Vampires Among Us [Vampires Among Us 1] (Siren Publishing Classic)

crying like a baby.
    What in the world she was going to do about the needed items, she knew not. She would figure that out later. The only thing she knew for a fact was that she was definitely not sending the man now standing in front of her, blocking her path, to the store with a list of personal items! She tried to sidestep him, and he blocked her yet again, which was rather easy to accomplish since her eyes were filled with tears. Even through her tears she was able to recognize the agony and concern sketched across his face when she glanced up.
    When Kevin saw Erica’s tears trailing down her cheeks, his chest clenched up as if someone had kicked him. He didn’t mean for her to get upset. He was only trying to keep her safe. Damn, he hated to see any woman cry, and this one was breaking his heart! He brought her head up against his chest, allowing her tears to soak through his tee shirt while he silently weighed his options. If he hadn’t been such an ass, he probably could have convinced her to let him accompany her. Now, that option was doubtful. Finally, he settled on the best option available. “Would you be willing to take Jennifer along and let her drive?”
    “Sure, if she wants to go with me.” Erica sniffed from against his chest. Her sigh of relief that their dispute was over was palpable. She felt physically and emotionally drained. At this point she would agree to almost anything other than sending him to the store with a list of personal items.
    Kevin almost snorted at her response. Like Jennifer would ever turn down a trip to the mall with his credit card. Right, not in this lifetime! “Do you have cash on you?” When Erica gave him a puzzled expression, he continued, “If you use your bank card, Shawn can have it traced. If he is smart, he has already alerted the bank, and they will be tracking your every move. If you use cash, no one can track you.”
    “Oh, I didn’t think of that. Yes, I’ve got a little.” She answered him, this time succeeding in sidestepping him and heading for her bedroom. She didn’t lie to him. She did have a little, about twenty little dollars currently sitting in her wallet!
    As Erica hurried to her bedroom, Kevin hoped he wasn’t making a huge mistake. Although his house was the safest place for her to be, he couldn’t hold her there forever. When it became apparent his own company was not welcomed, he quickly took his second best option, and sent Jennifer along.
    He checked to make sure she was still busy in the bedroom, and then slipped over to her purse and pulled out her wallet. She wasn’t lying when she had told him she had a “little bit” of money, he found $20.28 to be exact. He grabbed a handful of cash out of his pocket and placed it in her wallet. He then opened his own wallet and pulled out a credit card. He knew that by handing his sister his credit card, he would have little trouble convincing her to take Erica to the mall. He also knew he was probably going a little overboard, between the cash and the credit card, but he would deal with that one when the girls arrived back home. Hopefully, Jennifer would soften Erica up, and she would allow him to spoil her just a little. Heaven only knew when the last time someone had pampered her, and she needed it.
    An hour later, Jennifer and Erica were on their way to the local mall. Although Jennifer wore a long sleeved shirt, large sun glasses, and a big floppy hat in an attempt to keep as much sun off of her as possible, Erica found herself relaxing and enjoying the warmth it provided.
    “It has been ages since I have been out on a girl’s shopping trip!” exclaimed Jennifer as she drove. “Kevin gave me orders that I’m not allowed to bring you back until the money is gone, and you have everything you need.”
    “Um…what do you mean?” Erica asked in confusion, knowing it would take little time for her to pick up what few items her twenty dollars could buy.
    Jennifer glanced over to her passenger with a smirk clearly on her face. “I think if you check your wallet, you’ll find he left you a little present.”
    Erica reached down and grabbed her wallet out of her purse. As she stared at the stack of bills now stacked neatly against each other, her mind began to spin and her jaw dropped in a very unladylike manner. She was sure she had never had so much cash in her possession. It was a little frightening and heady all at the same time. She glanced over to Jennifer, noticing she was