“You’re happy you found the velvet coat you were looking for. And even happier that it’s on sale, half price.” I reached up and touched one of her split ends. “You’ll use the money you saved to get your hair done by a professional. ” The woman nodded.

“Now shop.”

The woman smiled and pulled the coat off the rack. “This is just what I was looking for. And half price!” She brought it to the counter and dug in her purse for her wallet. “You know a good hair dresser?” She nodded toward my shoulder length curls. “I’d love a new look before I go home with my new boyfriend at Thanksgiving.” She made a face. “Meeting his parents.”

I pulled out a business card. “Here, tell Reza that Glory sent you.” Reza’s a werecat buddy of Lacy’s who had a beauty shop a few blocks away. “Good luck with the parents.”

I smiled as the woman left and more customers came in. Business was booming, thank God. I was really glad to see Lacy at midnight. She usually didn’t work at night, but when I’d told her about Flo and the meeting at Freddy’s, she’d insisted I let her fill in for me.

Now to deal with Flo. I wanted her to go to the meeting with me and GET A CLUE about what she was mixed up in with Simon. I hurried up the stairs, the dogs at my heels. I could hear the television even before I opened the door. And laughter. Flo’s merry tinkle and a deeper laugh.

I stopped in front of the door, scared that I was about to meet Simon Destiny. Would my dogs be strong enough to keep me from being dragged away into his den of drug dealing tummy-suckers?

But it was just Damian sitting beside his sister, laughing at an old Seinfeld episode. The one where Jerry and Elaine make a vow of abstinence. They were even worse at abstinence than I was. It was a good episode and if I didn ’t have the meeting to go to, I would have enjoyed sinking down on the couch with a cold glass of Fangtastic in my hand and laughing out loud with them.

“Meeting tonight. Are you going, Flo?” I kept my purse slung over my shoulder. “We need to leave in five minutes or less.”

Damian grabbed the remote from Flo and the TV went dark and silent.

“Stop it, Damian. We’re just getting to the best part. I want to see who caves first.”

“Forget caving, Florence. Glory and I want to talk to you. About your involvement with Simon.” Damian pulled his sister to her feet. “Look at me, cara.”

“Relax, Damian. Simon’s fine. I’m fine. I already told Glory that.”

“And did Glory tell you the EVs sent a man for her? That he threatened her?”

“Well, I don’t know that he actually threatened me.” Sometimes I’m stupidly honest. “But Greg wanted me to come with him to the EV headquarters. He’s been stalking me. Giving me those headaches. Remember?”

“Greg. Yes, I have met such a one. A drone. Pay him no attention.” Flo smiled. “He has no power so he looks for powerful ones to bring to Simon. But Simon would never have him take someone against their will. ” Flo looked at Damian. “You two are getting worked up for nothing.”

“The EVs are drug dealers, Florence. I don’t consider that nothing.”

“Now, Damian”—Flo patted his cheek—“I remember that you tried the Vampire Viagra yourself before it was called by that silly name. We bought some from Juan Carlos in Madrid. It was not so bad, no? I had my lover El Greco and you.” Flo grinned. “I think you had a harem back then.”

“Merely six or seven . . .” Damian shook his head. “I hated the drug. I was like a bull, mating any female who would bend over for me.”

“And is that such a bad thing?” Florence actually laughed, while I just stood there with my mouth open. Damian is nothing if not suave and sophisticated, especially when it came to seduction. The VV must have really done a number on him to turn him into a rutting beast.

“Come to the meeting with us, Flo. With the area vampires. About Westwood and about the EVs.”

“What? Are we forming a posse? Will you run them out of town?” Flo frowned and picked up her purse. “I’m not interested in your meeting. And as for Westwood, if you want him terminated, you should talk to Simon. I think he could arrange anything.”

And Flo was out the door. Damian and I just looked at each other.

“She’s out of control.”

“She’s always out of control.” Damian threw the remote control on the couch. “Let’s go. I told Richard I would drive you to the meeting. The dogs too. I brought the big Mercedes. ” He looked down at Valdez. “You two will ride in the back and you’d better not put paw prints on my leather seats.”

“Then don’t park next to a puddle.” Valdez sniffed and followed me out the door. “I’m worried about Flo, Glory. She’s way more into this guy than she usually is.”

“I know.” I turned and locked the door after the four of us were in the hall. “But what can we do about it? She’s an adult. And she didn’t ask for our interference.”

“She didn’t ask, but she’s going to get it.” Damian ran down the stairs. “And if it takes a posse to get rid of the EVs, then that’s what we’ll have. Vigilante justice.”

“Obviously you weren’t watching Seinfeld all night.”

“Nope. Flo’s got a thing for Brad Pitt. Says Simon reminds her of him. She couldn ’t find the movie she wanted so we started with Legends of the Fall.” Damian turned and grinned at me. “Did the posse thing give us away?”

“You know it.”

Seventeen

Over a dozen vampires crowded into Freddy and CiCi’s living room. Damian had dropped the dogs and me off in front while he’d gone in search of a parking place. The house was near enough to the University of Texas that, even at 1:00 a.m., the street was lined with cars. Music and laughter from a house three doors down probably meant students lived there. There was no music or laughter coming from Freddy’s house, but plenty of loud conversation. That stopped when I entered the room, trailed by Will and Valdez.

“What?” I checked out the crowd. CiCi looked distressed. Derek and Freddy amused. The silent majority accusing. Or was I being paranoid? I grabbed a Baccarat crystal goblet of Fangtastic from a silver tray and sniffed appreciatively. AB negative, my favorite.

“There she goes again. I told you I saw fangs.” Darren, the professor type Valdez had saved from the fire, pointed at me. “Run it again, Derek. You’ll see.”

I gingerly touched my tongue to one of my fangs. “So? I’m among . . . friends. If I can’t show fang here, where?”

“TV, Glory. The station’s Web site has your segment up.” Derek gestured toward his laptop set up on the dining room table visible through an archway. “Fang, honey, on TV and on the Internet. We all saw it.”

“And that painting!” A female vamp I’d met a few times before was obviously upset. I’m terrible with names, but I remembered her hair, desperately in need of a trim. I mean, the hippie, “hair down to your butt” look was so over.

“What about the painting? My customers love it.” I took a sip and sighed. Times like these, I thought about hooking up with a rich vampire (okay, a rich vampire like Blade) and letting him actually take care of me. Imagine AB neg every night.

“A vampire painting, Glory.” Another woman, a friend this time, Diana from Mugs and Muffins, chimed in. “I love Flo, but how could you let her paint vampires on your wall? Why not just post a sign? ‘Stake me.’ ”

“It’s art. Decoration for the shop. No one takes it seriously. Hey, aren’t we here to discuss the EVs?”

“Glory’s right.” Freddy looked at Derek. “We’re here because the EVs have invaded Austin.”

“That’s an exaggeration, isn’t it, Frederick?” An older vamp who obviously didn’t care that he was playing into the stereotype, stepped forward, one hand in the pocket of his black velvet blazer. He could have been Bela Lugosi’s twin with his dead white skin and slicked back hair. He must have left his cape in the car. “There are only a dozen EVs. Hardly an invading horde.”

“A dozen or one. What they represent is a danger to all of us. And they have plenty of followers.” Freddy glanced at his mother. What was up with CiCi anyway? She’d sunk into a chair, her hand shaking as she drained her goblet.

“What’s an EV?” Diana, bless her, hadn’t been clued in. It was nice not to be the dumbest blonde in the room for a change.

“Energy Vampires.” CiCi shuddered. “They take a vampire’s power and use it for the most unspeakable—”

“Vampire Viagra. Can you believe it?” I should have known Will had been quiet long enough. Diana laughed, obviously thinking this was a huge joke. But a quick glance around the room made it clear the majority of the vamps knew exactly who and what EVs were and what their main product could do.

“Seriously, Di.” I took pity on her. “Flo’s involved with their leader, Simon Destiny.”

“Simon!” CiCi gasped. “Frederick, you didn’t tell me Simon was here.” She put her hand to her throat and, even across the room, I could see the frantic pounding of her pulse. She was really agitated. Vamp’s hearts usually thump along at about half mortal speed.

“No, Mother, I didn’t. Even if he moved in next door, neither of us needs to see him. ” Frederick made a vamp move to his mother’s side and held onto her hand.

“But he’s your father.” Richard spoke from the doorway.

Oh, boy. Talk about your bombshells. I met Richard ’s gaze. Forget reading his mind. Everywhere I looked vamps ’ minds snapped shut, tight as the lid on a coffin.

"EVs can reproduce?” Diana was determined to be the voice of ignorance. “Is Freddy an Energy Vampire?”

"EVs must be born vampires. Just like”—CiCi glanced down—“Will here.” CiCi held onto Freddy’s hand, her knuckles white.