convince him of the truth. “Turn right at this next street.”
“Why? I thought you wanted to go to Brooklyn.”
“I do, but we need to make a stop first.”
“Okay.” Freemont turned onto a street lined with narrow wooden-framed houses with sagging front porches.
“Pull in there.” Phineas pointed at an empty space between two parked cars.
“I’ll be blocking a driveway.”
“We won’t be here long.” While his brother stopped and shifted into park, Phineas surveyed the neighborhood. Because of the rain, the sidewalks were empty. The house was dark, no lights glowing in the windows.
“I don’t think anyone’s home,” Freemont said.
“That’s for the best.”
“Huh? Then why are we here?”
“A demonstration.” Phineas unlatched his seat belt. “Don’t go anywhere. Keep your eyes on the porch.”
“There’s nothin’ on the porch.”
“There will be.”
“What are you—” Freemont’s words cut off when Phineas teleported to the dark porch. He waved at the car, then teleported back to the front seat.
Freemont was a few shades paler, and his mouth was hanging open.
Phineas couldn’t help but smirk. “Now do you believe me?”
Freemont gulped, then his jaw dropped open again.
Phineas snapped his seat belt on. “Told you I wasn’t crazy.”
“Then
“You’re not crazy.”
Freemont shook himself. “I didn’t see you get out of the car. You’re not even wet, bro. How did you get to the porch?”
“Teleportation.”
“Tele-what? Isn’t that some sort of spaceman shit?” Freemont stiffened. “Were you abducted by aliens? Did they stick a probe up your ass?”
“No! Freemont, I’m a vampire!” Phineas grabbed the rearview mirror and twisted it toward himself. “Can you see me?”
Freemont leaned over to peer into the mirror. He gasped, looked at Phineas, then back at the mirror. “What the hell?”
Phineas shoved the mirror back in place. “Do you believe me now?”
“You—you’re really a
“Yes.”
“Damn, Phineas.” Freemont sat back with a horrified look. “Are you sure? I mean, this is some weird-assed, spooky shit.”
“I know, but it’s true, bro. I’m a vampire.”
“That sucks!”
“I don’t suck. I drink from bottles.” Phineas motioned toward the gearshift. “Let’s get going.”
Freemont continued to stare at him. “How did it happen?”
Phineas waved a dismissive hand. “I was attacked by some bad vampires. Can we go now?”
“Attacked?” Freemont grimaced. “What did they do to you, man?”
“I don’t want to talk about it. It was scary as hell and really nasty.”
Freemont’s eyes widened. “They stuck a probe up your ass?”
“No! They ripped my fuckin’ throat out, okay? So now that you know how grisly it was, will you shut up and take me to Brooklyn?”
“Okay, okay.” Freemont shifted into drive and pulled out into the street. “Sheesh. You act like you got a bug up your—”
“Don’t say it!”
While Freemont drove, he shook his head and muttered to himself, “A vampire?
“The old white dude is a five-hundred-year-old vampire named Angus MacKay. He and his wife, Emma, run MacKay Security and Investigation.”
“Five hundred years old? Sheesh! Can he still get it up?”
“I would assume so, since they seem happily married, but I’ve never asked.” Phineas looked out the window at the rain pouring in sheets off storefront awnings and splattering on broken sidewalks. It was thanks to Angus and Emma that he’d discovered the good Vamps. He’d found more than employment with them. He’d found a new extended family, mostly guys. He’d laughed with them, fought with them, mourned with them. The guys had become his brothers.
It had started off like one big bachelor party, but in the last few years, the men had fallen like flies. Even Gregori, the famous playboy of the vampire world. He’d hooked up with the president’s daughter.
Phineas enjoyed teasing them that all their newfound marital bliss was due to his expertise as the Love Doctor, but the joke was on him. He was like the painter who owned the only house in the neighborhood that needed painting. Everybody could find love but the Love Doctor.
And it wasn’t for lack of trying. He’d dated some Vamp women he’d met at the vampire clubs. He’d thoroughly enjoyed playing the role of a popular ladies’ man until he realized they saw him as nothing more than a novelty act, something to try out of curiosity before they flitted away to the next distraction.
He wanted to be more than that. He wanted someone who would look past his outward appearance to connect with his soul. Someone who would see him as special. Worthy of a lifetime, not a single night.
He’d tried over and over with the mortal LaToya, believing his perseverance would eventually pay off. It never did. She’d taunted him that the Love Doctor didn’t know what love was.
Bullshit.
Meanwhile, the other guys were all snagging some luscious babes. Shoot, Connor had even scored a real live angel. Carlos had found a girl willing to risk death in order to become a were-panther like him. The ladies who’d married Vamps were all willing to give up mortality to stay with their husbands. Angus’s wife, Emma, was a Vamp, and just recently, Roman’s wife, Shanna, had changed over. And they all did it for love.
Where was the love for the Love Doctor? Who would ever see him as worthy? Certainly not
“You look bummed out,” Freemont said, dragging Phineas away from his depressing thoughts. “Is it hard being a . . . you know . . .”
“Vampire?” Phineas gave him a wry look. “You can say the word without getting bitten. And yeah, sometimes it’s kinda hard.” He’d gained a life that could last for centuries, but it could only happen in darkness.
Freemont grimaced. “If I was a vampire, I’d miss fried chicken. And waffles.”
“I miss . . . blue. I can never see a blue sky again.” His brain was instantly flooded with a memory of her pretty blue eyes.
Brynley Jones was beautiful, brave, and clever—the perfect female human, except for one problem. She wasn’t always human. And her hatred of vampires was as big as the snout on her face when she shifted. She was the worst possible woman to obsess over. But that didn’t stop him.
His brother took a deep breath. “Okay. I’m with you, bro. What kind of help do you need?”
“You’re already doing it. I needed a place to stay. Some wheels. I quit my job last night.”
Freemont’s eyes widened. “What happened? Did you get pissed off with the old dude?”
Phineas shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. I already have another career lined up. We’re going to the Digital Vampire Network in Brooklyn. It’s a TV network just for Vamps.”
“You’re shittin’ me.”
