“I’m okay, Gloriana. I just wanted to tell you what I found out.”

“So tell me.” I gripped the phone, praying he had a solution to get rid of Mel once and for all.

“Well, her sister was a big help. Seems she disapproves of Mel’s voodoo tricks. Is a little jealous of her success too, the whole inspirational talk thing, though I had to read her mind to get that from her. Anyway, she said Melisandra has a pattern with men. She gets tired of them quickly once she knows they are hers.” I heard him swear.

“Where are you? Did you fall? Hurt yourself?”

“No, just landed in some thorny bushes. I’m fine. Did you hear what I said? Do you get the implications?”

“So Mel likes the chase, but once she catches a guy she loses interest.” I stared up at the ceiling. “What’s your plan? To come back and turn into her love slave?” My phone cracked and I wiggled my fingers to loosen my grip. I couldn’t afford a new phone right now.

“Now, Gloriana, calm down. I can hear the tension in your voice.” He coughed. “Damn, I dropped into a swamp. Hang on.” I heard water sloshing. “There, I’m on dry land now.”

“Jerry, maybe you should call me back.” I was trying not to dwell on the whole idea of Jerry convincing Mel he was hers.

“No, let me tell you what I want to do. I’ll come back and throw myself at Mel’s feet. Tell her how desperately I missed her when I was in Miami.” He slapped something. “Damned mosquitos. And people call us bloodsuckers.”

“Will you have sex with her? Seems like that would be the best way to convince her.” The ceiling blurred but I blinked it into focus again.

“No. Absolutely not. I intend to mesmerize her, Gloriana. I know she’s got powers, but her sister thinks that I can do it.”

“Then mesmerize the bitch to quit loving you, Jer. That would solve all our problems.” I was so frustrated I wanted to scream. A quick look around convinced me that wasn’t a good idea. A waiter hurried into the practice room with a glass of synthetic for Ray. He glanced at me curiously.

“You know I can’t do that. That’s not how it works. We can mesmerize someone to forget they ate a piece of chocolate, but not that they love chocolate. Trust me, I’ve tried with Mel already. She’s wary of me. It’s going to take some doing on my part. Alexandra gave me a potion to help get Mel to let down her guard with me.”

“So this sister’s a voodoo priestess too?” What a family. “Why not a potion to get Mel to hate you?”

“Trust me, I asked. No go. They’re Haitian. But Alex practices voodoo in what she calls its pure form. None of the dark arts. Or so she says.” More rustling. “Damn that’s a big snake. Not poisonous though. Anyway, she was sure that I could plant a suggestion in Mel’s mind that we had sex when we didn’t, especially if I could slip this potion into her meal beforehand.”

“Oh, kind of like how she drugged you, had her way with you and you didn’t remember only in reverse?” I was on my feet now. He sounded way too cozy with this Alex. Was she as beautiful as Mel? I wasn’t about to ask. My black boots already had one scuff on the toe, another one wouldn’t matter. I kicked the hell out of the wall. Too bad for the Sheetrock.

“Gloriana, that doesn’t even make sense. There will be no sex. I swear it. I’ll leave her in bed with false memories. She’ll think I’m her willing sex slave.”

“Leave her in bed, Jerry. Oh, yeah. I’m loving that picture.” I had a feeling my phone was a goner. The floor was littered with pink rhinestones and I’d lost a piece of plastic.

“My love, I swear nothing will happen. I’ll tear out her throat first.”

“Really? Because I couldn’t get near the bitch.” I swallowed, my urge to cry about to take over.

“She didn’t trust you. She lets me close, maybe because she wants to believe I return her feelings. If I declare my undying love . . . Hell, if I can’t mesmerize her, I’ll kill her and damn the consequences.” His voice was firm.

“She’s famous. The consequences will be many and messy.” I was calming down.

“That’s why it’s my last resort. Are you with me on this plan?”

“The plan sucks swamp water. But I guess it’s all we have. I just want you safe, Jer. And back here with me.” I heard my voice wobble. Shit.

“That’s all I want too. Now about Halloween. You say that’s when you’re singing?”

“Yes. Whoopee. Good to have something to look forward to. Caitie and Bart will be there. Maybe you can have Mel drag you along as her slave. Meet your sister. Hell, announce your engagement.” Okay, so I was still mad about the whole thing. I kept picturing Jerry crawling into bed with that viper. He’d have to kiss her, touch her or she wouldn’t believe him. My stomach churned again. Tequila was off my menu forever.

“Calm down, Gloriana. You know you’re the only woman I love. But I’ll do what it takes to end this and keep you safe. If I’d so demean myself as to literally become her love slave, do you think Mel would still want me?” His voice was low and determined.

“I would. I’d want you any way I could get you.” I slid down the wall again. “I don’t like it, Jerry. You and that woman, together. She has all these tricks and potions. She could drug you again. Do . . . anything to you.”

“Yes, she could. But I plan to beat her to it. And why would she have to if I’m offering myself to her willingly? Especially if she thinks you and I are through, Gloriana. She still thinks that, doesn’t she?”

“I hope so. I’ll keep doing what I can on this end to make sure of it. It’s the only thing I can do to help you now.” I pressed a hand to my eyes. “Damn it, Jerry. You’d better sneak over to see me as soon as you get back. Any idea when that will be?”

“Late tomorrow night. I have to stop soon for the sunrise and I’m in Louisiana now. I have a safe house a couple of hours from here.” He cleared his throat. “Are you okay, Gloriana?”

“Yeah, sure. Just trying to process this stupid plan. You have to know how much I hate it.” I sighed.

“I love you, Gloriana.” His voice became husky. “Believe that, if you believe nothing else.”

“Stay safe, Jer.” I ended the call then barely restrained myself from throwing the phone across the hall. Playing as Mel’s love slave? I sure as hell did hate the idea. This could not end well. The woman was too powerful.

At least tomorrow night I’d have a chance to see if she truly believed Jerry and I were done. I struggled to my feet. Through the almost soundproof door, I heard Ray at the piano. Singing to my mother? I needed to get in there and break up that twosome.

Time to practice another song. I didn’t have the heart for it. But if everything hinged on Halloween night, I’d do it and make it the show of my long lifetime. For Jerry.

Fourteen

Saturday night Sienna, Rafe and I headed for the large auditorium, tickets in hand. I was ready to see Mel in her natural habitat as an inspirational speaker. Own the world. Really? Why not the universe?

“Glory, you look a little tense. If I understand this situation correctly, you want this woman to believe you and Rafe are a couple. If so, then you’d better loosen up a little instead of the current touch-me-and-die vibe you’ve got going on.” Sienna reached forward from the backseat of the SUV and tapped me lightly on the shoulder.

I laughed, caught out. She was right. I had to lighten up. Rafe was driving and I had my fists clenched in my lap. I’d barely spoken since we’d gotten in the car.

“I’m sorry, guys. I haven’t told you Jerry’s plan yet. He’s getting back tonight.” I told them his idea for getting Mel to dump him.

“That’s crazy. He’s taking a big chance that she’ll follow her usual pattern. What if she decides he’s the one man who could be a keeper?” Rafe steered into the parking lot and into a vacant spot. We were early because I wanted to get a good seat, but the lot was already half-full.

“I don’t need you to bring me down, Rafe. I’ve got enough doubts of my own.” I unbuckled my seat belt. “This might work. It’s all we’ve got for now anyway. What else can we do? Aggie destroyed Ian’s lab. He was planning to work on making a potion to use against Mel. I doubt he’ll come through with that now.” I needed to check on the status of that. It still might come in handy if Mel did react differently than Jerry expected.

“Hey, I’ve known women who just like the chase. I say it’s worth a shot. Some people just want the unattainable. Then once they’ve got it, they move on. Kind of like I’ve seen your friend Flo do with clothes, Glory. I swear she wears something once and then that’s it for her.” Sienna leaned between the seats again.

“Yes, that’s about right.” I turned to Rafe. “See? It’s possible that’s the way Mel is about men.”

“I get it. But is Blade really going to be able to keep from having sex with her?” He touched my hand. “Sorry, Glory, but you know he may have to go all the way to be convincing.”

“He’s right. If this woman’s as powerful as you guys say she is, I don’t see how he can avoid it.” Sienna just had to add her two cents.

I jerked open my car door. “I think we’ve talked about this enough. Don’t forget, Mel’s mortal and Jerry’s a powerful vampire. I trust him to make this work without sleeping with her. Okay?” I wouldn’t look at them, just hopped out of the SUV. “Coming?”

“Sure.” Sienna opened her own door. “I’m sorry. It’s not my business anyway.”

“No, I get it. You were just trying to help.” I felt Rafe at my elbow.

“Come on, we need to hear what the woman has to say. Glory claims she wants to become more ambitious. I say it’s high time.” He slammed my car door, then smiled. “Can you look a little more excited, Glory? Tonight, you and I are a couple. Let’s see if you can play that part with conviction.”