Pierce shook his head. “As your attorney, I’d advise against involving him. The less he knows about your contact with the Russians, the better. I realize he’s a werewolf, so you think of him as a supernatural ally, but his position as an FBI agent means he’s going to abide by human laws first.”
“You realize he’s the one who helped me out when I accidently killed Yuri.” Yuri was the Russian lunk who’d been sent to collect the outstanding five mil she’d found. The same Russian lunk she’d inadvertently drained to death when the hunger of being a newly turned vampire had gotten the best of her and driven her to the point of no control.
Yuri was the pivot point upon which all her vampire troubles had turned, too, because killing the first human she’d ever drunk from had severed the psychic tie between her and Claudette and given Donna the ability to see the memories of those she drank from. All of which the Immortus Concilio, the vampire ruling council, considered against the rules. Like, big-time.
Hence the trial.
“I do,” Pierce said. “I also realize that if we don’t go inside soon, the sun’s going to come up. And you might attract the fae.”
She grimaced. “Good point. Let’s get inside. I could use a glass of wine.” She’d seen one fae so far in her short vampire life. Based on that experience, she’d be fine never seeing another one again.
Chapter Four
Pierce fed Lucky, then got the fireplace going while she opened a bottle of red and poured two glasses. They settled in front of the gently crackling fire and stared into the flames, both quiet and seemingly content just to be.
Donna certainly had a lot to think about. Despite the incredible upheaval of the last couple of weeks, things were somehow looking up. She’d wanted her life back for so long, and she’d started to think the freedom she’d gained because of Joe’s death was slipping away again due to becoming a vampire, but now…now she saw a bright, shining light at the end of this new and interesting tunnel.
Being governor was like a fresh start. Sure, it was a whole new set of responsibilities, but only the responsibilities were new, not the weight of carrying them. That part was nothing new. She’d raised children, essentially by herself. She knew how to balance work and family duties with social obligations.
What came with the job of governor—the salary, the staff, and the penthouse—was life-changing. Those things would allow her to truly shed her connections to the Villachis. It would take some doing, but she wasn’t in it alone.
She smiled at Pierce. He was quite the find. She owed Neo, one of her new friends in the First Fangs Club, for that meeting.
He caught her looking at him. “What?”
She shook her head. “Just thinking how amazing it is the way things work out. You, especially.”
He laughed and smiled. “I’m glad you think of me that way.”
“I do.” She sipped her wine as she pulled her feet up underneath her. “When I was first turned, I thought it was the worst thing in the world. Now, I’m starting to see it as a gift. Not the whole vampire bit so much as the life that comes with it. Being governor, in particular.”
He nodded. “I can certainly understand that.” His brows bent. “Say, what were you about to tell me before you saw the strange car?”
“Oh right. That.” She stared into her wine. Should she tell him? She felt like she had to before he found out accidentally. She also didn’t want there to be secrets between them. “You confirmed that whole confidentiality thing, so here goes.”
He waited with obvious interest.
She took a breath. “Sunlight doesn’t affect me.”
His eyes narrowed, and he stayed silent for a moment. At last, he spoke. “What happened that makes you think that?”
“I had to run out to my car to get something one morning, and I hadn’t parked in the garage. It was just a quick dash. I figured if I suddenly burst into flames, I’d duck back into the garage and put myself out. But nothing happened.”
Lucky walked in and jumped up onto the hearth to clean himself in front of the fire.
She shrugged. “Then I tested it out for real on a bright sunny day. And I was fine.” She was keeping the part about the crucifix being the source of that protection to herself for now. That was the most important part of the whole thing and the one secret she wasn’t ready to divulge.
“That’s amazing.” He scooted forward on his chair. “But you’re right to keep it a secret. I don’t think you should tell another living soul. Or nonliving. This gives you a serious advantage over other vampires. It could make you a target.”
She nodded. “I know. And I don’t plan to. But I figured you’d find out sooner or later once we’re living under the same roof.”
He nodded. “That would be a hard thing for you to hide. Especially when that penthouse has rooftop access.” He laughed. “A vampire who’s impervious to the sun. I’m sure it’s happened before, but wow, that kind of makes you a superhero.”
“I don’t know if I’d go that far.”
His grin remained. “Any idea why?”
She knew exactly why, but she shook her head all the same. “The planets were all aligned in the right way at the right time? Who knows?” She shifted a little, tucking her legs under her even more. “No one knows. Not even my sister the nun, who knew about vampires before I did, by the way.”
“Your imperviousness to the sun has to be a difficult thing to keep from her, but considering the Church produces more vampire hunters than any other organization, it’s probably also wise. Not that Cammie would turn you in. It’s just probably better she doesn’t have to keep that secret for you.”
“I agree.” Donna watched the flames flicker over the ceramic logs. “That reminds me. I still haven’t told my kids what’s happened. About me becoming a vampire.”
He nodded slowly. “Are you going to do that in person?”
“I’d like to. But traveling isn’t easy. Not when I’m supposed to only move at night.”
“So bring them here. After you get moved into the penthouse. Bring them for a weekend.”
“That’s a good idea.” It really was, even if her response didn’t convey much enthusiasm.
He swirled the wine that remained in his glass. “But you’re still worried about what they’re going to think.”
“I am. Can you blame me?”
“Not in the slightest.”
She leaned back. “Their mother is a vampire. How do you begin to process that? And right after their father died. It’s a lot.”
“It is. But they’re adults. And even though I don’t know them, you’ve told me a lot about them, and they sound like very well-adjusted kids.”
“They are.”
“I bet they’ll take it better than you think.”
She sighed. “I hope you’re right. But I have to tell them. Putting it off doesn’t help anything. Maybe I should just call them.”
“I support whatever decision you make.” His gaze shifted to a point behind her. “Sun’s coming up.”