Suckers Bite Back (San Francisco Vampires #5) (Vampires of San Francisco series) Read Free Page A

service and I help myself to some, ignoring the giant elephant in the room. Aidan eyes me suspiciously, like he’s waiting for me to burst into flames.
    “Good morning everyone,” I say to the room in general.
    “Good morning, Cherie,” Sebastian says. Oh, so it’s going to be like that, is it?
    “Sebastian, I recall asking you last night not to call me that.”
    “Yes, of course, Lily. May I introduce you to Nico? She’s a Parisian model visiting friends here.”
    “Enchanté,” she says with an expressionless face. I think if she smiles her face might crack. I should’ve guessed that Bast would go for a French woman when he got tired of waiting for me. I just thought he would pick someone with more substance. Yep, that sound is my heart breaking a little more.
    “Likewise,” I mumble. I take a spot of the sofa and tuck into my drink.
    “How are you today, Lilith?” Aidan asks. At least he remembers my request.
    “I’m fine, Aidan. Don’t worry about me.”
    “I will always worry about you, Lilith,” he says and then he pops out, leaving me frowning.
    Liam sits next to me and puts his hand on my thigh and squeezes, offering support.
    “You look delicious today, girlfriend,” he says. I give him a genuine smile. It feels good to smile even if it only lasts a moment.
    “Where’s Andrew?” I ask.
    “Right here, Miss Lily,” Andrew says while coming into the room, giving Nico an ugly look. Sebastian raises an eyebrow at him but Andrew pays him no attention. He sits on the other side of me and pats my other leg.
    I close my eyes and gather my strength. Reaching for my hand sanitizer, I slather on a huge glob of it. Covering my hands isn’t enough to calm me so I take more and wipe down my forearms too. It will be a long day with nothing to occupy it. No work to look forward to. Hannah is in Hell getting a baby checkup and I’ve scared Aidan off. Sebastian is obviously preoccupied. That leaves Liam and Andrew, my dear mates. I love them both. Andrew is like the sister I never had.
    “Hey boys, have you ever been drunk since – you know?” I smile slowly and with wicked intention at Andrew and Liam.
    “No, yay!” Andrew claps. Liam looks less sure.
    “Lily…” Sebastian starts in that annoying parental tone he uses. I glare at him and dare him to start a fight in front of Miss Perfect.
    “No.” Sebastian says. “I forbid you to take Andrew and Liam.”
    “You can’t forbid me from doing anything, Sebastian. Besides, they should experience it once.”
    “It will keep her out of trouble, too,” Julian says he walks into the room. He walks up to Nico and speaks in rapid French to her and then they air kiss on the cheeks. Puke. Et tu, Bruté?
    “I’m in,” Liam says.
    “Good man. I know Andrew is. Let’s go to Beach Blanket Babylon this afternoon. I’ve been dying to see the new review and I happen to have four tickets,” I sing-song. “Then we can party afterwards,” I say, anxious for night and the numbness.
    “Fine, but we have to go to a gay bar,” Andrew demands.
    “Only if there are women there too,” I pipe in. Liam just sighs.
    “I’m going too. I need to eat and I can drive,” Julian says. Sebastian’s face relaxes. That pisses me off. He has no right worrying about me with Miss Botox hanging off his arm.
    The boys and I hurry off to dress for a good time and a night of hunting.

6 SEBASTIAN
    When Lily barely reacted to Nico it bothered me more than I expected. Her nonchalance affirms that she doesn’t care anymore.
    She wants to get drunk again. Not a good sign. I’m worried. I debate calling Aidan, except the way Lily reacted last night makes me rethink getting him involved. I don’t want her to think we are ganging up on her.
    I am relieved Julian is going with them. Who knows what kind of trouble Lily would have gotten Liam and Andrew into? I know that’s why Julian pretended he needs to feed. He just hunted the other night.
    Oh God, Lily! She walks into the