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  Deirdre answered. “Hello, Deana. I’m glad you called. Your mom is going bananas, even though she’s trying not to show it.”

  “Well, this call isn’t going to make her feel better. But I’ll be coming clean,” I said.

  “Oh, shit. Should I put this on speaker?”

  “Probably a good idea.”

  “All right, hang on. I’m going to yell.” It sounded like she put the phone against her leg, but I could still hear her yelling to the house.

  They weren’t quiet at the house on Pearl Street. The thought made me smile.

  “Okay, I have everyone here. I’m putting you on speaker. What’s going on, Deana?”

  I sighed, bracing myself for the onslaught. “I’m up a creek with a vampire.”

  There was silence on the other end, and then Desdemona said, “How the hell did you end up the creek? Wasn’t this just you going and talking to Zachary?”

  This was going to be more difficult than I thought. “It’s all complicated and basically, a shit show. Let me tell you, and then you can yell at me later, okay?”

  “She’s totally one of us,” one of the aunts muttered. I couldn’t tell which one said it, but there was a ripple of laughter on their end.

  Painstakingly, I went through the whole thing. When I stopped, they were all silent.

  “Well,” Deirdre said. “You are up a creek.”

  “Good to know your assessment of the situation is accurate,” Daniella said.

  “Mom?” I asked.

  “I’m trying to calm myself, Deana,” my mom said quietly.

  “Couldn’t you have said no?” Gran asked. “Kel was such a… such a shit!”

  “Gran, that’s quite the condemnation,” I said. She didn’t normally swear. “He was, but I have to say, he’s redeemed himself. We’re not besties, or anything, but things are okay now, and he did that.”

  “Well, so did you, by saving his behind,” Gran snapped.

  A wave of longing swept over me that made me want to lay down. I wasn’t used to being on my own, as much as I’d thought it would be a good thing. I missed them, and I found that I missed this sense of extended family that going to see my aunts had brought to us.

  “Let’s break this down. The demon, Madigan? I’m not familiar with him, but it’s not a good thing that he knows about Ashlar,” Desdemona took charge as she usually did. “There’s a reason he thinks you know where to find that pistol, Deana.”

  “I had the same thought, but I don’t have a clue why.”

  “You still have time. Wait and see, and just be observant. He knows something he’s not telling. Shifty bastards,” she added.

  “That was kind of my plan, but it’s good to hear that you’d do the same.”

  “What else can you do?” Daniella asked.

  “Tell them all to go away and leave her alone!” Gran chimed in.

  “Gran, it doesn’t work that way,” I said. “What I would like is some vampire spray. You know, like you spray ants? So I can make Delgado go away.”

  “He’s such an ass,” Deirdre said.

  “It’s amazing how you all never leave, and you know everything, and everyone knows you,” I said. “I’ve been name dropping, I have to admit.”

  “Deana, we’re coming home,” Mom said.

  “No, Mom! No! I don’t want you pulled into this. They know where I live, they probably know more than I’d ever want them to. If you’re here, you’re a weapon against me.”

  More silence.

  “She’s right,” Gran said. “I hate to admit it, because I want to tell you to come here and we’ll all kick their asses—”

  “Gran!” I said. “The aunts are rubbing off on you!”

  Everyone laughed, which was a much better thing than silence.

  “Well, we will. And they can all leave you alone.”

  “DeAnna, now that you’re out—well, Deana is—she needs to stand up and be strong,” Daniella said to Gran. “Part of why no one gives us a lot of grief anymore is that we’ve never backed down. Deana is one of us. She needs to not back down. Which, by the way, it sounds like you’ve been doing great at,” she said to me.

  “I’m trying. They’re scary.”

  “They used to be human, but now they are more, and less,” Desdemona said. “You have to remember that when dealing with them.”

  “How can you forget?” I asked. “But Tuesday—the vampire Zachary sent to help me—I really like her. She seems sincere.”

  “She’s protected you,” Deirdre said. “That counts for something in their world.”

  “Who is this Caleb Black?” Mom asked. “You mention him, and he saved your bacon with helping Kel, but who is he?”

  I shook my head. “It’s weird. He says he’s like a wendigo, but he doesn’t eat people. He eats bad spirits, and he was created by a shaman in his tribe.”

  “Are you sure he’s a good guy?” Mom asked.

  “I think so,” I said.

  “Why?” Gran asked.

  “Because my gut says so. I like him. He likes all of you.”

  “That’s good enough for me,” Desdemona said. “My biggest screw ups have been when I didn’t trust my gut instincts. So. Let’s focus on the immediate problem. Vampire spray,” she said with a laugh. “I could sell a metric ton if we actually manage to make it. On the very down low, of course.”

  “I’m really glad I called you all,” I said.

  “Why didn’t you do it earlier?” Mom asked.

  “Because I didn’t want to worry you,” I said honestly.

  “I’ve been worried,” she said simply. “I can tell when you’re in trouble.”

  I sighed. “I know, Mom. I’m sorry.”

  “If there’s one thing the last month has taught us, we’re stronger together,” Mom said.

  “Isn’t that what I’ve been saying?” Gran exclaimed. I’d bet she’d thrown her hands up, too.

  “I have some ideas,” Deirdre said, getting to the business at hand. “If your ears are burning for the next couple of days, Deana, just know that your mom is complaining. But we’ll let her vent at us.”

  “Thanks,” Mom said dryly.

  “How about two days? I have just under five days to figure this mess out,” I said.

  “All right. You call us, Deana. If we don’t hear from you in forty-eight hours, we’re sending in the calvary,” Desdemona said.

  “Dee, please be careful,” Mom said.

  “I’m trying as hard as I can, Mom,” I said.

  “That’s what worries me, honey,” she replied.

  “Come on, lazy—oh, hey, Doc,” Desdemona said.

  “Darlin’?” I heard my many times great grandfather on the phone. Which was weird as hell because he was a ghost.

  “Hey, Doc,” I said.

  “Are you all right?” he asked.

  “Not really. But I think I will be.”

  “You mean you finally took your head out of your backside and leaned on your family?”

  “Wow. Shamed by the family ghost,” I said.

  “That’s what we’re here for, darlin’,” he said, and I could hear the lurking humor in his words. “To tell all you still locked in the mortal coil what you’re doin’ wrong.”

  “You’re so good at it, too,” Desdemona said. “Deana, keep the faith. This happens to us all the time. The way forward will show itself.”

  “I hate to say it, but listen to Miss Wise Guru,” Deirdre added.

  “Okay. I’m going to hang up now,” I said. “Love you,” I added.

  “Love you,” they all chorused together at me. Desdemona told me, when I was in Deadwood, that her mother, Meema, had always told them before they went into the fray, to make sure to let those you loved know it. Subsequently, it was how they ended all conversations.

  I loved that family tradition. As I set the phone back on my desk, I felt better than I had since Kel walked into my office. Remembering my mental list that I’d made in the shower, I got into my e
mail, and caught up with all my clients who were not dying on me, threatening to kill me, or wanting to turn me into something else.

  I spent the rest of the day taking care of all the things that had been piling up. I hated that it felt like I was settling my affairs, but after this was over, and I made it through, I wanted to have a business to come back to. No one else came to see me—not my sort-of wendigo, or a demon, or anyone.

  Hearing back on my digging with the local cops, I was able to email Zachary, thank him again for sending Tuesday to me, and give him the information he sought. Doing so crossed off another item on my list.

  Which was a nice change. I mapped out a plan of action that I could take that might keep me from being a Delgado groupie—if I could just find a way to get away from him. That was the key. Whether it would work was another thing entirely, but I had a plan. And that was something.

  At six, I closed up the office and went home to wait for my vampires—friends and foes—to wake up.

  Chapter Thirteen

  I was out on the deck overlooking the canal when Tuesday walked out. “How are you?” she asked.

  “Better than I probably ought to be. We need to get Levi over here. And,” I stood up, “I want to thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “You’re still here, helping me. You were supposed to help me with the Kel matter. That’s solved. But you’re still here.”

  Tuesday was slow in answering. “This is technically still the Kel matter. While you have cleared him, you have been given a responsibility that is not really yours to bear.”

  “Well, there’s that,” I said.

  “Delgado is getting too big for himself,” she muttered.

  “When wasn’t he?” I asked. “Seriously, that guy has balls to spare.”

  “Zachary chooses not to make waves, but no one is really fond of Delgado.”

  “Well, I can’t see why. He’s such a peach,” I said.

  “Fear. He’s ruthless. So is Levi, by the way.”

  “Whoa. That was kind of a left turn,” I said.

  “I know you find him… attractive.”

  “Double whoa. Why would you think that?”

  Tuesday smiled, coming sit at the table with me. “Your heart beats faster, and your face gets flushed.”

  “Shit,” I said.

  She laughed.

  I stared. “This isn’t funny.”

  “It’s very funny. He’s not a bad vampire, not like Delgado. And I have no objection to humans and vampires being together. I am just warning you. He and Jessamine were able to stay away from being brought into any covens, or clans, and there’s a reason.”

  “Well, isn’t that the way of any vampire who makes it to, say, fifty?”

  “What do you mean?” She turned her intense gaze to me.

  “If you manage to stay alive as a vampire, you’re strong. Don’t you have to be?” I shrugged. It made sense to me.

  “Yes. This is not a life for the weak.”

  “Kind of what I thought. So, we need to see Levi, and see who had a beef with him, or Jessamine, or both.”

  “There’s more to this than just finding a killer,” Tuesday said.

  “What do you mean?”

  She stood up. “I mean I need to go out. I know it isn’t your way, but can I ask you to stay here?”

  “Wait, you can’t leave me hanging like this!” I stood up, making to follow her.

  She held out a hand. “No, I need to go poking around on my own. I don’t want to expose you any further. Please, Deana? I’ll call Levi,” amazingly her voice took on a teasing tone, “And send him over so you can look at him and ask him all sorts of questions.”

  “Tuesday, just because I find him appealing doesn’t mean a thing. It means I like to look at him. But that’s all it means.”

  “Well, if it keeps you here, that’s fine with me. Please, stay here.”

  “Oh, all right.”

  “Good. I’ll call him before I go.” She slipped from the deck.

  I watched her disappear, and then sat down again.

  An hour later, I heard the doorbell. When I went to answer it, I looked through the door viewer. It was Levi, complete with cowboy hat.

  Why did he have to look so good?

  Opening the door, I said, “I see you’ve been called in to babysit.”

  Levi stepped in, removing his hat. “I wouldn’t call it babysitting. Tuesday wants to be sure you’re safe.”

  “Or that I don’t run away,” I said as I walked back into the kitchen.

  “You don’t seem the type to run,” Levi commented.

  “I’m not. I’m also not in the mood for company. Would you mind if I went to bed?”

  “Of course not,” Levi said.

  “You’re welcome to make yourself at home,” I said. “I’m upstairs if things go sideways,” I added.

  I headed for the steps when I heard him say, “Goodnight, Deana.”

  “Goodnight,” I said.

  Even though part of me wanted to stay down there, I went to my room and closed my door. I’d stay up here and go to sleep if it killed me. And tomorrow, I’d manage this on my own.

  With my current situations of vampires every night, it was a relief to get up and have a silent house. I checked my phone—nothing from Deadwood. Which was fine. I got up and was at the office an hour before I opened. I’d remembered that Caleb had given me a card. It was time to stop pretending I knew how to navigate this world and ask for help.

  Which would have been a great plan, but I couldn’t find the card.

  I was going to end up a vampire, and then I was going to end up dead, because I’d kill that ass Delgado. Or at least I’d try. If I could just find a way to get away from his damn deadline! Getting away after that would be cake. Comparatively, anyway.

  “Damn it,” I said, pacing my back hallway.

  The bell rang, and as if called, Caleb walked in.

  “Oh, my god, am I glad to see you!” I exclaimed.

  “You are? You were so angry when I saw you before,” he said. He shifted his brown bag under his arm.

  It took me a moment to remember what had happened—oh, yeah. The whole ‘there’s a demon branch in the family tree’ thing. “That doesn’t matter now,” I said. “You were right about the blood memory. My friend is completely in the clear. And—”

  “I have to talk to you, Deana,” Caleb said, sitting down heavily. “My time is close. I need to give you some things, and tell you about what I’m leaving you.”

  Shit. Shit. Shit. “Now? You’re sure?” I asked. My issues seemed a lot less important.

  “I am. I can feel the end coming. First, I give you all of my possessions.” He pulled a folder out of his jacket and laid it on the desk. “It’s all in there, and it’s straightforward. It’s all legal. I’m turning everything over to you. Contact the attorney, his information is in there as well.” He pushed the folder to me.

  “This isn’t exactly ethical,” I said. I was pretty sure there were a lot of laws against this. Great. If I lived, I’d be sued by the state. That is, if I lived. Because not all my plan was in place.

  “It’s legal,” he repeated. “I made sure of it. As far as the attorney knows, I’m going to India on a spiritual journey.” He smiled, and I could see that these measures, this putting things in order, had given him a sense of peace.

  “But that’s not the important thing. This is,” he took the bag from under his arm and laid it on the desk reverently.

  “What is this?” I asked.

  Without saying anything, he reached in and pulled out the item in it.

  My life went from really messed up to completely screwed.

  “Holy shit,” I said.

  Chapter Fourteen

  I knew this was it. I just knew it. The question was, how did Madigan know?

  “Do you know a demon named Madigan?” I asked.

  Caleb’s head jerked at the name. “He’s been here?”

 
“Looking for a Volcanic pistol. Is this what he’s looking for?” I gestured at the pistol on my desk, not wanting to touch it.

  My gut was screaming out that the red flags were at hurricane status.

  “Yes,” Caleb said.

  “And you’re giving it to me?”

  “You must be the guardian of it now.”

  “No!” I stood up, backing away from the desk. “This past week, all I’ve done is what everyone else has told me I have to. I don’t have to take this! I don’t! I won’t!”

  “You must,” Caleb said. “You must take it, and hide it, and you must promise me that you will hide it until you find a way to destroy it.”

  “What’s the big deal with this thing?”

  “Many years ago, I helped a demon. In return, she gave this to me. She thought she was doing me a favor. She knew it couldn’t fall into the hands of humans, and there were no other supernaturals she felt would bear the responsibility appropriately. She didn’t even trust herself,” he said, a sad smile crossing his face.

  “What does it do?”

  “This can kill any living thing. No matter how magical, no matter how powerful—one shot from this, and it will die.”

  “Jesus,” I sat back down.

  “So, now you see. There’s no way I can give this to anyone else. But you are trustworthy, and honorable—you can handle this, Deana.”

  “Caleb, I don’t want this. This is too much for anyone to handle.”

  “I know this,” he said. “I considered burying it with me, but I’m worried who might dig it up. There are rumors I’ve got it. No one knows anything, but the rumors persist.”

  “What am I supposed to do with it?” I asked, feeling panic rising within me.

  “Hide it. Keep it safe.”

  “If people—like Madigan—know you’re got it, and he must have known you came to see me, won’t he come after me?”

  “Yes,” Caleb said. “But you can fool him. You’ve got the strength to do this, Deana. I knew it when I met you.”

  I sighed, shaking my head, and looking away. I didn’t want to see the expression on his face. “I can’t do this, Caleb. There are other things that might make me a bad choice.” I was thinking about the fact that I could be a vampire in a couple of days. What would I do with this then?