"Sounds fascinating." Penny grinned at Nathan.
I grabbed Penny by the shoulders and looked her dead in the eyes. "Stay the hell away from him."
"Make me." Penny jerked free, snatched up her cat, who'd finally come out from under the bed, and ran for her bedroom.
I flopped on the couch next to Nate. "You see what I'm up against?"
"Wait till you see what Ray's doing. Penny's just a kid acting out." Nate looked tired and worried. "Come tomorrow night. Last performance before the band breaks for vacation. A venue out at Zilker Park. General admission. I really didn't want them to do it but Ray insisted. He likes Austin. Plans to stay here to cut the album so he wanted to give back." Nate shook his head. "Ticket prices were ridiculously cheap. It'll be a mob scene."
"I'll be there, though I'm not sure what I can do to help." I leaned back and glanced toward where I could hear scratching at Penny's bedroom door. Obviously Boogie wasn't happy being shut in. "Sometimes people need to make their own mistakes."
"Thanks, Glory. If there's anything I can do for you, just let me know." Nate yawned, obviously exhausted.
I leaned against him and inhaled, telling myself I was never going to drink from this mortal no matter how delicious he smelled. I got up, grabbed my bottle of synthetic and chugged it.
"Just leave before you become my late-night snack." I pulled him up and walked him to the door.
Nate grinned and kissed my cheek. "You wouldn't. Though you're more than welcome. Have to tell you though." He lost his grin and shuddered. "The truth is, I knew Ray was losing it when he threw me down and drank from me last night." He winced when I gripped his hand and let my horror show. "Yep, his best bud. Luckily one of the shifters I'd hired to watch him ran in and wrestled him off me or I'd be dead, drained dry." Tears sheened his dark eyes. "I had to be driven to the hospital for a transfusion, Glory. I was that far gone. We had a hell of a time arranging that too. Fortunately, I know a doctor . . ." He shrugged, trying to go for casual, and failing. "I'm scared, Glory. For Ray, for our friendship. This time he went too far."
"Oh, Nate. I'm so sorry." I pulled him into my arms and just held him. Ray had crossed a line and I was wondering if he could be pulled back. If the council got wind of this, they'd take a hard look at Ray. Because he was an inch away from going rogue. I shuddered. And there was only one outcome for a rogue vampire in Austin. That was at the end of a stake.
Seven
I had to put some time in at the shop. At least I didn't have to worry about Penny. She was busy supervising her move, nervous about her computer and her research. I'd arranged to meet Nathan at ten o'clock near Zilker Park. When the sweet scent hit me, I was going over receipts near the register while my night clerk, Erin, helped a customer.
"Not avoiding that full-length mirror, are you, Glory?" Spyte came through the door first. He was a vision in blue tonight. His baby blue satin shirt clung to broad shoulders and did great things for his eyes, which were blue tonight, and his honey blond hair. His navy trousers had a sheen that shouted Italian silk.
"Nonsense. I bet she's already bought one for upstairs. Am I right, Glory dear?" Caryon wore a silver gray suit and black shirt. His tie had a stripe that pulled it all together. The pair drew admiring looks from my female customers. If they only knew . . .
"That's what you wanted, wasn't it? For me to obsess about my fat butt?" I came out from behind the counter and, yeah, tried not to catch a glimpse of my reflection just visible down one aisle. Big butt, thighs, and why had I ever thought I could wear this shade of gold, which made my hair look dull and my skin washed out? I was definitely changing tops before I met Nate.
Spyte's smirk propelled me toward the back of the shop. "Follow me. We can't talk out here." I gestured toward the door that led to my storeroom.
"I think we're making progress, Spyte. Yes, I do." Caryon was on my heels after I murmured to Erin where I was going.
"In your dreams." I smiled and opened the door. "Come inside. I don't want to run off my customers. If they keep inhaling your stench, they're likely to discover a craving and head next door for a muffin."
"Yes, we do have that yummy thing going on, don't we?" Spyte wrinkled his nose. "Holy hellfire. Here's a stench. Do I smell mothballs, Glory? Where do you get your stock? Dumpsters?" He picked up a vintage shirtwaist dress that had indeed come from a street person who'd found a box of great things on a curb destined for the garbage.
"Never mind that. I want to make it clear, hellboys, that I am not and never will work for Lucifer. Now you can clear out and take your mirror tricks with you." I threw the dead bolts and opened the back door. To my shock, Rafe was standing in the alley like he'd been about to use his key.
"Sorry, Glo, but I'm here with orders from down below." He smiled ruefully. "Remember that payback I told you about? Yeah, it's a bitch." Rafe took my arm and stepped inside, throwing the bolts home again. "Hey, Frick and Frack. See you're still on the case too."
"Some respect would be nice." Caryon sniffed. "I don't think you can afford to be flip, Valdez."
"And I don't think you can afford to piss me off, shitface." Rafe's eyes glowed red.
"Uh, guys, calm down. I really don't want my shop going up in flames. Again." Or my shoes. I had on some nice platform heels. I stepped between them. Maybe not my smartest move, though I knew Rafe would never hurt me. But Caryon's eyes sparked red now too and the place was heating up. Unfortunately, my shop had gone up in smoke before. Firebomb. My budget couldn't handle another rebuilding.
"We're going to cooperate now, aren't we, fellas?" Spyte stepped into the fray, flicking me aside like an irritating gnat.
"Rafe, what is this about? Surely you're not here to persuade me to be Lucifer's trash collector." Tears popped into my eyes. Not Rafe, my best friend, a man I'd depended on and who I knew in my heart was a good guy.
Rafe finally gave up his stare-down with Caryon and turned to me. "I'm sorry, Glory. You think I want to do this? I'm stuck with a debt that I have no other way to pay. You know I have demon blood and used my powers when I shouldn't have."
"That demon stuff is his best part." Spyte dared lay a hand on Rafe's shoulder and I thought the flame-throwing was going to start then and there. But Rafe just shrugged it off.
"Not going to waste time arguing that." He took my hand. "You know how I feel. Better that I jump in here than let these two loose on you. I think I've figured out a way we can satisfy my deal and get Lucifer's bootlickers-"
"Hey!" Now Spyte shoved a shoulder between us, his eyes shooting off sparks.
"Chill, honey, I want to hear what our little bootlicker has to say." Caryon's smile was the stuff of nightmares. I shuddered and clutched Rafe's hand like a lifeline, even though Spyte stood with his back to me and face-to-face with Rafe.
"The day you get what I decide is too close to me or Glory here is the day you find out what hell is really like, you piece of shit." Rafe hit both demons with a glare that could have peeled the paint off the walls. Now I was really worried. For him. To my shock, Caryon merely nodded with what might have been respect and Spyte snorted but moved out of our space. Hmm.
"Go on," Caryon ordered.
I kept my mouth shut, trying desperately to stay out of this pissing contest. If I'd had the power of invisibility, I'd have been wallpaper. I was so clearly outmatched when it came to powers here. Even if I shifted into something tiny enough to hide or dangerous enough to attack them, they'd be able to stomp me, freeze me, fry me. The options were endless.
"As I was saying . . ." Rafe put his hands on my shoulders and gave me an encouraging smile. Like that was going to make me relax. Hah! "Glory, what would be the harm if we could at least bring them the one they're jonesing for?"
"Simon. He won't deal with us. What's his motive for changing sides?" I focused on Rafe, desperate to ignore the demons, who seemed to be crowding too close to me.
"I've been thinking about that." Rafe seemed to realize what I was doing. "Back off, creeps. Give Glory some breathing room."
"She doesn't have to breathe." Caryon scratched his earlobe. "I want to hear this."
"One soul? Not nearly good enough to satisfy Luc. And you know, Valdez, that if you don't bring this assignment in successfully, there will be hell to pay." Spyte managed a toothy grin, though he was obviously pouting. He sat on my table, the shirtwaist a mangled mess under him. I had a feeling the bootlicking comment had struck a nerve. Maybe he didn't like the taste of leather.
"What does he mean, Rafe?" I really didn't like the sound of Spyte's threat.
"Ignore him. Now Simon's got a son, Freddy. Do you think he wants a relationship with him?" Rafe had clearly decided to take his own advice and ignore the demons for now.
"Most men would." I was getting an idea and saw where Rafe was headed. "And Freddy is a good guy. Never would want to have anything to do with the Energy Vampires. Money and power aren't his thing."