vampires of san francisco 07 - suckers lost and found by Jessica McBrayer Page A

reinforces our commitment to help him.
          “I can’t wait,” I say as I lift Lily’s chin and give her a long-overdue kiss.
          “What are we going to do with this gentleman?” Julian asks, as he points to the Italian server.
          “Might I make a suggestion?” Aidan asks.
          “Of course,” I say as I run my fingers through Lily’s soft, sweet-smelling curls.
          “Let me take him back to the states. It’s far enough away that he should be safe and I can get him set up in an apartment until he gets on his feet. I can’t stand anyone being a slave and that was what he was.”
          “That sounds very generous,” Lily says. “Can you magick him so he can speak and understand English? That would be necessary.”
          “I can do that and will. Now which state should I take him to?”
          “How about Forks, Washington? They are trying to grow their population and its low key, temperate and close to us so we can check up on him,” I explain. Lily rolls her eyes.
          “Sounds good. Let me give the gift of English and then we can ask him if he agrees.”
          Julian has been busy translating this whole time so when Aidan waves his hand and the man sputters and then starts gushing his thanks to us in English. We release our resentment as he tells us his story. Even Hannah relents.
          “Thank you so much. Grazie, those men I worked for were like your mob. They were very dangerous and Cristian is a part of the group. I don’t know how or what he does but you aren’t the first person I have made that cocktail for.” He nods to Lily. “I’ve made it six other times for beautiful women and I’ve never seen them again,” he says. He lowers his head. Lily moves to him. I knew she wouldn’t be able to keep her pique up. She is so soft-hearted. She takes his hand, Daniele is his name. A thirty-year-old vamp. He looks at her and she smiles at him. His eyes grow wide. Mon Dieu, she has another worshipper.
          “Daniele, thank you for telling them where the antidote was. It saved my wedding among other things. You didn’t have to do that but you did. So, thank you and I wish you the best of luck in Washington. We’ll visit you soon or you can come and visit us after you get situated.”
    “You shouldn’t thank me. I gave you the drink in the first place and I’m so ashamed of myself. If I hadn’t been in over my head with my debts I never would have ended up in that place.”
    “We all make mistakes,” Hannah says squeezing his hand. She always acts so tough but she is a big softie too.
    “I’ll be back in a couple of hours after I get Daniele settled. By the way Daniele, I’m a djinn and we are going to travel the same way I brought you here. Are you ready?” Aidan asks.
    Daniele looks apprehensive but nods. Aidan takes his hand and they pop out. I’m sure Aidan is going to question him about Manda. It’s not likely that Manda was ever in the club though.
    “Well that was some bachelor party,” I say and wink at my girl.
     

 
     
     
    EIGHT / LILITH
     
    Sebastian helps me up from the bench and we walk the short distance to our little bungalow. It has a huge bed in it and a small suite for the bathroom. The bathroom has a Jacuzzi tub and separate shower and the tub is built large enough for four people. Next to the tub is a floor-to-ceiling window that looks out over an open meadow under the night sky. Blood-red candles cover every flat surface of the bathroom. They smell like cloves and oranges.
    “Sebastian, let’s take a bath and wash off the night.”
    “Sounds like a good idea, besides I get to have you naked and wet.”
    “I’m not for anything wild. Could you just hold me?”
    “Bien sur, ma petite.” He kisses the top of my head.
    I light the candles and turn off the lights. Sebastian gets in and I turn on the jets and he groans. I think all the tension of the last few days has