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“We’ll be hiring an overseeing manager to keep track of all our holdings. Abbott did this personally, trusting the manager of each establishment to let him know of any issues he needed to handle, and peeking in on things at random intervals while he managed TBC at night. However, I’ve never managed a bar before. I’m good managing and organizing people, but I have no desire to learn the computer systems necessary to make sure inventory is stocked, people are paid, and taxes are filed. Jayce is now officially assistant manager, and he’s handling those aspects. I’ll be in charge of hiring and firing, and I’m handling the scheduling because he doesn’t want to be anyone’s boss. He likes just being the bartender.
I considered what she was saying. “Marco has people he can trust to run businesses. He ran both legal and illegal gambling organizations in New York and New Jersey. He owned much larger businesses there than he does in Chattanooga.”
“Most of those managers are moving to Atlanta, Nashville, and other large cities in the territory. We have a team in the process of buying one of the larger casinos in Mississippi, where gambling is allowed. Supernatural power is good, but so is financial power.”
I turned left, going up Signal Mountain instead of heading back towards town, and she asked, “Where are we going?”
I’d wondered if she knew her way around enough to recognize when I drove the wrong direction to take her home. Usually, it annoys me when the monsters are smart, but I adored how intelligent this particular vampire was turning out to be.
“I’m a silent partner in a firm with rental homes. One is empty at the moment, and I had it prepped for guests.”
She didn’t say anything, and I tried to analyze her silence. I didn’t sense anger, but I wasn’t certain I would.
“I apologize for not discussing it with you ahead of time. I want more time to talk to you, and you aren’t comfortable taking me to your personal space. If you want me to take you home, you only have to tell me.”
“Clearly, you aren’t comfortable taking me to your personal space, either.”
“I’ve never let any vampire know where I sleep.”
* * * *
Etta
And there it was. I’m a vampire. Ryan’s natural enemy. I can’t know where he’s vulnerable.
But really, weren’t we vampires doing the same? Making sure the slayer can’t get to us when we’re dead to the world?
“We’re natural enemies, Ryan. What are we doing?”
“Tell me to take you home, and I will. I don’t know what we’re doing, I only know I’m not ready to take you home, but I will, if you want me to.”
Long-lived vampires aren’t stupid, and I’ve lived a long time. I wanted to go with him, but I couldn’t just go off to an unknown place with a slayer.
“I need safe passage before I go off alone with you.”
He sighed, pushed a button on his steering wheel, and told his onboard computer to call Marco. When Marco answered, Ryan told him, “I’m taking your Secundo to a secluded location. I want to make it official I’m giving her safe passage, but I have not asked for the same from her. You’re on speaker in the vehicle. She can hear you, if you wish to speak to her.”
“Don’t keep us from telepathing each other, and have her home at least an hour before the sun rises. I have no idea whether this is a good idea or a horrible one, but if you make her happy, I’ll endeavor to make sure you continue to have that option.”
“Thank you, Marco. I’ll do my best on all counts.”
“She’s important to me, Ryan. She’s my family.”
“I understand. Thank you for trusting her with me.”
“Cora, Kirsten, Kendra, and Abbott tell me to give you a chance. I’m following their counsel, but in this, it’s Etta I trust. The very fact she asked for safe passage is proof she doesn’t have a death wish. She wants to live, and she likes you. Don’t fuck it up.”
Marco disconnected, and Ryan said, “That was more than I’d hoped for. A lot more.”
“Thanks for verifying safe passage.”
“I’m sorry it was necessary.”
My heart tumbled a little because I realized I’d offended him. No, not that — worse. I’d hurt his feelings.
Did the slayer have feelings? It was a novel concept, thinking of him as something other than the cold-blooded assassin I’d believed him to be.
“I don’t trust easily,” I told him. “I feel as if I should apologize, and yet, you have to know how careful my kind is about going into unknown situations.”
