inevitable.
    "Careful, Lucky. He's not a commitment kind of guy. And you're vulnerable right now. After the shock you've had."
    "Yeah. I am in shock, what with my near-death experience. Damian is helping me feel, um, better." Lucky giggled. Oh, boy. I was not walking in on Casanova and Lucky doing the bedroom bossa nova.
    "Put Damian on the phone."
    "Gloriana." Damian had a way of rolling his Rs . . . "I am so proud of you. You made a new vampire!"
    "Yeah, well, I didn't have much choice."
    "Yes, you did, cara . You could have left her to die. Which would have been such a waste of a beautiful woman." I heard Lucky giggle again. Gag me. A customer stopped in front of me, a question in her eyes. "I've got to go. I'll be home just before