“I’m not your sweetheart.” To my horror, tears filled my eyes. “You’ve moved on. I’m g-g-glad.” I sniffled and wiped my cheeks with a shaky hand. “Oh, run, I’m going to throw up.”
“I’m running.” Rafe hustled me to the unisex bathroom, threw open the door and held me while I barfed up my toenails. When there wasn’t anything left in my stomach, I stood and wobbled over to the sink. Rafe wet a paper towel and I wiped my face. Then he waited patiently for me to rinse out my mouth.
“I’m sorry, Rafe. That was disgusting.” I leaned against the counter, trying to wipe away more of what I was sure was the mess I’d made of my makeup.
“It’s okay. I blame Miguel. What’s the bastard’s last name anyway?” He took the paper towel from me and cleaned off mascara from under my eyes. “There. Can’t have you running around with raccoon eyes.”
“Thanks.” I sighed. “If he has a last name, he hasn’t shared it with me. Where’s my purse?”
“Here.” Miguel stood in the doorway. “And my last name is Cisneros this century. Not that my name will help you in an Internet search. We’re off the grid, all of us, are we not?”
“Yes, sure.” I took my purse and pulled out a hairbrush. I went to work, finding my lipstick and compact too. “But thanks for telling us.”
“We’ll be working together. It’s a courtesy.” He walked away.
“Working together? What the hell does that mean?” Rafe snatched the lipstick out of my hand. “Did you agree to something, Glory? With this guy?”
I pressed a hand to my forehead. Had I? The tequila haze was gone but I had a blank spot from my time with Miguel. I remembered that he’d asked me to check Olympus for his possible parentage. Was that it?
“I don’t know, Rafe. I can’t remember.”
“Are you two through in here? Mortals actually use a bathroom.” Aggie stood in the doorway, tapping her foot. New shoes. Not Manolos but good quality. Miguel was really investing in her. Why? I didn’t trust him. Rafe and I agreed on that.
“Get in here.” I stepped out of the way and Aggie hurried inside.
“Uh, privacy?” She hesitated before she closed the door on my foot.
Rafe and I exchanged glances. I moved so she could shut the door and lock it.
“Humility? I don’t believe it.” He leaned a shoulder against the wall. “Are we waiting for her?”
“Yeah. I want to ask her a few questions.” I dropped my purse on the floor, suddenly too weak to carry it. “I feel like shit.”
“Stay away from tequila. I can’t believe you even went there.” Rafe shook his head. “You think Miguel did some kind of mind control on you? If he did, I’m taking that bastard apart.”
I rubbed my forehead, a memory teasingly close. “He didn’t have to, Rafe. I was just too wrecked to remember. Let’s see what he says. Business. He did ask me to check with Mother about something. That could be all he meant.” I jumped when I heard the lock turn. “Here she comes. Let me handle this.”
“What do you want?” Aggie came out ready for a confrontation. The humility had been a temporary thing.
“What do you have going with Miguel? He buy you that dress, those shoes?” I blocked her with my arm when she started to flounce off without answering. “Spill, Aggie.”
“I don’t owe you any explanations. You tossed me out like so much garbage. If he hadn’t happened along, I’d be sick with pneumonia or worse from exposure. And I don’t heal in my sleep like some people. Yet.” She tried to move around me. Rafe stepped in front of her.
“Answer her, Aggie. Glory took you in when nobody else would. You do owe her. Maybe it’s stupid, but Glory’s worried about you. Miguel’s a dangerous character. And we know he didn’t just ‘happen’ along.” Rafe smiled at me. “Glo’s got a soft heart.”
“More like a soft head. What’s with you, Glory? One minute you’re done with me, now you want to check up on me?” Aggie lifted her chin. “Miguel and I made a deal. I’m his blood donor and he’s loaning me some cash to get started, before I get paid for this gig.” She smoothed down the green wool skirt that matched her sweater. “He even ran out and bought me this to wear tonight. Lucky thing a little boutique was open late. This is new, not used.” Her smirk said what she thought of my shop.
I looked her over. “Yeah, lucky. An expensive boutique that also carried shoes. Just wait till you get the bill.” I wanted to shake her, standing there so clueless. “You have any idea what his interest rates are? He works for one of the worst loan sharks in the paranormal world.”
Aggie smiled, suddenly worldly wise in a way I never would be. “Maybe I’ve got my own way of paying off the interest, Glo.” She laughed when Rafe made a noise which I took for disgust. “Look at her, Rafe. She’s blushing. You forget, Glory, I’m used to trading my body for what I want. It’s no big deal. The man’s hot too. That’s a bonus.”
“Aggie, where’s your self-respect?” I had to say it.
“I can’t afford that kind of high and mighty crap. Besides, Miguel’s going to turn me vampire. His price for that is way more than I can come up with, but somehow I’m going to make it happen.” She tossed her hair, still sure she was a sex symbol. And maybe most men agreed. I didn’t see it.
“Earth to Aggie. Never trust a rogue vampire. You’re over your head here.” I wanted to slap some sense into her. Of course slapping Aggie would be fun anyway. She was getting on my last tequila-soaked nerve, especially when my head ached and her blood smelled like heaven on the hoof.
“Not even close.” Aggie stepped back from me. Obviously she’d learned to recognize the signs of hunger in a vampire. “I’m pretty sure the more I please him, the better deal he’ll give me. Or, here’s a thought, maybe he’ll get carried away some night. Then he’ll have no choice but to turn me. How’s that for a plan?” She smiled, sure of her sexual prowess. And why wouldn’t she be? The woman had thousands of years of experience. My stomach cramped but I was too empty to throw up again.
Rafe had heard enough. “He’d have a choice, you idiot. He could let you die. Sorry if this hurts you, Glory, but I’ve known too many vampires who’d suck her dry and not give a rat’s ass about it.”
“No, you’re right, Rafe. I’ve known plenty like that too. And I have a feeling Miguel is one of them. He has two jobs, Aggie. The other is hit man. He snuffs out life without a qualm. Kind of like you used to do.” I tried to catch Aggie’s eye but she was too smart for that. She’d been mesmerized before and was obviously afraid that was my intention.
“Yeah, well. Maybe that makes him the perfect man for me.” She smiled, completely immune to our warnings.
“Just be careful, Aggie. Being a vampire’s blood slave—and that’s what you are, make no mistake about it—is dangerous. If Miguel accidentally lets you bleed out, he’ll dump you like trash, for real this time.” I let the wall hold me up, truly queasy again.
“Gloriana, you wound me.” Miguel suddenly appeared in the hallway. “I’m very careful with my, as you crudely call them, blood slaves.” His smile was pure predator. “It’s so difficult to find a donor who is healthy, willing and beautiful.” He pulled Aggie to him. “Aggie is exceptional.” He frowned. “Aggie. I do not like this name. It’s ugly. We will pick a new one for her. A stage name. Stay tuned.”
Aggie leaned against him, practically purring. “See? Miguel appreciates me. I can spare a little of my juice and he treats me well. Buys me decent clothes and he has a nice house in the hills. Right, baby?”
Miguel brushed back her hair, then tightened his hand in the strands so that we could see he was exerting pressure. “I am nobody’s baby. Respect, remember?”
“Oh, yeah, sure.” Aggie’s eyes widened and we saw her swallow. “I’m sorry, Miguel. Rehearsal’s over. If I’m going to feed you later, I need to eat now. Okay?” Her voice trembled.
“Fine. Red meat and perhaps a glass of red wine. There’s a nice restaurant down the street that serves a late dinner.” He released her hair, smoothing it down over her shoulder. “Adios, Gloriana, Valdez. I will speak to you tomorrow night, Gloriana, about our deal. We can meet here again, I suppose. These rehearsals continue.” His glance at the practice room made me wonder for how long.
“It’ll have to be late. I have an appointment early in the evening. Make it after midnight.” I saw him nod. Then he pushed Aggie ahead of him down the hall, his hand firmly on her elbow. “I hope Aggie knows what she’s doing.”
“She’s probably happier with him than scrubbing Ian’s toilets. Let it go, Glory.” Rafe pointed toward the practice room. “I think Ray’s ready for you. Sienna’s just come out and is gesturing at us.”
“Oh, right.” I really shouldn’t have tried the tequila. Now I’d have to sing with a raw throat. Plus the liquor was still buzzing around inside my brain and doing cartwheels in my stomach. I hoped I remembered the words to the two songs I’d picked.
Rafe and I passed the band on our way into the practice room. They’d packed up and were heading out. The guys wished me luck and promised to stay for the next rehearsal so they could hear me sing. Sienna grinned and handed me sheet music.
“I love your song choices. Perfect. Especially this last one. This is going to be a Halloween hit! I could even imagine hearing it on the radio.” She hugged me. “Is Blade going to be back by then?”
“I certainly hope so.” I glanced down at the music. “I’m glad the words are here. I’m a little under the weather tonight.”
“You’ll be fine. I wish I could stay but I have a radio interview scheduled. Good thing it was a late night show. I’ll see you at home later.” She waved then left.
