“Sorry, Dad. Since I got here, you’ve been nice, but even though I’m your one and only child, you haven’t offered me an allowance or a place of my own. I had to look out for myself. So I decided we should take the cash and split. What did we care what happened to that body anyway?”

“Yeah, I remember now.” Drac took a long draw from his bottle of B-sotted. “Man, that’s fine. Oooh, baby.” He grabbed Lily’s hands and pulled her close. “We’re gonna have to find Damian’s love shack soon. I’m hard and hurtin’.” He laid a kiss on her that was triple X-rated, his hand moving up her thigh.

Damian rolled his eyes at me. “Young vampires. No manners. Blade, your daughter is lovely, but the company she keeps ...”

“I couldn’t agree more.” Jerry took another hit from his bottle and put his hand on my hip as if to show he wasn’t just Lily’s old man, but in need of a love shack too. “But I can’t believe you couldn’t handle this one simple task, Lily. Why the hell did you palm it off on a stranger? You had to know this was important to me.”

“To me too.” I swatted Jerry’s hand away. “Who was this man? You don’t know where he took Westwood’s body? Of all the irresponsible, stupid . . .” My great plan was slipping away just like Lily and Drac were toward the French doors that led outside. “Where are you going?” My voice was nearing screech level.

“Let them go, sweet thing. They are lucky enough to have each other. We didn’t know the guy or care. Like Lily said, the girl needed cash. The price was right. You took off in a tearing hurry, now didn’t you? If it was so important, why didn’t you stay around and see to it yourself? Eh?” Luke looked me over.

“I should have. Valdez and Ray made me leave, and I was shook up. In shock, really. I don’t go around plugging men with crossbows every day.” I took another gulp of the synthetic and appreciated the heat of it going down. “We should have stayed and handled it ourselves. Jerry, you weren’t even there. You met us at the car.”

“I didn’t want to leave you either. That’s why I delegated. Obviously to the wrong people.” He glared at his daughter and Drac, making out by the glass doors.

Luke smiled at me. “That’s old news. Glory, don’t suppose I could interest you in a little two on one with Benny and me.”

Blade had Luke up and off the couch in a heartbeat, glass crunching under his leather boots. “The lady is spoken for. You and Benny satisfy each other. I’m sure that’s your usual way.”

“Hey, man, chill.” Luke blew him a kiss from his landing spot on the floor next to the wall. “Benny and me swing either way. No problem. And if you want to join in, I’ll take on a hairy Scot, though Glory’d be my first choice.”

Lily giggled and stopped at the glass doors. “You’re propositioning my dad? I’d pay money to see that video.”

“Is there even one of you that has something useful to say?” I wanted to scream with frustration. Just when I thought we’d found a solution to our problem, we’d entered the twilight zone and I was surrounded by pod people.

“Maybe this’ll help. The guy with the cash was a dealer. Gave us some of that cool drug. Vampire Viagra.” Luke grinned at me. “Oh, look at you, Gloriana. I can see it in your eyes. You’ve tried it. So you know what I’m talkin’ about, sweet thing. Good stuff, isn’t it?”

“No comment.” I flinched when I felt a hand on my shoulder, relaxing when I realized it was Damian beside me.

“It must have been an Energy Vampire, then, who took Westwood’s body. Don’t know why you want a pile of bones, but you’ll have to deal with the EVs to get the information you need. Maybe Lily will give Blade a description of this dealer.” Damian nodded toward where Jerry was talking to his daughter.

Vamp hearing let me know it wasn’t that night he was asking about. No, the allowance comment had struck a nerve, and he was offering to support her if she’d find a better set of friends. That was met with a string of profanities, and Lily jerked Drac outside to Damian’s gazebo a.k.a. love shack.

I turned to Damian. “Well, no help from those two.”

“Why do you want Westwood’s body?” Damian took a swallow of his drink and looked around the room. “Never mind. Tell me later. Right now I need to call my own woman. These thugs are right. The drinks are an aphrodisiac. And I figure Blade would cut out my heart if I made a move on you, Glory.”

“Damned right.” Jerry slung his arm around me. He finished his bottle of Blott-O and slammed the empty down on a table. “One lead. I guess that’s more than we might have gotten from this bunch.”

“Yes.” I walked up to Luke, who was arguing with Benny about whether to leave or call some women they knew to come over.

“Luke, Benny. Focus a minute.”

They stared at me, their smiles making it clear they’d taken my command as an invitation. Benny held out his arms.

“Knew you couldn’t resist the two of us. Come closer, darling. We’ve got some Vamp Viagra if that works for you.” Benny blinked, like focusing was beyond him. I could relate. I’d drained my bottle of hooch, and though it had been delicious, I was a little woozy myself.

I stayed out of reach. “What did this drug dealer look like? The guy who took Westwood’s body?”

“That was months ago.” Benny leaned against Luke. “Tall? Kind of hot, I guess. Give us a kiss, Glory, and I might remember more.”

“Not a chance. Luke? You remember anything else?”

“Benny’s right. He was hot. I wouldn’t kick him out of bed.” Luke’s grin was sexy and knowing.

“You wouldn’t kick a were-hyena out of bed, you horn-dog.” Benny collapsed against the sofa cushions, laughing so hard he choked.

“Stupid sod.” Luke pounded him on the back. “Glory needs our help.” He looked at me, suddenly almost sober. “He was blond, blue-eyed and, oh, yeah, had a sweet ass.” He grinned and opened his phone. “Here, call him. I’ve got him on speed dial.”

I realized my mouth had dropped open. “Are you kidding me?” I grabbed the phone and heard ringing then the voice mail for Greg Kaplan. Well, well. I left a message for him to call me, then handed Luke his phone.

He grinned and slipped it into his pocket. “Now you owe me.”

Jerry stepped between us. “We’ll keep that in mind. Come on, Gloriana. Let’s get the hell out of here.”

“Yes. Thanks, Luke. I do owe you.” I didn’t wait around to play any more verbal games, just followed Jerry to the door. “Much as I hate the thought, looks like we’ll have to meet with Greg Kaplan. I’m doing business with him anyway. Maybe Greg will tell me where he dumped Westwood’s body.”

“I hate for you to deal with one of those devils too. But Kaplan will tell you what you need to know if I have to beat it out of him.” Jerry ran his hand through his hair. “Damned drink. Right now all I can think about is getting you naked.”

“Naked sounds good. Race you to the car.” I slipped out of his grasp and hit the door. We were in the car in seconds and speeding toward Jerry’s house again. I felt guilty for abandoning the shop again, but not much. And I hadn’t checked in with Rafe. He deserved to know what was going on after worrying about me. First thing tomorrow. Flo too. Then Jerry had his hand inside my pants, and I felt obliged to do the same for him. One thing led to another, and we were doing the wild thing in his car inside the garage.

Forget the kitchen. This time we made it to the den and the leather sofa in front of the fireplace. Ridiculous to keep using artificial stimulants. We’d gone centuries without them. But I had to say the extra boost added a new level to our lovemaking. It had certainly cut out the need for small talk this go-round.

I climaxed for the fourth time and lay atop Jerry, listening to his heart beat. “You’re incredible.”

“Back at you.”

We both jumped when we heard the back door open. Jerry grabbed a furry brown throw and tossed it over us.

“Lily!” I sat up and covered both of us reasonably decently.

“I took your advice, Dad. I dumped Drac, and I’m moving in.” Lily dropped a bulging leather bag on the floor and grinned. “Guess you’ll have to move your action to the bedroom from now on unless you like an audience.” She yawned. “We can work out those details tomorrow. See you in the evening.” She picked up the bag and headed for the stairs. “Usual room? Down the hall from yours?”

“Sure.” Jerry shook his head. Poor Jerry. He hadn’t even known he had a daughter until a few months ago. Now she’d be living with him. And taking an allowance since that had obviously sealed the deal.

I kissed his cheek. “Buck up, old man. You’ll do fine. The girl needs guidance. Obviously she’s never seen how a decent man goes on. Look at the company she’s been keeping.”

“Trash.” Jerry’s jaw tightened.

“Exactly. So you’ll show her how it should be.” I stood and held out my hand. “Dawn’s coming. Let’s to bed.”

“Aye. You’ve fair worn me out.” Jerry yawned and lifted me up in his arms. “Well worth the effort, lass.”

“I hope I always will be.” I leaned against him as he walked up the stairs.

Eight

“I’m fine. Quit worrying, Jerry. Rafe will be here any minute. You take care of your business, and I’ll take care of mine.” I ended the call and concentrated on writing out payroll checks. My business needed attention, and if I didn’t pay my clerks on time, I wouldn’t have a business. I’d just signed the last one, wincing at how low that left my bank account, when there was a knock on the back door. I knew with a sniff that it was Rafe. I threw the double dead bolts and let him in.