Vampire Lawyer (The Vampire Legacy, Book 2)

Vampire Lawyer

Sheri Kurtz

Copyright © 2015 Sheri Kurtz

All rights reserved.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

ISBN: 10: 1515148254

ISBN-13: 978-1515148258

Dedications

First and foremost, I want to thank Jodi for all her hard work. You helped me arrange everything, made swag, graphics and showed your support for me in every way. You are the best PA an author could have and I am lucky to have you as mine. Thank you.

Kelly, you made writing this book so much easier than it might have been. You were there to help me through writer’s block, sorting out words when I couldn’t get them just right, and pushing me when I was ready to give up. Thank you.

Tracy E., Becky T. and Becky K., thank you taking the time to beta read for me. Your feedback and support are priceless and I am grateful for your help.

I can never forget my family. Tracy, once again you put up with my countless hours on the computer working on this book. I love you and thank you for your support.

Mom, you pushed me not to quit when I got frustrated with it. You helped me with the timeline I need to finally hit the publish button. I love you. Thank you for all you do for me.

To my babies, Morgan and Racheal, never forget that dreams can come true. With hard work and determination, you can do anything you put your mind to. I love you both and will help you fill your dreams just as I have filled mine.

Prolouge

It was just before midnight on New Year’s Eve and I was pacing the floor while Mark and Courtney tried to calm me. Adrianna was standing next to Casey helping her with labor. It’s been ten hours since the first contraction and both my best friends have tried to reassure me that everything is going smoothly. Without them and Adrianna, I’m not sure that either Casey or I could get through this. As one of the Dominant Vampires, Adrianna’s knowledge of our kind is unlimited. She’s been with us from the start of the pregnancy. Little did I know, she was the one who sent Adams to keep an eye on me when my secretary was trying to frame me for murder. All of this was an attempt to avenge her father’s incarceration.

Courtney and her crazy ideas for what kind of baby shower to have and how to decorate the baby’s room managed to keep Casey’s mind off of the unknown of giving birth to a vampire. Mark kept me from going crazy with fishing, sports and other guy stuff. We were also able to gain some practice by helping with their son. Who knew one baby could produce so much poop?

My parents, family, and Julie chose to wait in the waiting room for the delivery. They insisted that too many people in the room would not be a good thing. I can’t say that I disagreed with them. Mark was there to support me while Courtney and Adrianna were there for Casey. It goes without saying that I was there for my wife and baby. Adrianna knew of a vampire OB/GYN that has privileges in the hospital where the baby is being born. All of the nurses and staff were handpicked by the doctor and he trusted them with not only our baby’s birth, but of any vampire that gave birth with him as their doctor. I shouldn’t have been surprised when Adrianna told us there was one here that was well known to not just vampires, but humans too. Since I came out, or should I say was forced to come out, about being a vampire, we have learned that there are more around us than we had thought. Mark and Courtney work alongside one in the DA’s office. In fact, he’s their boss.

I came to a sudden stop when I turned in my pacing to come face to face with Mark. Calm down Shawn, everything is fine. Courtney was in labor for eighteen hours before our son was born. Or have you forgotten that?

Mark, you say that like I have an ounce of brain left here. That was different. I love you and Courtney like my own brother and sister but I’m not married to either of you.

My answer was interrupted by a scream tearing through the room. I spun on my heels to face my wife. Expecting to find something bad had happened, I instead find her with sweat gleaming on her forehead and a smile on her face. It was then that I heard the most wonderful sound of my life; the soft crying of my baby girl. Kathryn Nichole Anderson. I couldn’t breathe as I looked down at her in Casey’s arms. She was the most beautiful baby I have ever seen. With black peach fuzz on top of her tiny head and the lightly tanned tone of skin, I wondered if she would take after her mother. The first peek of her eyes told me they were a clear blue color.

Casey looks up at me with a radiant smile, She has your eyes, Shawn. A single tear escapes before I could stop it. The love I feel for my new born daughter is more than I ever thought possible for one person to feel. Would you like to hold her?

Reaching out, I take my daughter into my arms. She’s so small that I fear I may hurt her. Before I could hand her back to her mother, she reaches out and grabs my finger. Her tiny little fingers didn’t even make it all the way around mine. My heart melted as she pulled it to her mouth and more tears found their way from my eyes. That’s when I knew that no matter what, I would die to protect her.

chapter 1

Kat

The long drive home from Duke, where I’m a senior studying to become a lawyer, was one that I haven’t made near as much as I should have. The two hour drive down 501 takes me straight home to Laurinburg. I miss my parents with indescribable pain but the rigorous study schedule that I have trained myself to stick to, in order to maintain my grades, have kept me from going.

I decided to take the two weeks for Christmas vacation, to visit my parents, instead of staying at the apartment that my father insisted I live in. He was afraid his good little girl would get distracted by the frat parties. But, even though I was excited to see my family again, I was a bit nervous. This trip wasn’t just for Christmas. I was bringing my boyfriend home to meet everyone. My father took the announcement of that with displeasure.

I think back to the day I met him six months ago. I wasn’t looking to find someone. In fact, I hadn’t dated anyone since high school. My focus was on finishing college with honors, finding a secure job, and getting settled in a home.

It was a hot summer day, hotter than it had been the year before. I was wearing a pair of mid-thigh blue jean shorts, purple tank top, and flip flops with my long, black hair pulled up into a ponytail. I had just gotten my morning coffee from the kiosk on campus when I saw him. Tyler Clough’s deep, chocolate brown eyes caught my glance as I started off toward my first class. I found myself lost as I stood there looking like a fool, unable to find any words. Shoulder length black hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail at the base of his neck. He had on a Blue Devil’s cap that showed his support for Duke University’s football team. His tan skin showed evidence of his Native American heritage (his father a full blooded Cherokee and his mother half Cherokee and half American). He had the build of an athlete and stood around 5’ 11. A sly smile spread across his face and stopped my heart. I had never seen such a delicious man. In the sexiest, deepest voice I have ever heard, he said Your eyes remind me of a clear, blue Topaz". In that moment, I started to understand what my parents had told me about the first time they met.

I’m pulled out of my thoughts by his gentle touch on my hand. Are you that nervous about me meeting your parents? That sly smile has become a calming charm of his. It’s the kind that sends chills down my spine while at the same time, giving reassurance that he is calm and collected. I was lucky when I decided to be honest with him about what I am. At first, I thought he was going to run for the hills. Either because he thought I was crazy, or because it freaked him out. It was a week before he came around again to talk it over with me. After I explained that what is commonly known about vampires is mostly made up, he started spending more and more time with me. Now, where you find one of us, the other is normally there.

Yes, I am. My parents are very protective of me. Having a boyfriend in high school was almost impossible. Can you imagine how fast they ran when they found out who my father is? Not to mention that half my family is in law enforcement. I’ve never seen someone run that fast. It was like I had the plague or something. And that was just the guys brave enough to try. Others would turn and run as soon as they saw me. I sigh as fear of losing him clenches my chest.

Running his fingers through my long black hair, he reassures me that my fear is not necessary. It’s going to take a lot more than your father being Sheriff to scare me off, Kat. Gv-ge-yu-hi, wa-le-li. He’ll just have to get used to there being another man in your life that loves you. Saying I love you, hummingbird, in his native tongue and the sincerity in his eyes touched my heart, showing me that I mean the world to him and at that moment I knew just how important I am to him. The first time he spoke those words to me, I had no idea what they meant and only assumed it was in the Cherokee language.

I just hope you still feel that way after you meet the rest of my family. They are just as protective of me as my parents. And don’t forget that Mark, Courtney and Alex will be there too. They are just as apt to skin you as the rest. Dad has known Mark and Courtney since kindergarten. Alex, their son, was born ten months before I was. He’s had a major crush on me from the moment he hit puberty. He’s like a brother to me and there’s no way I could ever see him