I nodded. “It’s me living here. I’ve been mooching off you for far too long and I’m sorry.
I’ve just got a few more things to take care of, starting with my brand-new head injury—” and ending with curses, Thierry’s secret identity, siring Gideon, and my new insight into the fun and exciting world of demons “—and then I’ll get my own place. Just know that I really appreciate what a great friend you’ve been to me during my pathetic, self-pitying time of neediness.”
“Sarah, it’s not—”
But I’d gotten up during my speech and made a slow, staggering beeline across the living room to give him a tight hug. “You rock, you know that?”
He disengaged from my clinginess as best he could, then went to the closet to grab his jacket. He gave me a quick peck on the cheek. “I have to go out for a bit, but you stay here and rest. And chill out. And try to stay out of trouble, if that’s possible.”
“Not sure that’s possible.”
“Try, anyhow. After all, I only have so much house insurance.”
Without another word, he left.
Maybe there’d been an Invasion of the George Snatchers lately. In any case, I’d have to remember—despite my multiple other dramas—to keep an eye on him. There was nothing worse than a potentially depressed vampire. I speak from personal experience.
I groaned and rubbed my tender scalp. Demon-boy sure had a mean left hook.
George wanted me to stay calm and rest up after being batted around like a fanged punching bag, but how could I relax? That teenager had been possessed.
“He holds a clue in his hand—a glimpse of a betrayal you would never expect.”
I was fairly certain he’d been talking about Gideon. And if I was going to be betrayed then
I’d really love to know all about it.
What did he hold in his hand? A remote control? A piece of fruit? Some of my butt last night when he’d kissed me?
Another thought occurred to me.
Maybe the demon was talking about Gideon’s BlackBerry.
That made a whole lot of sense, actually. I’d already thought about what secrets might be inside it—names and contact information. Schedules. Meeting places. Text messages and e-mails. It seemed too simple an answer, but it was possible it could be helpful to find out who was on call to help him blackmail me to do whatever he wanted.
Maybe no one had to get hurt. If I could get my hands on his BlackBerry I could use the information on it against him. Make him know that he didn’t hold all the power.
Then if I still decided to sire him he’d see I did it without any duress. I’d prove to him once and for all that vampires didn’t deserve to be staked. And then he could take his newfound, benevolent view of the paranormal world back to his cronies and get hunters to stop hunting. It would be a whole new world.
The Disney song by the same name started playing in my head.
Okay, I wasn’t a total ignoramus. I knew it wouldn’t be that simple. But it was something to start with. Something solid.
Then he’d give me the grimoire, no strings attached. Because that’s what friends do. They help each other out.
Gideon Chase = my buddy.
Obviously my concussion was worse than I’d thought it was. Thank God I had vampire-
strength healing abilities now.
I’d start with getting the cell phone away from him and take it from there. Baby steps.
Tomorrow night at midnight was when I was supposed to turn him into a vampire. I really hoped that deadline wouldn’t contain too much “dead.”
I grabbed my cell phone and scrolled to the last time Gideon had called me. Taking a deep breath, I pressed the button to redial his number. He picked up on the second ring.
“Good afternoon, Sarah,” he said. “Are you feeling better today?”
We hadn’t exactly parted on a good note last night, had we? I remembered sinking my teeth into his tongue and him snarling some sort of threat at me when I refused his generous offer to have sex with him.
Best friends. It could happen.
“I want to talk to you about what happened last night.”
There was a long pause. “So, talk.”
I swallowed. “Not on the phone. I want to see you.”
“Really?” He sounded intrigued. “I was under the impression you weren’t happy with me.”
“I slept on it. I think I may have overreacted.”
“Then by all means, come here this evening. We can pick up where we left off.”
That could mean many things. “Can’t I see you right now?”
“No.”
“Why? Got company?”
“Would that make you jealous?”
“No.” My stomach lurched. Who was with him? I hadn’t seen anyone with him since he first came to town. “I was planning to see Quinn today as well, so I guess I can wait.”
“I strongly suggest you say nothing to him about me today. Can I trust you, Sarah?”
“Of course,” I said quickly. Besides, I wasn’t lying. I wouldn’t say anything today. I’d already talked to Quinn about his old hunting buddy yesterday.
“When you come here, I also want you to tell me everything you know about the Red
Devil.”
I tensed. “I don’t know much about him.”
“You were seen with him last night. You know enough. I’ll see you later.”