Angelic Avenger (36 page)

I didn’t glance at the woman who slid onto the seat beside me, lost in my own thoughts.

“They are worth staring at, aren’t they?”

I jumped and turned to face the last woman I wanted to talk to tonight…or any night, come to think of it. Maggie Stone, lawyer and Gray’s former lover, smiled at me with plenty of teeth. It was not a pleasant smile.

“They are at that.” I kept my face pleasant and cautious.

“How are things, Bella?”

“They’re fine, thanks for asking. I’m surprised to see you here. Stopping off for a drink before heading home? Gray said it was a slow day at the office.”

Gray had also said that Maggie had come back from taking a few days personal time, but I wasn’t going to mention that.

“Yeah, things have been quiet. Hey, the secretaries were putting together a calendar and wanted to know when your birthday was. Since Gray was out of the office, they asked me, but I didn’t know. They’re usually pretty good at making sure the guys don’t forget significant dates like that.”

Was this an olive branch? Maybe I was being too suspicious, but I took a second to sip my drink before answering.

“April 14
^th
.”

“What year?”

I blinked. There was suspicious and there was down right goaded.

“A lady never tells.”

She smirked at me and I couldn’t help but feel my back go up at the satisfied gleam in her gaze. From the deep pocket of her overcoat, she slipped a rolled file and dropped it on the bar between us.

Oh, I had a bad feeling about this.

“It’s funny what comes up at family dinners.”

What?
My confusion was clear as she nudged the folder closer to me.

“Did Gray mention my uncle has been an editor over at the Journal for years now? Uncle Jimmy was pretty curious when I mentioned you.”

I listened and waited. There really wasn’t anything else I could do. She was leading up to something and it wasn’t going to be pretty. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, after all. Maybe I should check that reference.

“You’re looking pretty good for a dead woman.”

Somehow, my hand was steady as I reached for the folder and opened it. My breath left me in a gasp at the photocopied page that was on top of the small pile. The headline of the article read, “Local Anchorman and Producer Engaged.” I’d forgotten how much taller Chris was than me. I’d also forgotten how awful eighties hair was. The picture of him standing next to me, his arm possessively wrapped around me, brought it all back. Flipping the painful picture over, I stared at the next page and found myself staring at my obituary followed by an article detailing my suicide. I’d not realized my death had been news. Amazing what you discover after the fact. Flipping the page, I found a full color eight by ten of my memorial plaque. Giving it no more than a glance, I turned it over to find a copy of my death certificate. There were other pages, but I’d seen enough. Closing the folder, I looked at her with what I hoped was puzzlement.

“Well? What’s any of this to do with me? I’m hardly fifty and I’m not exactly buried.”

The crowd surged around us as Honora came on stage with the rest of the band filling in their respective spots around Gray and Tony. Music came, soft and low, blending into the melody they had been playing. Maggie used it as an excuse to lean closer to me.

“You know what I want.”

Well, I’m glad one of us had a clue because it certainly wasn’t me. “I do?”

“I want to know why you’re masquerading about as a dead woman.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. We have the same name, but that’s not uncommon. You can Google a dozen more, I’m sure.”

I hoped, anyway. I’d be first one to admit I wasn’t technosavy. Foras was, though. I’d have to get him to check that. Computers weren’t my thing. In fact, before I’d moved in with Gray, I’d not even owned one. My move-in gift from him had been a fancy laptop that played DVDs very nicely. Now, I had an email address and a cell phone, but that was as far into the mechanized world as I had gotten.

“You also have the same birthday and the same social security number. Interesting thing about your apartment, too. That lease is the first sign on the radar for you since 1986. Your bank account is fed from an offshore account, so there’s no way to trace your income. It’s as if you’re in protective custody, but you’re not, are you?”

“This woman is old enough to be my mother.” Tapping the file with a forefinger, I managed a rueful expression. “I’m hardly in my fifties and threatening to skip in on her social security benefits.”

“No, you’re not. Which means that you took her identity and have been living off it for the last decade.”

She was so sure she was right that I very nearly told her the truth to see what she said. Of course, I couldn’t do that. My ticket to Hell certainly didn’t need to be expedited. It was tempting, though, because it meant I might be able to persuade them to take her with me.

“Well, I’ve always been me. I didn’t assume anyone’s identity. You must be getting pretty lonely and desperate to trump up something like this. Paranoid, much?”

I smiled and made a point to finger my engagement ring. Her gaze flicked to the flashing brilliance as I knew it would. For a brief moment, something akin to hatred flashed in their hazel depths.

“I can’t prove anything…yet. I thought you might want the opportunity to make a discreet exit and save us all the scandal.”

Bluff.

It was so clear I nearly laughed. If she wasn’t worried about sounding like she belonged in a loony bin, she would have presented all this to Gray already.

“Well, sweetie. I have nothing to hide. Gray knows all my secrets. Why don’t you go ask him?”

She snatched the file and rolled it furiously. Sliding off the stool, she leaned over to whisper.

“Don’t think you’re getting away with anything, Ms. Morrison. I’ll be watching and as soon as I have proof, I’ll throw the book at you.”

“I wouldn’t have spotted you for a voyeur, Ms. Stone. You don’t look like the type.”

She opened her mouth to retort, but snapped it shut with a huff. Spinning on her heel, she marched through the crowd. If I’d not been watching her exit, I would have missed the hesitation by the door as she glanced at the stage. It would have been nice to think she was appreciating the haunting music, but I knew her gaze centered on the one man stepping away from the spotlight.

Maybe I could tattoo “mine” on his forehead in nice brilliant colors.

“Trouble?”

I turned to find Craig sliding closer with a concerned look. Shrugging, I picked up my drink and pondered how to answer. Finally, I settled on the easy way out.

“Could be, I suppose.”

“You know, I know a couple of people who can take care of that for you, nice and quiet. Mr. Perfect won’t even have to know…”

“Oh, come on, don’t tease me.”

“Baby, you haven’t even begun to see tease. Wait, yes you have. Did you like it?”

Laughter bubbled up from nowhere. Trust Craig to find the one bone to chase away the melancholy.

“Well, I’m a lady. I’ll never kiss and tell, but you might wanna watch your back if you want to keep on living. There’s going to be a tiger you yank by the tail that’s going to bite back and I won’t be there to save you.”

The smile on his face was made to taunt, but I was immune. Funny what love does for you.

About the Author

Kaye Chambers has led a wild life. With her college degree in hand, she set off on an adventure to find herself. She’s soaked in the hot springs in Iceland in the middle of a blizzard, sat on a volcano to watch the magic of the Northern lights, stood on the coast in the eye of a hurricane, and been awed by ruins of pagan temples. Somewhere along the way, she found herself along with her wonderfully supportive husband and started her family.

Finally, she decided it was time to return to the dreams she’d left behind when she began her adventure all those years ago. Writing. With the new laptop her husband gave her for the effort, she hunkered down and found a writing group. This small group of women took her in hand, helped build her confidence, and encouraged her to do what her heart wanted. Finally, she started pounding out pages. When it was done, she had no idea what to do with them.

So, she started entering contests. Then she started revising…and entering more contests. Encouraged by the comments, she started submitting her work out to publishers and agents while turning her hand to other projects.

Making friends along the way, she’s beginning to see the results of her efforts. Come look into her Chambers of Secrets at
www.kayechambers.com
and share her vision of reality…

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/paranormalsociety/

Look for these titles by Kaye Chambers

Now Available:

Tiger by the Tail

Coming Soon:

Blood and Destiny

It’s never a good idea to date your prey…

Feral Passion

© 2009 Stephanie Bedwell-Grime

Xandra had a thing about vampires—like not dating one. Ever. But now that she’s on the hunt for the mastermind behind a newly formed vampire army, she’s sucking it up and dating every vamp in her little black book. Her prime suspect: Dante. Cop, vampire—and drop-dead gorgeous.

As the police force’s vampire liaison officer, Dante is no stranger to crime. Feral vampires are attacking in droves, and he’s hell-bent on finding out who’s responsible before the backlash robs them all of their hard-won rights. His number one suspect: Xandra. Hunter, smartass—and sexy as sin.

No one is more surprised than Xandra when Dante shows up as her date. Her cover is not all that’s blown during their mutual interrogation. Sparks of attraction fly—right before an attack leaves her gravely injured. With no choice but to inoculate her with his blood, Dante has more questions than ever before. Like who wants her silenced.

As they race to uncover a long-buried secret, Xandra realizes she can trust no one. Not even Dante. Especially since his blood is giving her unpredictable side effects…

Warning: Contains violence and hot and heavy vampire action.

Enjoy the following excerpt for
Feral Passion:

“I think—” she started to say. “I need—”

And then the world slipped away from her.

Dante cursed in the darkness. Motion stopped. With his arm slung across her shoulder, he walked across uneven gravel. He leaned her against a brick wall and ordered her to remain standing. The brick was still warm from the sun and comforting somehow. She couldn’t stop shaking. It seemed inevitable that she would be sick.

She protested weakly when Dante moved her away from the warm brick. Keys jingled in his hand. The smell of mildew and disinfectant assaulted her senses.

She tried to warn Dante about her nausea, but he herded her across the floor and lowered her to a lumpy bed. It creaked ominously as he lay down beside her.

Xandra turned toward his warmth, the only comfort in the misery she couldn’t escape.

“It’s going to be okay, Xandra,” he whispered.

His breath ruffled her hair. She heard another sound, something wet and tearing.

“Here.” Dante’s voice sounded disproportionately loud above the ventilation system.

His wrist pressed against her lips. She tasted the saltiness of his skin and felt his arms tighten around her, as if he expected it to hurt. Thick, coppery blood seeped into her mouth. Even though her mind rebelled, her body remembered what to do. She swallowed reflexively.

Dante’s blood flowed into her. Like electricity it rushed outward through her veins, repairing the damage the vampires had done to her. And for a moment she was content just to drink and be healed. Then gently, he pulled his wrist away.

She clasped his wrist, desperately trying to bring it back to her mouth, but he firmly disengaged her fingers. She moaned at the sudden loss.

“Easy,” Dante said. “Trust me, you don’t want to have too much.”

Alarm bells rang in some distant part of her mind. No, she certainly didn’t want to have too much. That led to the inevitable changes that would make her a vampire. A creature like those hopeless fiends who’d attacked her.

Her eyes flew open. Panicked, she stared at him.

“Don’t worry,” he said, sensing her alarm. “You only had a little. Only enough to offset the effects of the virus.”

The nausea had vanished. Pressed against Dante’s warm body, the shivers had ceased. Xandra felt stronger, clearer headed. She looked into his amber eyes, only inches from hers.

He closed the distance. His mouth covered hers, possessive and demanding. His tongue probed the recesses of her mouth, seeking the remnants of his blood. It should bother her. A week ago, it would have. But the way Dante kissed her made her feel wanted and loved. And his blood coursed through her veins, making her strong.

That strange feeling of being cared for brought a sudden rush of tears to her eyes. She gasped for breath. He pulled away.

“Xandra?”

“Shh.” She placed a finger against his lips to silence further questions.

He studied her carefully. “If we’re moving too fast for you here—”

She shook her head. “No.” How to explain this strange flood of feeling that touched places she’d kept hidden since her mother died? She didn’t even think she could summon the words.

Rising, he held her against him while he pulled down the bedspread. She looked around the room, suddenly taking note of her surroundings.

“Where are we?”

“In a motel off the highway.”

Danger brushed at her senses. She stiffened in his arms. “A motel? Why?”

“I couldn’t run the risk of taking you back to your place. Or mine.”

“Or the hospital?”

“The hospital would only have made things worse. Not to mention they’d probably call your boss.”

Memories of Jeremy’s dressing down rushed to the forefront of her mind. “It’s probably not a good idea to involve him.” She wondered how Jeremy had gone from a father figure to an enemy in less than a week. “But I don’t understand. Why does your blood make me better?”