Blue-Blooded Vamp by Jaye Wells Page A

you don’t want this gun to start barking,” I warned.
    Italian Suit’s eyebrows slammed down like he had trouble following my English. But he must have gotten the gist. “It is too dangerous to say her name on the streets during these troubled times. However, I can tell you that my mistress, Donna Chiara Rossi, is playing host to an esteemedvampire of your acquaintance.” He paused for dramatic effect. “Very esteemed.”
    I tried to figure out who he could be referring to. All of the esteemed vampires I’d known were now dead—Lavinia, Tanith… Oh shit! “Wait, do you mean Per—”
    The Italian cut off the name I was about to say with a tsking sound. “I believe we understand each other.”
    “Hold on.” I held up a finger and dragged Adam away for a confab. Erron was close enough to hear us but kept his magic trained on the vamps. “I think we should go with them.”
    His eyebrows brushed his hairline. “What? Two seconds ago you were ready to cause an international incident.”
    I leaned in closer, my volume barely above a whisper. “Persephone sent them.”
    His eyes widened as the implications hit him. Persephone had disappeared four nights earlier from the mage compound near Sleepy Hollow. As the last surviving Domina, she was now the sole leader of the vampire race. However, since she earned that title because the last leader, Tanith Severinus, exploded all over the unsigned peace treaty, she obviously had a few reservations about taking over.
    “The plot thickens,” Adam said. “What’s our play?”
    “Do you trust me?” I asked.
    A crease formed between his brows. “Yes, but—”
    I held up a hand. “No buts. Just follow my lead and do what I say.” When he didn’t continue to argue, I turned back to the Italian vampire contingent. “Okay, we’ll go with you. But the first sign of aggression and I’ll reduce the Roman vampire population by thirteen. Got it?”
    “The mages are not invited. This is vampire business.”
    I didn’t bother pointing out to him that I was half mage.Having grown up in the vampire community myself, I understood how insular the politics could be. Arguing in favor of Adam and Erron’s presence at the meeting was a waste of breath. Besides, I had a chore for the mages now, anyway.
    “Fine, but I need to bring my cat with me.”
    He eyed Giguhl, who fell back on his haunches to lick his undercarriage. Obviously dismissing the feline as a nonthreat, the vampire nodded. “That is agreeable to me.”
    I turned to Erron and Adam. “Go on ahead to the statue and see what you can find. When you get back to the hotel, call Rhea and let her know we found her,” I said, referring to Persephone.
    Adam opened his mouth to argue, but my dead-serious expression must have dissuaded him. “How long should I wait until I start worrying?”
    I glanced at the Italian, who was tapping his black Gucci loafer on the damp cobblestones. “If there’s trouble, I’ll just introduce them to our horny green friend.” I nodded toward the cat. Between Giguhl and me, we’d be able to escape just about any trouble the vampires could conjure up.
    “Got it.” With that, Adam planted a fast, hard kiss on my lips. In the next instant, before the warmth of his touch cooled, he and Erron flashed away.
    Normally when someone flashes out through interspatial travel, there isn’t much to see. But Adam and Erron, gods bless them, made quite a show of smoke and sparks.
    The fireworks seemed to unsettle the vampires. Good.
    I turned back to my hosts and raised my hands. “Lead the way.”

I
almost changed my mind when I saw the mode of transport the Italian vamp, who’d introduced himself as Damiano, led us toward.
    “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”
    Damiano frowned. “
Scusi
?”
    I pointed. “You don’t seriously expect me to ride on a Vespa?”
    He pursed his lips. “But of course.”
    All around us, the twelve vamp apostles were climbing atop their own scooters. Sans