“Working on having that handled.” But how did Cammie know that?
“Donna, the fae are deadly. They’re killers.”
“Technically, so am I. And I am not going to abandon Rico. I understand your concern, but I’m not just Belladonna Barrone, mob wife, anymore. I’m a freakin’ vampire, Cammie. I have skills.”
“And the fae think you’re a delicious snack.” She let out a noise that was somewhere between a groan and a sigh. “Look, I need to take care of something right now, but don’t do anything until I call you back. Okay?”
“By ‘don’t do anything,’ you mean don’t storm the stronghold?”
“Right.”
“Okay, but the something you have to take care of better not take too long. Rico’s clock is ticking.”
“I understand. It won’t.”
“All right. I’ll get a shower while I wait.”
“Perfect. I’ll call you back as soon as I can. I love you.”
“I love you too.” Donna hung up, then got out of bed, walked to the bathroom and flipped on the light.
It was shockingly bright, and for the first time since she’d been turned, she looked like a wreck. Mostly because she’d fallen asleep with her makeup on, and there was no magical vampire skill that could overcome that.
“Ugh.” She cranked on the shower, pulled her nightgown off, and got under the hot water. She stood there for a long while, just letting it stream over her. Finally, she soaped up with the amazing verbena body wash Charlie had supplied her with.
The smell alone was enough to perk her up. But not so much that she forgot about her conversation with Cammie. How did Cammie know so much, like who was in charge of the wolves? And why hadn’t she shared that information before? Might have been nice to know.
Although, it really wouldn’t have changed anything. Rico would have still been Agent Medina to Donna right up to the point that he took custody of Joe and his skanky girlfriend, Carmella.
She tipped her head back and washed her hair. Poor Rico. She said another prayer of protection over him. She wasn’t sure how well received her prayers were these days, but since the pope-blessed crucifix she’d been wearing when she was turned continued to make her immune to the sun, she liked to think they were still getting through.
She slathered on conditioner, then scrubbed her face as she let that sit. LV had said they could bring a good number of wolves with them. What did that mean? Was a good number twenty? Or a hundred? How many wolves were in the New Jersey pack?
Cammie probably knew.
Donna frowned as she washed off the cleanser. Once again, she was behind the eight ball of knowledge because she’d been thrust into this position with virtually no experience and little time to learn. She still couldn’t believe that winning the case against Claudette, her negligent sire and the previous vampire governor, had resulted in her becoming the new vampire governor of New Jersey.
A final rinse and she was done. She wrapped up in a towel and went into her closet to figure out what to wear to meet with Temo’s contact. Instinct said it was best to cover up as much skin as possible, so she went with black jeans, a black turtleneck sweater, and a Gucci belt—because hello, fashion.
She also picked out a slate-gray wool coat that came to midthigh. She added flat boots and decided the only jewelry would be her hidden crucifix and the iron bracelets Charlie said she’d get.
Which hopefully she had.
Donna didn’t like the thought of meeting a fae without any iron on her. She kept her makeup simple. Eyeliner, mascara, and a nude lip. This was a clandestine meeting, not a fun night out with the girls.
She tucked her phone in her back pocket, threw her coat over her arm, and walked out into the kitchen.
It was empty.
She hung her coat over one of the chairs and went down to the office. Charlie was at her computer.
She looked up. “I was just wondering if I should wake you. How are you feeling?”
Donna shook her head. “I don’t know.”
Charlie’s brows lifted slightly. “And yet, I completely understand.”
Donna held out her arms. “Do you think this is all right for a clandestine meeting with a fae contact?”
Charlie pursed her lips and tilted her head, an act of serious consideration if ever there was one. “It’s close. I have just the thing you’re missing.” She pointed to the console table behind Donna that held the printers. “Look in that box.”
Donna turned to find a dove-gray box about the size of a briefcase sitting there. The center of the box was marked with a large gold F and a small e inside of an ornate filigree oval. It looked like the kind of packaging a couturier might use, but she doubted that box held an evening gown. Not with the symbol for iron on the front. “What’s this?”
“Open it and see.”
Donna pulled the top off. Inside was dark red tissue paper sealed with a gold sticker bearing the same Fe logo. She broke the seal and lifted the tissue. “Well, now. How about that?”
She lifted out the most exquisite merlot-colored leather jacket she’d ever seen. It had some motorcycle-style detailing, but it was longer, almost to midthigh, and had additional elements, like quilting on the shoulders and elbows and several interior and exterior pockets. At least three of the slim exterior pockets were actually sheaths that already contained blades. “I am in deep love with this.”
“Good, because that’s your armor.”
“That explains why it weighs a thousand pounds.”
“It won’t after you put it on and read the incantation that comes with it.”
Donna flicked her gaze to her admin. “Say what now?”
Charlie got up from her desk. “This is a Ferris & Coven custom jacket. It’s got iron sandwiched between the leather and the lining in various places. Enough so that you’ll be fae-proof. But yes, that makes it heavy. Which is why the company also includes an incantation specific to this jacket that will not only fit it to you, but invoke a spell that reduces the weight by a significant amount.”
Donna blinked, a little lost for words. Mouth open, she tried to speak, but the questions in her head got tangled together on the way to her mouth.
Charlie grinned. “Ferris & Coven is a family-owned business. A father and his three daughters, who are all witches. Well, one is…not entirely a witch.”
“And they just decided to get into the handmade leather jacket business?”
“He was already in the leather business but mostly catered to bikers. He also dabbled in blacksmithing. Then one of his daughters fell in love with a vampire. And that vampire was killed by the fae.” Her grin flipped to a frown. “The rest, as they say, is history.”
“Wow.”
She nodded. “There should be more in the box. Like a set of bracelets for you to wear when the coat is too much. Or in addition, if you want.”
“How did you get all of this done in the time I was asleep?”
Charlie laughed. “This jacket was ordered for you after our first meeting. It’s standard-issue for most governors. Claudette took hers when she left. Ferris & Coven always have the bracelets on hand. I just had them add a pair to the delivery, which worked out to be today.”