Stakes & Stilettos - Michelle Rowen [100]
I kept an eye on Veronique. Whatever she was telling Barry caused him to glare in my direction every few seconds. Great. I guess it was obvious who was his favorite contestant in this fanged version of the Dating Game.
“It’s about Gideon Chase,” Amy continued. “You know he was killed slaying a freaking demon in Las Vegas, right? Can you believe it? That’s why the El Diablo Casino burned to the ground.”
“Coming through!” George slid past us carrying a tray heavily laden with drinks.
“Actually, I didn’t know all the details,” I said.
“The casino burned to the ground from hellfire. Hellfire! How bizarre is that?”
“Hellfire. Huh.” I was only half listening to her.
“That’s what killed Gideon. Hellfire. Apparently it completely and totally incinerated his body. There was nothing left behind. It was a closed casket with only a picture and a pair of shoes inside.”
Veronique pointed directly at me and Barry glowered. Damn. I wish my vampire hearing was better. I tried to pretend I wasn’t paying attention, so I turned to Amy.
“So… this Gideon update. How did you hear this? Is it on the Vampire Hunters of America Web site?”
“No. Actually Quinn called ten minutes ago. He wanted to talk to you but I knew you were busy.”
“Quinn? He called here? That’s the second time this week.”
She nodded. “He also called to say he’s getting married and he thinks he’s coming back to Toronto to do it since everyone else on the continent hates him or wants him dead. Those were his words. We’re all invited to the wedding.” She clapped her hands. “I love weddings!”
“Married?” That finally got my full attention. “Quinn’s getting married? Quinn? To who?”
“That really nice girl who was your bodyguard. Janie.” She touched her now-flaxen pixie cut. “She liked my pink hair.”
Janie had been a liar, a double-crosser, and she’d tried to kill me by handing my ass over on a silver platter to her master vampire boss, Nicolai. Then she ended up saving me. And now she was engaged to Quinn?
Three weeks. Seriously. Three weeks and Quinn had gotten over me that quickly?
I laughed out loud and shook my head. “Well, more power to him. I guess.”
“Yeah, so he called and told me about his engagement, and about the Gideon thing. He thought you should know.”
Gideon. If there was ever a name I never wanted to hear again of a man I’d never even had the displeasure to actually meet in real life, that was the one.
Buh-bye, Gideon, I thought. Can’t say that I’ll miss you.
Veronique leaned over and air kissed Barry on both cheeks, then she swung her ermine stole over one shoulder and walked out of the club.
“Okay, thanks for the update,” I said. “I’ve got to go convince Veronique that Thierry and I belong together.”
“Sure. Good luck with that,” she said, although she didn’t sound all that convinced.
I quickly followed Veronique until she left the club entirely and was outside the red door in the alley.
“Veronique, wait,” I called after her.
She turned and raised a perfectly penciled-in eyebrow. “Did you wish to speak with me, my dear?”
“Actually, yeah. Do you mind?”
“Why should I mind?” A smile grew on her full red lips. “Come.” She held out a hand to me. “We shall have a drink together. There is a café down the street.”
Well, that was friendlier than I’d expected.
The café was the same one I’d gone to with Heather and her boyfriend the night I’d been staked. I tensed as soon as I saw its sign, the French Connection, glimmering in the near distance. But I didn’t say anything. I sucked it up and ordered a coffee when we went inside. Black. Veronique ordered a latte and a croissant with apricot preserves.
I never realized that she was one of the lucky vamps, even at her age, who could still stomach solid food. Apparently that trait was on a biological lottery system and Veronique had come out as a winner. Figures.
“Barry told me more about your unfortunate situation,” she said. “How are you managing?”
“I’m much better now.” I decided not to share my news about the gold chain with her.
“I remember when the nightwalkers roamed the earth. It was a different