Real Vampires Don't Wear Size Six(31)

"Wow. I had no idea. I had pictured a hose of some kind connecting to her. The Oreck from Hell, you know?" I shivered. "Guess the only one who could tell us how to take her out would be Simon. And that's if he's interested." I turned to Freddy. "What do you think? Would your father give up the EVs for you?"
Freddy looked thoughtful, then took his mother's hand again. "There's only one way to find out. Glory, you're going to have to ask him."
"Me?" I swallowed, trying to picture that conversation. Simon had such power that he could be one of Lucifer's demons. He could turn me to stone, read my mind past blocks, you name it. Probably all powers courtesy of Honoria. Yes, he scared me.
"Hey, this is your idea. I gave him my ‘ultimatum,' as you call it. He didn't exactly fall to his knees and beg me to take it back. Just sat there, like he had to think it over. Right then I realized that I'd probably expected too much. Unless there's a way to kill the goddess, walking away from the EVs wouldn't give us time together. Simon wouldn't survive to be a father to me. Honoria doesn't allow for defectors."
"We don't know that, Fred." Derek frowned. "I say someone has to have a talk with Simon. Get some answers. You started this, Glory. Why not finish it?"
"Simon and I aren't exactly best buds." I could feel three sets of eyes staring a hole in me. Yeah, I'd started it. No, technically Rafe had started it. Me and my loyalty. It had really taken me down a dark and creepy path this time.
"But I think you're the one to do it." Freddy nodded. "Even if Simon survives leaving the EVs, you want him on Lucifer's team. Mother told me the demons explained that's what is necessary to get Rafe's debt clear."
"Yes, that's right." This was too messy, with way too much margin for error. Freddy put a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
"Relax, Glory. I'm assuming Lucifer can offer Simon some incentives to come over to his side after my father makes the break. Seems like that's for you to explain too. If Simon shows an interest in leaving the EVs." Freddy looked very serious and Derek jumped off the table to put his arm around him.
"He loves you, Fred. It was obvious to me that, if there is a way for him to make a relationship happen with you, he'll do it. Don't let pride keep this from working."
"It's not pride, Derek. But I don't want to beg him to make the choice. Let Glory handle it." Freddy leaned against Derek. "I've been without a father this long, I can make it without one forever if I have to."
"Ah, darling, I'm so sorry." CiCi stood and wrapped her arms around her tall son.
"Okay, I'll meet with Simon. See what he says." I took a shuddering breath. "You know how I hate this."
"Sure we do." Freddy smiled. "But don't worry. Simon likes you. Even talked about making you an EV. I think Honoria shot down the idea though. Pissed him off. That's another reason my father is ready to leave the EVs. He's tired of taking orders from a woman." Freddy glanced at his mother and then at me. "No offense, ladies."
"Oh, I get it. Typical Simon." I sighed. "Okay, I'll make a call. Soon. Now I've got to go. This is a busy night for me. Paparazzi out back?"
"You bet. They were all excited that Israel Caine's SUV is out there." Derek grinned, obviously determined to lighten the mood. "You are so lucky. Don't get jealous, Fred, but, Glory, any chance that bad boy swings both ways?"
"Not that I know of. But I'll check." I winked at Derek when Freddy popped him on the arm. "I'll let you guys know what I find out."
"Thanks. And be safe." Freddy kissed my cheek. "And I've been known to swing both ways. You get tired of Blade, let me know."
This time it was Derek who growled and hooked an arm around Freddy's neck. I left them wrestling while CiCi fussed and hit them both with her purse.
I grabbed my own purse, called Rafe to give him an update, then braced myself for the paparazzi gauntlet. It was fairly painless since I wasn't making statements and they had enough pictures of me without Ray. When I got upstairs, I unlocked the door and figured I'd have a mess to clean up.
To my amazement, the place was spotless, a little empty, but all cleaned up. No sign of blood on the hardwood floor and the couch was straight. Someone had moved the chairs that went with the dinette set in the kitchen to face the couch and there was a semblance of order in the living room.
"Okay, what good fairies have been at work in here?"
"Just one." Jerry came out of the kitchen, a wet towel in his hand. "I came to my senses and realized we couldn't leave you with this disaster." He turned to toss the wet towel in the kitchen sink.
"You look better too." I could see that he'd obviously been home to change clothes and his face had healed. That was probably due to a pit stop where he'd whammied some hapless mortal and taken a good long drink. I didn't comment, just walked up to him and wrapped my arms around his waist.
"I won't object if you examine me for injuries." His grin made me shiver.
"Maybe later. First, thank you." I kissed his smile. "I dreaded what I'd find when I opened the door."
"Not my finest moment, trashing your place. So I put in a call. You'll have two new lounge chairs, a coffee table and lamp by tomorrow night." He ran his hand up my back. "I'm sending half that bill to Valdez. We were idiots, but I admit it felt good. I needed to give that shifter a pounding. I had a lot of issues with him. Still do."
"Let's table that for now, Jerry. I've got a hell of a situation on my hands and that's a fact. I can't have boyfriend drama too. It's just too much. Remember that your territorial jealousy thing tends to end up with us taking breaks. You want that?" I looked up at him, really interested in his answer.
"I'd have an easier time reining in my jealousy if I didn't have your other men in my face all the time." Jerry rested his palms on my bum and pulled me against him. "And, yes, I plead guilty to being territorial. It's a Highlander thing. You've known that about me for centuries."
"Known it and not especially liked it." I kissed his firm chin. "Can you try to work your way through it without using your fists and fangs?" I angled my head when he leaned down to deepen the kiss. Why not? I enjoyed kissing him and needed a reminder while standing in my almost empty living room that Jerry was my guy. He pulled back first and smiled.
"Yes, I will definitely try to stay civilized. Though when other men put their hands on you, I want to break out a claymore and use it on the nearest man who even looks at you." He patted my bottom. "Patience, lass. I'm obviously a work in progress."
I pushed away from him. "I get that, but how many years should I give you? Two or three hundred?" I knew my smile was rueful as I kicked off my high heels and walked toward the bedroom. "Any word from Ray?"
"He's asleep now, finally resting." Jerry followed me. "Not sure I'd bother him. I took him another bottle of synthetic about an hour ago. He had the shakes and obviously was in the throes of some night terrors. Mortals call them delirium tremens. I looked up alcohol withdrawal on the Internet."
I turned and caught Jerry's grimace. "Seriously? You've been taking care of him?"
Jerry shrugged, obviously almost embarrassed. "Never thought I'd feel sorry for the bastard, but this might do it. He's got a rough road ahead. But clearly he needs to find another bed. This apartment is getting too crowded." He gestured at the couch. "Sit. You want a bottle of synthetic?"
"Sure, why not? Thanks. Not sure I can kick Ray out yet though. Not until he's over this stage. I still feel like his mentor, you know. And the paparazzi are lurking out there, waiting for a photo op." I sat on the couch, resisting the urge to check on Ray myself. Jerry had actually taken care of everything. I smiled at him as he brought me the cold drink, poured into a goblet. Nice.
"Then I'll move him back to the couch before it's time for us to go to bed." Jerry sat close beside me and slipped his arm around me.
"I got something started tonight to satisfy the demons. Freddy's been reaching out to his father. You can imagine how that's freaked out CiCi. We're going to see if Simon is actually interested in defecting. If so, we need to find out how to take out his goddess. That would end the EVs permanently. Then they can all sign over to Lucifer's team. I'm sure the demons have some incentives to offer them. I called Rafe and told him about it."
"All right. You brought it up. Let's talk about this demon thing." Jerry lost his smile. "How are they forcing you to work for them?"
I realized Jerry had gotten the shorthand version of what Rafe and I were doing. The full story wasn't going to go over well. And that was an understatement. "They can't force a good person to do the Devil's handiwork."
"Then you're out of it. Simply refuse and walk away. Let the shifter take care of Destiny and his goddess. Hell, Glory, you remember what it was like out there. No way are you getting anywhere near that cesspool again." Jerry snugged me closer.
"I can't abandon Rafe, Jerry." I knew he was going to hate this. "He can't refuse them. He used his demonic powers when I told him I wouldn't sleep with him again. Flew off the handle."
"Not against you." Jerry's arms tightened around me. "I've seen what the man can do. You wouldn't be here right now if he did."