Tall, Dark, and Vampire

“Your maker?” Pete smirked. “I can’t wait to meet this guy,” he said sarcastically. “From what you’ve told me, he’s a barrel of laughs.”

“I’m sure he’ll like you as much as you’ll like him.”

“Mmm-hmm.” Pete glanced at the clock on the desk. “When is this big coven pow-wow? I’ve got a pregnant woman at home who will be looking for pancakes and bacon when she wakes up.”

“How’s she feeling?” A smile curved her lips. Marianna had gotten pregnant just before Pete was turned, and their twins were due soon.

“They’re due in a few months. She’s hungry as hell, but I can’t figure out if it’s because she’s pregnant with twins, or because she’s a shifter. She’s in the Bear Clan, and believe me, she freaking eats like a bear, but if you tell her I said that, I’ll deny it,” he added quickly.

“Your secret is safe with me.” Her smile faded as she picked up Doug’s business card. “What can you tell me about Doug Paxton?”

“He was my partner, a great cop, and one of the best men I know—human or otherwise. He’s loyal and fiercely protective of the people he cares about, not that there are that many of them. It’s been hell keeping my distance from him.”

“Why are you keeping your distance?” She cocked her head as curiosity got the better of her. “Do you think he suspects something?”

“He knew something was different when I saw him a couple of months ago but couldn’t put his finger on it.” Pete folded his arms over his chest. “I’ve been avoiding him ever since. The man is like a dog with a bone. He won’t let go until he figures it out, but that’s what makes him such a great cop.”

“I see.” She glanced at his business card. “You said he doesn’t have many people in his life. So, no wife or girlfriend?”

She tried to make the question sound casual but failed miserably.

“No.” Pete crossed to the desk and leaned over with both hands on it as he studied her closely.

Damn it. Olivia kept her expression neutral and flicked her confident gaze back to Pete, hoping she could bluff him.

“Why are you interested in Doug’s personal life? Wanting to know about him as a cop, that I get. But questions about his dating life? Now that is interesting.”

Olivia rose slowly from her chair and kept her eyes fixed firmly on Pete. “My only concern is protecting my coven and my business. Detective Paxton is investigating the murder of a guy whose last living moments were at my club with my bartender, so I want to know who I’m dealing with, and one of my progeny is his main suspect.” Her voice dropped low. “And that’s it. Got it?”

Van Helsing whined and shifted to a sitting position.

“Whatever you say.” A wide grin cracked Pete’s face as he pushed himself off her desk and opened the door for her. “After you, boss lady.”

Olivia wanted to tell him to shove it, but she grinned in spite of herself. “You’re just lucky that I like you and you married my friend,” she said as she brushed past him with Van at her heels. “Otherwise, I’d kick your butt for being such a wise-ass.”

Olivia strode through the empty club with Pete and Van just a few steps behind her. Sadie, Trixie, Maya, and Damien were seated at the bar waiting for Olivia, and whatever conversation they’d been having abruptly stopped.

“Where’s Suzie?” Olivia asked as she stepped behind the bar.

“She split a few minutes ago,” Damien responded.

All eyes were on Olivia, except for Maya’s. Her weepy gaze was transfixed on her hands, which were folded neatly in her lap as tears rolled down her cheeks. Olivia studied her carefully, looking for any sign that this was more of her manipulative behavior but found none, and in spite of how irritated Olivia was, she actually felt sorry for Maya. Apparently, she was genuinely upset.

“So, Maya,” Olivia began quietly. “Are you crying because the young man is dead, or is it because you actually realize what a fucking shit-show you’ve brought down on your coven? Or both?”

Maya shrugged and wiped the tears away but said nothing. Olivia knew she was being hard on the girl, but she had to impress upon Maya and the rest the serious nature of their situation.

“How could you be so careless?” Olivia asked. “First you bring him back here and toy with him all day long. Here. In our home.”

She inched closer to the bar but kept her hands behind her back, knowing that it would be far too easy to grab her and attempt to shake some sense into her. While lecturing Maya on self-control, it would completely undermine her to the coven if Olivia lost hers.

“Then, as if that’s not bad enough, you show even less restraint by draining him dry and tossing him in a dumpster for any human to find.” Her voice rose higher with every word as anger and fear got the better of her. “Everyone in the club saw you flirt your fangs off with him all night long, and who fucking knows how many people saw you leave here with him after closing? How could you do this? Do you realize what kind of risk you’ve put all of us in?”

Silence hung in the air, and all eyes were on Maya.

“I—I didn’t kill him, Olivia.” She turned her large, teary blue eyes to Olivia. “I swear to you, as my maker, I didn’t do it.” She stuck her arm out to Olivia. “Here. If you don’t believe me, check my blood memories.”

Everyone looked at Olivia, and the room fell silent.

As the leader of the coven, this was a defining moment. She expected her progeny to trust her at her word, and in exchange, she should do the same for them. If Olivia took Maya up on her offer, it would demean all of them. No. She had to trust Maya if she wanted them to continue to trust her. Her coven was her family, not a police state.

“Not necessary.” Olivia glanced at Maya’s arm and shook her head curtly. “If you’re telling us that you didn’t do it, then we, as your family, will take you at your word.”

In a blur, Maya flew over the bar and wrapped Olivia in the tightest hug of her life. “Thank you, Olivia.” Sobbing, Maya laid her head on her shoulder, like a child seeking forgiveness from a parent. “Thank you so much. I’m so sorry. I won’t ever feed on boys in the club again. I promise.”

Unaccustomed to public displays of affection, Olivia stood with her arms out at her side and Maya clinging to her like a baby chimpanzee. Sadie shot her a look and nodded. Jeez, Olivia. Hug the poor girl back before she soaks that expensive suit with all her bawling.

“You’re welcome.” Olivia patted Maya on the back and gave her a reassuring hug. After a moment, she took her by the shoulders and pulled back, forcing Maya to look her in the eyes. “I know that you’re sorry, and I appreciate the apology, but we still have a problem.”

“I know, and I really am sorry for breaking the rules. I shouldn’t have fed on him in the club.” Maya sniffled and wiped her tears away. “What can I do to fix things and make it right?”

“For starters, you are forbidden from live feeds until further notice, and you aren’t to leave the confines of our building for any reason.”

Maya opened her mouth to protest but snapped it shut almost as quickly.

“Is that clear?” Olivia asked.

Maya nodded. “So basically, I’m grounded?”

“Grounded?” Trixie laughed loudly and pounded the bar with a ring-studded fist. “That’s freaking brilliant. I feel like I’m living in an episode of the Vampire Brady Bunch.”

Maya shot her a look and flounced back to her seat at the bar. “Oh, shut up.”

“Enough,” Olivia said wearily. “Let’s not turn into the Bickersons on top of everything else. Maya is still a youngling, and we all make mistakes. Right, Trixie?”

The smile ran from Trixie’s face the second Olivia mentioned mistakes. She’d made her fair share as a new vampire too, and it was unlikely she’d want to revisit them now.

“Yeah,” Sadie chimed in with a wink. “If memory serves, someone tried to fly at sunrise and see if she really was going to get burned.” She tapped her chin and pursed her lips. “Who was that again?”

“Okay, okay.” Trixie giggled and punched Sadie on the arm. “Point taken. And how can we forget the story about the time you made out with that human guy before you realized he had a sterling silver tongue ring. From