Real Vampires Live Large Read Online Free Page A

treatment. If Westwood had done this . . .
    â€œFolks, you’ve got to let the paramedics look you over. It’s our policy.” Cute fireman led Flo over to an ambulance. You can bet she wasn’t letting anyone put a stethoscope to her barely beating heart. And, sure enough, the men around her smiled and nodded and let her walk back to us without a checkup. The whammy at work again.
    â€œThey won’t bother us now. Let’s go upstairs.” She sniffed. “The whole building smells like smoke. My shoes had better not be ruined.”
    Diana looked at her with red eyes. “Your shoes? Your shoes ? Excuse me? Do you see my shop? Glory’s shop? We’re out of business!”
    I grabbed Diana’s arm. “We’ll be fine. Damian’s bound to have insurance.” Hope. Pray. Damian Sabatini was Flo’s brother and owned the building. “Upstairs. Get a shower and some dry clothes.”
    â€œElectricity will be off for a while, people.” Another fireman, a captain according to his helmet. “Here are some flashlights. But please just gather what you need for the night and make plans to sleep elsewhere. Until the building inspector gives the go ahead to occupy the residences.”
    I realized we were lucky no one had asked why we all were ready for bed at what must be seven in the evening. We were a pretty strange looking group.
    We heard a shout and I saw Diana grabbed by two of her employees. I caught some snatches. Slow time of day. No customers so both workers had been in the back area making up a batch of the muffins the place was famous for. At least neither of them had been hurt.
    A car pulled up behind the fire engine and a man jumped out. Damian aka Casanova. He’s a sexy vampire, but I’m now immune. He’d played some dirty tricks on me while trying to add another notch to his bed post.
    Did I mention he’s our landlord? I was actually glad to see him and his look of concern. Please let him have insurance. I sure didn’t. I know. I know. But the premiums! I looked back at the shop. Maybe I’d rethink my priorities if my business survived this.
    â€œFlorence, Gloriana, are you all right?” He grabbed Flo and looked her over. “Diana?”
    â€œWe’re all fine, Damian.” Flo hugged him before we all turned to head upstairs.
    â€œWait!” Someone grabbed my arm. “Donna Mitchell, Channel Six News. The fireman said this is your shop?” A female reporter dressed in a blazer and running shoes thrust a microphone near my mouth. I started to brush her off, then glanced at the front of my shop again.
    â€œYes. This is, was my place. Vintage Vamp’s Emporium, offering fine clothing and accessories from the past at bargain prices.” Okay, so I had to plug it, even if I had no idea if I even had a shop anymore. Tears filled my eyes and the camera zoomed in. Nothing like a tragedy to boost ratings.
    â€œAny idea what happened, Ms. . . . ?”
    â€œGloriana St. Clair.” I hitched my slipping blanket up on my shoulders. My wet hair dripped into my eyes. I was damned mad and looking pitiful worked for me right now. Valdez pressed himself against my legs and looked up at me soulfully. “We all work night shifts, so my dog here helped wake us up.” I patted him on the head and he showed his teeth in a doggy grin. “Someone did this on purpose.”
    â€œAre you saying this was arson?” The reporter was all business now, gesturing at the cameraman so he could pan to the broken and blackened windows.
    â€œAbsolutely.” I looked directly at the camera when it was aimed at me again. “And I want to put whoever did this on notice. I will reopen. I will not just disappear.”
    â€œGee, you make this sound like a hate crime. Are you, um, a minority?”
    Blond, blue-eyed white girl a minority? I smiled and read the reporter’s mind. Hmm. I could set her straight, ha-ha,