Read Online Sucking Bites (San Francisco Vampires Series #3) by Jessica McBrayer - Free Book Online Page B

you start eating it?”
    “My cat loves it and I was bored one day and was watching her gobble it up and thought I would try a piece and you know, I liked it. Soon I was grabbing a couple of pieces every time I went by the bag. Before I knew it I was getting handfuls.”
    “Let’s talk about your husband.”
    “He caught me eating a bowl of it two weeks ago. I had to tell him the whole story. He complained that my breath had changed, fishy, but he hadn’t wanted to offend me. He stopped sleeping in our bed because he said I had cat breath and it freaked him out. He won’t kiss me or make love to me.”
    Aidan shakes so hard he falls off my shoulder. He has to fly back up.
    “Have you thought about giving up the cat food?”
    “That’s just it. I think I am addicted to it. I tried when my husband found out and I haven’t been able to. I’m a mess. I don’t know what to do anymore.”
    “I think talking to one of our counselors would help. Could you do that?”
    “Yes! I would do anything that would help me and save my marriage.”
    I look through the computer for available openings with an appropriate volunteer counselor. I find one that is an ex-addict and can get my caller set up with a twelve-step program.      
    “I have an opening tomorrow at eleven a.m.—will that work for you?”
    “Yes.”
    I give her directions to the office and wish her the best of luck.
    “Aidan, behave,” I whisper. Another red button and another caller on the line.
    “Suicide Prevention, this is Lilith, how can I help you?”
    “I think I may have done something bad last night.”
    “What’s your name, sir?
    “Liam.”
    “Liam, what do you think you may have done?”
    “I don’t want to say, I’ll sound crazy, but I’ve had these days where I black out. I lose track of time completely. I lost my job.” I quickly type as he speaks. “I was a lawyer, but they thought I was going on a bender when I tried to explain what was happening.”
    “Do you drink, Liam?”
    “An occasional glass of wine or a beer while I watch a ball game, but never in excess, nothing to cause a blackout. I went to the doctor and they ran all kinds of tests when this first started happening and they couldn’t find anything wrong with my brain though they think there is an anomaly with my blood—which they said shouldn’t affect my behavior. So now I think it must be psychological.”
    “Do you want to make an appointment with one of our counselors?”
    “No! Sorry, I didn’t mean to yell. I would rather just talk to you on the phone. I’m scared and I don’t want anyone to know who I am. I’m afraid I may have hurt someone while I blacked out this time. Something happened and I found myself naked in the middle of Chinatown last night, not knowing how I got there and a woman was screaming. I just ran and ran.”
    Aidan manifests in my cube.
    “You have to get him to tell you where he is. We have to find him. He doesn’t know what’s happened to him. He needs help,” Aidan says. “And we need him. His blood may hold a clue to a cure.”
    “Liam, where are you now?”
    “My condo. Thank God I had it paid for and I had some money stashed away. I haven’t been able to find another job this last month since I was fired.”
    “Liam, I know someone that can help you. No questions asked and they won’t get hurt, but you are going to have to trust me.”
    “I don’t think I can do that.”
    “What have you got to lose? You are at your wits end it sounds like. This friend of mine is very trustworthy and could come to you tonight.”
    I need to convince Liam to come along peacefully as they say. I don’t want to make this traumatic for him.
    “You’re right. I have nowhere else to go.” There’s silence. “Fine.”
    He gives me his address and I write it down for Aidan. It is in The Castro. Aidan gets it and pops out.
    “He will be there in a few seconds. Do you want to stay on the phone until he gets there?”
    “Yes,