Star, Starland Vamp Series, Book 1 Read Online Free PDF

gas anyway.”
    Rick pulled into the first gas station and up to the nearest pump and turned off the key.
    “I’ve got this,” I said as I walked toward the convenience store. It wasn’t a good idea to use credit cards or ATM cards that could be traced.
    “Be careful,” Rick called sarcastically over his shoulder, smiling.
    Without looking back, I flashed him the bird over my head. I heard his contagious laughter as I walked into the store. Inside, I walked straight to the soda cooler. My throat was burning a bit, but not enough for blood. But there was something about Mountain Dew that I had a weakness for. Cool air rushed toward me as I opened the glass door and grabbed one out of the cooler, then headed for the register.
    A frail, kindly old man with thinning grey hair stood behind the counter. He was not very tall and not very lean. He sported prominent creases around his eyes, probably from laughing throughout his life. This man appeared to have lived a happy life. Over the last 200 some years, I became good at reading people. Other things I was good at was reading emotions and mind control, but the later I used sparingly.  
    I threw a pack of Juicy Fruit on the counter along with the Mountain Dew.
    “You doing okay today, Miss?” the nice old man asked, ringing up my purchases.
    “Yes, sir,” I answer politely, making small talk. He seemed like a nice enough old man. “If the weather just holds out. We have a long drive ahead of us.” Actually, I didn’t know how far we were going and the weather wouldn’t have been a deterrent, but it was something to say. No use in not being polite.
    He patted my hand that was resting on the counter. “I’m sure it will.” If he only knew what he had just done. I smiled.
    Suddenly, a nervous looking brunette man with wild eyes in his late teens opened the door. The pheromone level this guy excreted was maddening ! See, when humans are nervous or scared, their body emits pheromones that vampires can detect. It helps us track our prey. For his sake, it’s good that I wasn’t dying of thirst because his crimson blood was pulsing deep within his veins under the thin skin of his throat, calling to me …
    “Geese,” I said, throwing back my head, closing my eyes. “Not now.”
    And I was supposed to keep a low profile.
    Immediately, the guy threw open his overcoat, revealing a sawed-off shotgun. Probably sawed it off himself. His hands shook as he pointed it at the frail cashier behind the counter, who held up his hands and looked at me apologetically.
    “How much?” I asked the cashier casually, indicating the items on the counter as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening.
    “Didn’t you hear me, bitch?” the young man yelled into my ear. The shotgun in his hand visibly shook.
    I looked outside at Rick who was watching the exchange and held up my hands as if to say, "What the hell?” Rick was laughing hysterically.
    In one fluid motion I took the weapon from his still shaking hands and pointed it at his gut. “Now who’s the bitch, bitch?”
    “Hey …” the guy stammered. The frail man behind the counter watched the exchange with his hands up, taking a step back. “I don’t want any trouble …” Pheromone guy was suddenly changing his tune.
    “Oh, I think that’s exactly what you want,” I corrected, expertly cocking the shotgun and pointing it right between his eyes before he could bat an eye. “Now,” I began again calmly, “why don’t you hurry home like a good little boy and leave this poor man alone.”
    I smiled sweetly.
    “What the hell?” Suddenly the guy grew some balls. “Who the hell do you think you are?” He lowered his hands, then made a move for the shotgun.
    Within the flutter of an eyelash, I grabbed his arm and threw him against the counter. And in the same fluid motion, I was behind him with the shotgun pointed at the back of his head. I had his body print.
    “I’m the bitch with your shotgun,” I answered