park on the street in front of your shop?"
"No, there's parking in the alley behind it." I shivered. There'd been a lot of bad things that had happened in that alley. It was almost a death trap. "Follow me and, when you get out of your car, stay alert. I've had some trouble back there so pay attention. I'm sure the demons aren't through with me, for one thing."
"Now you're creeping me out." Penny locked the door with her key as she followed me out to the curb and watched me stow the cat in the passenger seat of my car.
"I'm glad. A vampire can't just walk around without watching for danger. Just like a woman by herself on a dark night in an alley can't." I slammed the car door. "Understand?"
"Only too well. I know Sixth Street gets its share of crime too." Penny pointed at the apartment lot. "That's my car, the blue Ford."
"Must get good mileage." It was an economy car and not old, but it had more than its fair share of scrapes and dings.
"It does. The battered look is courtesy of my inattention to detail when I park." Penny made a face. "That's what Dad says anyway. He gave up fixing the cosmetic stuff. Says I have to live with it, warts and all."
"Guess you think too much." I grinned. "About things other than the world around you."
"Exactly." Penny laughed, for once in sync with me. "I'll meet you there." She walked over to the car and I saw her add a scratch when the edge of the litter box bumped the rear door. I was watching her carefully near my new car.
I drove home with Boogie griping the whole way. He was obviously very worried that I might be taking him to the vet. I tried to reassure him, but talk was cheap in his world. By the time I parked, he was yowling. Penny pulled in a few moments later. I had deliberately parked between two cars so Penny couldn't park next to me. I heard a thunk as she opened her car door into the side of the Dumpster.
"Aw, Booger, is Glory being mean to you?" Penny stuck a finger into the carrier. "Ow! Don't bite me. This is not the vet's office, you ungrateful feline."
We both were distracted by Boogie's yowls so, when the man stepped out of the shadows, it was only natural that we jumped and yelled.
"Hyyyy-yah!" Penny swung into action with a karate move that impressed the hell out of me. The man fell flat on his back and grabbed his stomach where her kick had landed.
"Stop, vamp girl. I know this man and he's no danger to either of us." I grabbed her arm and pulled her back to keep her from landing a kick to his head while he was down.
"What?" Penny looked down at her victim, keeping a good distance from his arms as he struggled to sit up.
"Glory? Who the hell is this?" Nathan Burke took the hand I offered him and got to his feet.
"A fledgling I'm mentoring." I smiled at her. "Good work, Penny. I didn't know you had it in you."
"Self-defense classes. My folks wouldn't let me come to the big city without them." She smiled tentatively at Nathan. "Sorry if I overreacted. Obviously you and Glory know each other." She offered her hand. "Penny Patterson." Her nose twitched and I knew she was taking a whiff of her second delicious and rare mortal of the night. Another AB negative. She gave me a wink like maybe she thought I'd kept this guy a secret, as my own pet.
"Penny, this is Nathan Burke, a friend, not my blood buddy." I watched them shake hands, then stepped between them. "Nathan, be careful around Penny. You may not remember this, but new vamps have a problem with self-control around mortals."
"Some not-so-new vamps do too." Nathan ran his hand over his close-cropped hair. "That's why I'm here. Ray's way out of control and I need your help."
"Can we go upstairs to discuss this?" I gestured at the cat carrier where Boogie still wailed his distress. "I think the neighborhood may be getting ready to call animal control."
"Sure. Let me carry that." Nathan reached for the crate.
"Careful, he may try to scratch you." Penny relinquished the handle.
Nathan just shook his head. "I'll deal, but if he draws blood, don't think it's an invitation to dine." He grinned at me. "Glory has first dibs. Am I