Read Online Baited Blood by Sue Ann Jaffarian - Free Book Online Page B

darling, it’s not like you were using it anymore. Besides, I wanted something to remember you by.” She rolled her stunning eyes. “Thank goodness your name wasn’t Dedham at the time. What were you thinking, naming yourself after a town in Massachusetts? I would have thought you’d have more creativity than that.” She turned her eyes on Dodie. “Or at least you did when we were together.”
    Dodie shot to her feet and bared her fangs. “How dare you disrespect me in my own home.”
    Doug placed his hands on his wife’s shoulders and tightened his grip. Everyone at the table was out of their seats, standing at alert.
    “Oh, that’s right.” Ann moved to stand in front of Dodie but remained out of reach. “I’d heard Doug gave you eternal life as a wedding present. How romantic.” Ann sneered at Dodie. “Just remember, you mousy old housefrau, who gave it to him .”
    With their speed overwhelming Dodie’s strength, both Colin and Doug held Dodie back from attacking Ann. But the usually nurturing Dodie continued to snarl at her opponent like a mad, bloodthirsty dog. Madison watched, fascinated yet pale with fright. Without her realizing it, Mike had put an arm around her waist and was slowly drawing her back, away from the table and out of the fray.
    Kate’s fangs were out, ready to defend Dodie’s honor, while Eddie and Stacie had come behind Ann, ready to step in and break apart the fight. The air was thick and fetid, like bad breath in a confined space.
    “Enough!” Samuel’s baritone roar filled every crack and crevice of the room with its menacing authority.
    Everyone froze, even Ann Hayes. Madison felt warm urine dampen her panties.
    “Dodie, sit down,” the head vampire commanded. Dodie hesitated, but with a final growl aimed at Ann, she obeyed. Doug stayed behind her, keeping his hands on both of her shoulders like a safety harness.
    Samuel turned his milky eyes toward Ann Hayes. “Ms. Hayes, you are a guest here. Remember that and behave accordingly.” He indicated the seat at the end opposite him. “Sit there. We have questions we’d like to ask.”
    Ann looked ready to challenge Samuel’s authority to ask her anything, but one glance at the dark figure changed her mind. He’d tolerated her bravado earlier, but it was clear he would not any longer. She’d heard enough about Samuel La Croix to know that he meant what he said and expected nothing less than cooperation. Raising her elegant chin in her only show of defiance, she took the seat at the opposite end of the table.
    “Call me Ann, please.” She mustered a sweet smile with Samuel as its target.
    Samuel glanced at Colin. “Colin, take the seat next to Ms. Hayes.” He turned his eyes back to Ann as he spoke to Colin. “Restrain her if you must.” He looked around at the rest of the group. “Everyone, take your seats.”
    After giving Dodie reassuring pats on her shoulders, Doug took his seat next to his wife.
    With Colin and Ann added to the party, there were no more seats for Notchey and Madison at the table. Notchey brought two chairs out of the kitchen but set them back away from the table, where the two humans gladly retreated to watch the proceedings from a distance.
    With the meeting under control again, Samuel got to the question on everyone’s mind. “Ann, did you try to kill Keleta Kibreab and dump him in the Dedhams’ pool?”
    “Colletta who?”
    Samuel opened the file in front of him. It was Notchey’s missing persons report on Keleta. In it was a copy of the photo given to the police by Keleta’s family upon his disappearance. Samuel retrieved the photo and pushed it down the table. Eddie Gonzales picked up the photo and handed it to Ann.
    “Do you know that young man?” asked Samuel.
    Ann studied the photo, then dropped it to the table in boredom. “He’s cute, but no.”
    Samuel passed down a print of Doug’s sketch, the one of the morning’s dead vampire. “How about this man?”
    Ann glanced at