Page 39 of Death is Familiar

Carmen drummed her fingers on the polished wood countertop. Each of her nails filed to an obsidian point, tapping in calculated waves. “Sounds like there’s more to the story…”

She paid little attention to the bartender when he returned with my ginger ale and a martini with four olives. Olives that looked delightful. My stomach grumbled in agreement.

Or perhaps it was a threat. It was hard to tell anymore.

I eyed my ginger ale hoping it would be a suitable placeholder. But the second grumble of my stomach confirmed that wouldn’t be the case.

Better get a move on.

Before coming to the gathering, I mentally prepared myself for offering an uncomfortable truth. Not too personal, but personal enough, so whoever I was conversing with would feel more inclined to share something with me to even the playing field. Lies, even when well crafted, didn’t seem to have the same effect.

However, just because I was willing to share, didn’t mean she wouldn’t have to work for it. “It’s not the sort of thing I talk about with strangers,” I admitted.

“Come, now, darling, we’re hardly strangers. My mark on your neck can attest to that.” She took ahold of her glass, and sipped, somehow managing to keep her little finger elevated.

“You don’t even know my name.”

“I’ve never paid much attention to names people are given. I prefer those that are taken. Claimed.” She batted her eyelashes. “Besides I rather like No-one-of-consequence. You chose it yourself.”

Carmen’s comment distracted me. I’d never given much thought to my name. I knew about the whole Sampson and Delilah dynamic, but I never really considered who named me. Whether it was my adoptive parents, or a remnant of people I’d never met—my birth parents.

Sensing the beginnings of a thought spiral, I cleared my throat and got back on track. “Last time I drank—” Why was this harder than I expected? “—someone slipped something into my drink… I can’t bring myself to go through something like that again.”

Carmen almost spat out her martini.

Instead, she took a moment, then placed her palm on my knee. Concern lined her flawless features, as the real human in her slipped through. And it was the real human within her that said, “Oh my god, I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be, I’m fine. Everything is fine.” It was. Really. Nothing happened. Except that fucking Mads breaking into my apartment, and he’d done that more than once. And I didn’t like the feeling one bit. “I just don’t drink. Especially, if I’m looking to enjoy myself.”

“At least your man-toy makes sense now.”

She had jumped to the assumption he was on protection detail. But her comment inadvertently left an opening to bring up the real reason Todd and I ventured into this vampire hell-hole, and make her think twice about whatever she had planned for the two of us.

“Fun fact about my man-toy.” I still hated the feel of those words when talking about Todd. It didn’t give him the respect he deserved. “He’s currently on-the-job.”

“Ooh, private security?”

“Something like.”

“Private eye?” Her tone was more serious.

“Think more… official.”

Eyes widening, Carmen skipped right over cops and went directly to— “FBI...?”

Trying to keep things light, I winked. “Bingo.”

“What are you—you signed the consent forms, right?” She removed her hand from my knee, her persona faltering. “You know the safe words. Lenore assured me no one gets in without knowing the safe words.” Self-preservation was top of mind. That much was clear.

“I’m well aware of the safe words.” I added a warmth to my voice to keep Carmen’s alarm at a minimum. “And I’m not FBI, but I did come here looking for answers. Just like my friend, Special Agent Galt.”

I could sense the contempt and curiosity dueling within Carmen as she rapped her nails on the countertop. This was not how she had envisioned her evening. Red creeped up her neck in strange mottled blotches. I knew better than to comment. Vamps cherished the thought that they were absent of blood.

Carmen went still.

So still, I was certain no good could come from whatever plan she was forming.

Slowly, and with her fangs on display, Carmen resurrected her persona. “You have questions, I presume?”