Free Bound in Blood by J. P. Bowie Page B

my friend Joey with me for moral support. They’ve known him since we were in junior high together, and he can be very persuasive—especially with my mother. She thinks the sun shines out of his ass—not that she’d put it quite that way, but you know what I mean.”
    “I think so.”
    “So can I see you tonight? I’m not working.”
    “Yes, if you don’t mind meeting a few friends of mine. We’re having a glass of wine at a little restaurant on Santa Monica—La Fortuna. Do you know it?”
    “Uh, yeah,” Chris replied. “I know where it is. Your friends won’t mind?”
    “Not at all. Shall I pick you up at your apartment, at say, eight o’clock?”
    “That’d be great. See you then.”
    BOUND IN BLOOD
    J. P. Bowie
    57
     
    “ Hasta la noche —until tonight.”
     
    Carlos put the phone down and wondered if what he had just done was a wise move.
    Obviously, if his relationship with Christopher was to continue—and he wanted that very much – then he would have to be included in some aspects of Carlos’ life. There was no need for Chris to know everything, not yet at any rate, and Carlos could be certain of his friends’
    discretion. Ron, Jean-Claude’s lover and the manager of La Fortuna, was still mortal, yet they had a successful and committed relationship, despite Ron’s brother and his lover’s tendency to arrive on Ron’s doorstep from Portland without warning.
    It could be done, with care, and although it would be so much easier if Christopher actually knew the truth, why should he be burdened with such an enormity? Vampirism, as seen through the human psyche, was enough to make the strongest man or woman run in terror. No, it was not yet time for the truth. And again, Carlos chastised himself for almost losing control and letting the bloodlust take over. He shuddered as he thought of the consequences had he not fought it with every vestige of his will.
    Never could he allow that to happen again.
    Hearing the sounds of murmured voices in the house, he stood and made his way downstairs to find Roger and Marcus in the living room, side by side on one of the couches, discussing something they had seen in the newspaper. Marcus looked up and smiled as Carlos entered the room.
    “Hey, Carlos—” Roger waved the newspaper at him. “Get a load of this. Some guy swears he was attacked by a vampire the other night.”
    Carlos took the newspaper and quickly scanned the article, sighing with some relief as he read the last lines. “ Although Billy Richards swore he was not hallucinating, the police have put little credence to his statement, as no one else involved in the fracas saw anything strange about their attacker. The men described their assailant as extremely tall—close to seven feet, one said, and weighing about three hundred pounds . Nothing strange indeed,” Carlos chuckled.
    “Well, they wouldn’t want to sound like a bunch of wimps,” Roger pointed out, winking at Carlos. “I mean anyone who could actually lay out six men at once had to be huge
    —or a vampire. ”
    BOUND IN BLOOD
    J. P. Bowie
    58
     
    “I thought I had cleared their minds of the moment I revealed myself,” Carlos said, frowning. “Obviously I missed this one.”
    “Or he had some form of immunity against mind control,” Marcus suggested. “We know there are certain humans who cannot be influenced by us—fortunately, a very few.”
    “Well, the police think he’s looney-toons,” Roger remarked airily, “so I wouldn’t worry about it.” He rose from the couch. “I’m going to get ready for our night out.”
    “I hope you don’t mind.” Carlos touched Roger’s arm. “I invited Christopher to join us at La Fortuna tonight.”
    “Wow.” Roger beamed at him. “This is getting serious.”
    “So Roger, try to be low key, please,” Marcus warned him. “I’m sure Carlos doesn’t want his date scared off by any of your of-the-wall remarks.”
    Roger put his hands on his hips and tried to look