there was only one outcome for a rogue vampire in Austin. That was at the end of a stake.
Chapter 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