Free Cunningham, Pat - Legacy [Sequel to Belonging] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by Pat Cunningham Page A

second.”
    “And the voice in your head? The one telling you to come outside? To come home? How’d they pull that off?”
    That jab won him her stare. “How do you know what he said?”
    “I heard him same as you did. We’re all pretty much on the same frequency.” Wallace stood and leaned against the recliner’s armrest. “Look, sweetheart, here’s the deal. Vampires are real. We come out at night, we drink blood, we sunburn like a son of a bitch, the whole nine yards. You need to accept that because that’s what’s after you. It would help if we knew why they’re so undead set on nabbing you. Any insights?”
    “How would I know? I didn’t do anything. I don’t go to Goth bars or bite clubs or whatever they call them. I babysit preschoolers, for God’s sake.”
    Jeremy rubbed her shoulder. “It’s okay. We believe you. Don’t we, Wallace?”
    “Sure, Scarecrow. Whatever you say. Even when you say we’re a cult. Don’t make that face at me.”
    “Start being helpful, and I’ll stop.”
    “Stop being a bitch, and I’ll start being helpful.”
    “Stop it!” Colleen yelled. Both of them backed off. She spotted the glass of whiskey where Jeremy had placed it on the end table. She snatched it up and drained the remains of the liquor in one quick gulp. Wallace grunted. She set the empty glass aside and glared up at Wallace. “You’re a vampire.”
    He showed off his fangs. “At your service. Just don’t ask me to sparkle. I don’t do that shit.”
    She swung her glare over to Jeremy. “So what are you, his human slave?”
    Jeremy shrugged with a little half-smile. “Pretty much, yeah.”
    Wallace snorted. “The hell. He doesn’t do half of what I tell him. Watch this. Slave, get your perky ass over here, get down on your knees, and suck my cock.”
    “You can kiss my perky ass.”
    “You see what I mean?” Wallace said to Colleen. “If he wasn’t such a hot piece in bed I’d dump him.”
    “Can we get back on topic here?” Jeremy said. “Colleen’s life is in danger.”
    “Yeah, okay. First thing we do—”
    “First,” Colleen broke in, “you cut the crap right now. I’m done. I’m calling the police. I want—” She waved her hands helplessly and ended up resting her head in them. “I want to go home.”
    “Not a good idea,” Wallace said. “They know where you live. They’ve got your scent. They’re single-minded bastards. They’ll keep coming until they get you. You’d better stay somewhere else for a while.”
    “He’s got a point,” Jeremy chimed in. “You might not think so now, but you’d be safest here.”
    “What about Annie and Gus?” Wallace asked. “They’ve got the room, and they know what they’re doing. We could take her there.”
    “No, we can’t. Shayla’s there, too. We’re not putting her in danger.”
    “Shit, you’re right. Okay, it’s settled. The chick stays here.”
    “Colleen,” Jeremy reminded him tersely. “It won’t kill you to remember her name.”
    “Excuse me,” Colleen said. “Do I get a say in this?”
    They both looked at her and said in unison, “No.”
    “Look,” Jeremy went on, “I know this is a lot to throw at you at once. At least stay the night. We’ll try to figure something out in the morning.”
    She looked at them dubiously. Stay the night. Here. With two men whose nearness made her nerve endings tingle in a scarily erotic way. One of whom claimed to be a—no, screw that. She wouldn’t say that word again, not even in her head.
    It was Jeremy who decided her, and her longing—screw that, too, make it a need—to be near him. She trusted him completely, in spite of his outlandish claims. As for Wallace, maybe if she didn’t think about his teeth, she could make it through one night.
    “All right,” she said. “Just for tonight. Tomorrow I’m calling the police. And nobody mentions the V-word, okay?”
    “Got it.” Wallace grinned, this time without showing any teeth. “So, which of us