“It’s a sham, Ma. I told you that.” Jerry looked everywhere but at the bed.
“She wears his ring.” Mag nodded toward my left hand.
“Window dressing. We had a Grammy thing tonight.” I pulled it off and set it on the dresser. “Now, please, Angus, Mag, won’t you sit?” I’d just about quit calling them lord and lady over a century ago. It didn’t seem to win me any points and Jerry had said it was okay to drop the titles. Being in America had given us both a new perspective on the whole royalty issue. The fact that it bugged the hell out of Mag when I didn’t bother to give her the proper “respect” just sweetened the deal.
Angus and Mag sat. Jerry gestured that I should sit beside him on the bed facing them. Well, why not? Guess Jerry had decided he was going to make the bed his turf now. So I sat, well aware that I was at a disadvantage in my robe and not much else. But the looks on their faces didn’t give me time for a wardrobe change.
“What do you want to know?” I’d be cooperative for Jerry’s sake, but I wasn’t about to offer information they didn’t ask for.
“Any idea how many men MacDonald has?” Angus leaned forward.
“The most I’ve seen is six bodyguards. They all look like surfers.” I saw a puzzled frown on both Mag’s and Angus’s faces. “Tanned, blond, built. Like they spent a lot of time in the sun in their mortal lives. Anyway, they hang out on the beach in front of Ian’s house. They’re all vampires. I don’t believe I saw a single shifter or other kind of paranormal in his crew. But he may have some as day guards. Just like I do.” Which reminded me that Valdez wasn’t back. I threw up a block. Oops. Too late. Jerry gave me a narrow-eyed look but, with his parents there, I knew the questions would come later.
“Any other security?” Jerry pulled a knife from the scabbard on his belt and toyed with it. “Did you see any weapons?”
“What? You think he would display stakes or something?” I shook my head. “Honestly, you guys need to rethink this. Ian is all about the future. He’s computerized, on the Web. He’s not going to worry about the Campbells. He’s too busy trying to figure out how to stay awake during the day.”
“The hell you say.” Angus glanced at his wife. “Only a fool would believe in such a claim.”
“Maybe so, Angus, but I’ve seen a video. I’m not sure it’s not some kind of fabrication, but Ray—Israel Caine, the vampire I’m mentoring—believes in it so strongly he’s willing to try Ian’s special supplements.” I sighed, leaned on Jerry a minute and felt his arm go around me. “I’m afraid he’ll go up in flames, but Ian swears his stuff works. That he’s been out during the day himself and lived to tell the tale.”
“Nonsense. Vampires out in daylight? It’s a fantasy we’ve all had, to see the sun again, but know better than to believe in. Especially coming from the likes of a MacDonald.” Mag jumped up. “Angus, maybe we won’t have to risk an attack. Bide your time and this MacDonald will destroy himself.”
“It’s possible, Ma.” Jerry squeezed my shoulders. “Valdez tells me that Glory has been taking Ian’s potions and has actually been awake during the day already. Haven’t you, Glory?”
“Yes.” I said it in a small voice, not sure I wanted to be Exhibit A with Mag and Angus staring a hole in me. I had a vivid memory of being burned at the stake as a witch. Not a dream, a nightmare. Never really happened.
Mag approached me and I stood, not willing to be loomed over by her.
“You saw it. You saw the sun?”
“I was afraid to actually look at it directly, Mag. But I did see the light from it around the curtains. I was awake after sunrise. The sunshine burned me when I stepped into it.” I met her gaze. “It was strange and, I admit, awesome. I never thought it could happen again. That I’d see daylight.”
“Liar!” Mag slapped me across my face, rocking me back.
I balled up my fist and landed a good one right on her pointy chin, relishing her screech of outrage. Jerry threw himself between us. Was he protecting her or me?
“You bitch! I will never let you hit me again. You even haunt my nightmares!” I dove for her, but Jerry grabbed me around the waist.
Angus grabbed Mag’s arm, obviously stunned into silence.
“Filthy whore! Lowborn slut! Jeremiah never should have brought you into our home.” Mag held her jaw and sobbed.
“That’s enough, Ma!” Jerry held me against his chest when I tried to go after her again. “Calm down, Gloriana.”
“She started it, Jerry. I wasn’t lying and you know it.” I shoved back and stomped to the far side of the bed, still pumped. I hoped Mag came after me again. I wanted to pound her into the carpet. Hit her until she wept and begged my forgiveness and admitted I was good enough for Jerry. I felt my nails digging into my palms and took a calming breath.
“Mother, listen to me!” Jerry grabbed his mother’s shoulders, pushing her away from me when she started forward again. “Glory tells the truth. Valdez was there. He saved her from more harm.”
“More’s the pity.” Mag snarled. “They are probably lovers, Jeremiah. The shifter would say anything for her. When are you going to realize what this woman is?” She turned to Angus. “We’re wasting our time here. Let’s go.”
“Yes, it’s best you leave. I’ll see you at the hotel later.” Jerry exchanged looks with his father before his parents stalked from the bedroom.
“Yes, get out, Mag. I’ll be happy if I never see you again.” I followed them to the bedroom door. Mag just sniffed, like she couldn’t be bothered to reply to the ravings of a commoner. I collapsed on the bed when Jerry closed the bedroom door again. Damn. I guess I’d never be a lady. But then, who’d thrown the first punch? Not me. Not very ladylike of Mag, was it?
“I’m sorry about that. My mother—”
“Your mother hates me. Nothing new there.” I rubbed my throbbing cheek, coming down off my high with a vengeance. “She still packs a wallop.”
“You scared the hell out of her.” Jerry sat beside me and gathered me in his arms.
“Scared? Mag Campbell?” I laughed and leaned against Jerry.
“Think about it, Glory. If the MacDonalds have the secret to staying awake during the day, we’re lost. We’d have to hire an army of shifters to protect us.” Jerry rested his chin on my hair. “And, sorry, but I’ve yet to meet one I totally trust. Including your current Valdez.”
That got me. I didn’t, or actually couldn’t, say anything. Because I knew what was coming. Where was my trusty bodyguard right now? The man who was never to leave my side under any circumstances? Oh, yeah. Off chasing after my fake fiancé. And it was close to dawn. If Valdez didn’t make it back by then, where did that leave me? We both heard the hall door open and close and we jumped up.
“Who?” I sniffed the air. “Brittany.” I smiled. “She can watch over me during the day if Valdez doesn’t get back.”
“Back from where, Glory?” Jerry lifted my chin until I stared into his eyes. “You know damned good and well he has strict orders not to leave you alone. Not unless I’m with you. Yet I found you with a strange mortal, unguarded.”
“The mortal was clearly harmless. And Valdez followed Ray for me. I was desperate, Jerry. Ray was upset, bound and determined to go out to Ian’s place to see about the daylight thing. I was going to follow him myself but Valdez forbade it.”
“Of course he did. You shouldn’t be so foolish. Never should have gone out there in the first place. As I’ve told you more than once.”
“Yes, yes, I know.” I held up a hand to forestall another lecture. I’d had enough of them. “Just spare me, okay?” I opened the bedroom door. Brittany stood on the balcony. She turned when she saw Jerry and me in the doorway.
“Where’s Rafe?”
“He should be back any minute. He followed Ray tonight. Since you weren’t here.” I frowned at her. “Where were you anyway?”
“Mr. Caine told me to take the night off. So I did.” Brittany crossed her arms over her ample chest. “Unlike Rafe, I do try to maintain a decent life away from the job.” She cocked her head. “They’re coming, both of them.” She stepped back. “Good thing too. You’ve only got about a half hour till dawn.”
I looked at Jerry. “That means you’d better go.” Too much to hope that I could get him out of there before Valdez and Ray dropped out of the sky.
“Not a chance.” He smiled grimly. “Not before I have a word with, um, Rafe.”
Too late anyway. First one bat, then another landed on the balcony. One morphed into a man, the other into a Labradoodle dog.
“I see you entertained while I was gone, Glory.” Ray scowled and strode into the living room. He pulled a small bottle from his pants pocket and set it on the bar.
“It wasn’t exactly entertaining. Jerry and his parents dropped by for some information about Ian.” I gasped when Jerry squeezed my waist. Oops, maybe I wasn’t supposed to tell that. “You’re not the only one who wants to see the sun, you know.” I looked back at Jerry. Had that been a nice save or what?
“Give me a break. I know about your feud, Blade.” Ray sat in a chair and kicked off his shoes. “So your parents are in town. The head of the Clan. I’d better let Ian know to run for his life or call up his own clan and prepare for battle.”
Jerry crossed the room in a blur of motion and had Ray up by his shirt in an instant. “You’ll do no such thing.”
“Hands off, Blade.” Brittany held a stake against Jerry’s back, right where it could go through to his heart. “Mr. Caine pays me to keep him safe. If I have to turn you to dust, that’s what I’ll do.”