03 - You Only Live Nine Times (23 page)

Epilogue

A few weeks after all the craziness with Leslie and Igor

Gerry groaned and slipped out of bed to answer his phone.  “Hello,” he mumbled.

“Did I wake you?” asked the crisp but amused voice of his boss, vampire and uber bitch, Juliet.

He snapped to attention, ignoring the loathing rumbles of his snake.  “Not at all.”

“I’ve reviewed your recommendation about Dr. Uggams and Igor Kazinsky.”

“And?” he demanded impatiently after a few minutes.  It was just like a vampire to leave people hanging; they delighted in playing with their food.

“And I agree,” she said in a musical voice. 

“Really?”  His eyebrows almost shot off his head, and even his python stopped writhing long enough to pay attention.  He had submitted his recommendation based on the pleading of Isis, then Erin when she found out about the situation, then Gunner, who would support Erin no matter what, then Lucie and finally Jessie.  He didn’t really think that Juliet would agree – she was more of the shoot them first, ask questions never type – but he had made his recommendation nonetheless.  Based on Dr. Uggams progress, he recommended that no charges be brought against her and she be permitted to return to her home but on the basis that she hire and pay for a full-time nurse and bodyguard to protect her, making sure that she kept taking her medication and ensuring that she wasn’t a danger to anyone else.  She would also submit to weekly visits from SEA agents to make sure she was complying.  As for Igor, given his devotion to Dr. Uggams, and given that he hadn’t hurt anyone, Gerry thought the best place for him was in her care, again on the proviso that she find the means to control him. 
The last thing they wanted was a resurrected bear shifter psycho wreaking havoc in downtown.

“Don’t sound so shocked, Gerald.  There were a number of factors to take into consideration.  For one, the Uggams foundation donates money to us every year, and Dr. Uggams’ lawyer is threatening to cut that off.  For another, it’s very fashionable to issue these lenient, creative punishments.  The bleeding heart liberals love it.  I would think they would have something very different to say if they had any idea what Mr. Kazinsky got up to while he was alive, but that’s beside the point.”

Gerry rolled his eyes. 
It always came down to money and politics.

“I can hear your eye roll from here, Gerald,” she told him sternly.  “Anyway, I’ve also approved the application of Rafael Silva; he’s yours to do with as you wish.  But tell the tigress to keep the office humping to a minimum.  Hormones run high enough in the building as it is.”

“Thank you, I’m sure he’ll make a good agent.”

“Well, having a full human certainly looks good for us.  We’ve been criticized for not having many human employees.  Which is ridiculous!  How can we have humans working for us when no of them apply?”  Juliet sniffed disdainfully.  “Anyway, this application couldn’t have come at a better time.”

“You’re all heart, Juliet,” he commented, wryly.

She snorted loudly and hung up.  Gerry tossed his phone aside and slipped on his boxers.  His snake hissed at the emptiness of the bed and went in search of his pretty bedmate.  He found her in the kitchen, wearing a t-shirt with the slogan snake charmer –
which she found hilarious
- that barely covered her sumptuous round behind and dancing around as she cooked; the mouthwatering smell of croque-monsieur was only second to her peony blossom scent.

“Hey, did I fall asleep?”

Jessie flashed him a smile.  “Yeah, you looked so peaceful, didn’t want to wake you.  Who was that on the phone?”

“Juliet.”  He sauntered over and wrapped his arms around her body as he gently nipped her neck.  His snake sighed in bliss.  “Always wake me.”

Pleasure blossomed over her face and… she froze at the sound of a familiar ring tone.  Her face creased, and she pushed away from him, retreating as she always did.  His snake snarled at him to do something.  “Ignore it,” he commanded while tightening his grip on her curves.

“But it’s your wife…”

“Who knows I’m here, and who is undoubtedly spending her evening with the current love of her life.”

“But she’s…”

“She’s nothing!”  Gerry pushed away from her as anger coursed through him, and his snake grumbled.  Not anger at Jessie –
never
.  No, anger at himself for entering into an arranged marriage of convenience, anger for not ending it right away when he caught her cheating on him, and anger for agreeing to prolong the damn charade because his wife was afraid of letting down her father.  Not that he blamed her for that –
ruthless bastard
.

Jessie started to turn away from him, and his heart clenched.  He took her hand and brought her palm to his lips.  “I agreed to give her two years before I divorced her.  That’s almost up.  Just a couple more months and we can get married.”

She bit her plump lip, and his snake groaned, wanting to do it for her.  “Why is she calling you then?”

“To piss me off, to get a rise out of me!” he spat.

“Thank heavens it’s not working,” she murmured.

He grinned at the playful smile dawning on her heart-shaped face.  Whatever he had done to deserve such a sweet, patient creature as his mate, it must have been in a past life.  Nothing he had done in his current life could account for his fortune in having this adorable squirrel shifter by his side.

“The only thing that pisses me off is the thought of losing you.”

She nuzzled her head against his chin, and his python finally relaxed.  It was an argument they’d had many times, and each time it scared the hell out of him.  She could so easily leave him and find someone less complicated, and he desperately didn’t want that to happen.

Jessie opened her mouth to speak and was cut off by a different ring tone.  She frowned.  “Who’s that?”

“Ugh, Juliet.”

“The other ball-busting woman in your life,” she commented saucily.

“You’re the only ball-busting woman in my life,” he told her seriously.

“I don’t bust them; I massage them,” she laughed, slipping out of his arms and wiggling her butt.

“Tease,” he grumbled as his animal drooled.

“You better get that.  If you don’t, she might just hunt you down.”

Gerry shook his head and walked back into the bedroom.  Yep, it was true – Juliet really would track him down if he didn’t take her call.  She was that kind of hands-on boss.  Or should that be, control freak?

Before the word hello could even pass his lips, she snarled at him.  “What took you so damn long?”

“Juliet, I…”

“Not important,” she said in a more composed voice.  “I have some bad news.  One of the Council of Supernaturals has been murdered.”

“Shit,” exclaimed Gerry, sinking onto the bed.

“It gets worse.  Your brother-in-law has been arrested for it…”

To be continued…

Hello!

Thank you for reading!

If you have enjoyed this and would be interested in reading more, please do sign up for my newsletter from my website:
http://elizabethannprice.wix.com/eapricenovellas

The site includes info on previous novellas already available, those planned for the future, as well as the one I’m working on right now.  So please, take a look!

Best wishes

Elizabeth