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My smile widens。 〃Why don't I just give you the money back？〃
My offer confuses him。 The Texan shrugs。 〃If you want。 I'll be happy to accept it。〃
〃Good；〃 I say。 〃Meet me at the west end of the hotel parking lot in ten minutes。 We'll go for a little drive。 You'll get all your money back。〃 I glance at the others。 〃The only condition is you must all e。〃
〃Why do we have to go anywhere？〃 the Texan asks。 〃Just give it to us now。〃
I shake off the other's hold on me。 〃Surely you're not afraid of little old me； sugar daddy？〃 I say sweetly。
The men laugh together； a bit uneasily。 The Texan points a finger at me。
〃In ten minutes；〃 he says。 〃Don't be late。〃
〃I never am；〃 I reply。
We meet as planned and drive a short distance from town； each in bur own cars。 Then I lead them off the road and into the desert a few miles； stopping near a low…lying hill。 The time is eleven at night； the evening cool and clear； the almost full moon brilliant against the night sky。 The men park beside me and climb out They are afraid of me。 I can smell their fear。 Except for the big boss； they are armed。 The bulges beneath their coats are noticeable。 I smell the gunpowder in their bullets。 They probably figure I am setting them up to be robbed。 They study the terrain as they walk toward me； puzzled that I am alone。 They are not very…subtle。 Two of them have their hands thrust in their coat pockets； their fingers wound around their handguns。 The Texan steps in front and reaches out to me。
〃Give us your bag；〃 Tex orders。
〃All right。〃 I hand him my bag。 The money is inside； much to his pleasure。 His eyes are wide as he counts it。 I know he had expected to find a gun in the bag。 〃Are you satisfied？〃 I ask。
Tex nods to a partner。 I am frisked。 Roughly。
〃She's cool；〃 the partner mumbles a moment later； backing away。
Tex stuffs the money in his pockets。 〃Yeah； I'm satisfied。 But I don't get it。 Why did you drag us all the way out here？〃
〃I'm hungry；〃 I say。
He grins like the crooked oil baron that he is。 〃We would have been happy to have taken you to dinner； honey pie。 We still can。 What would you like？〃
〃Prime ribs；〃 I say。
He slaps his leg again。 Must be a nervous gesture with him。 〃Goddamn！ That's my favorite。 Ribs dripping with red juice。 We'll take you out and get you some right now。〃 He adds with a phony wink； 〃Then maybe we can have a little fun afterward。〃
I shake my head as I take a step toward him。 〃We can eat here。 We can have a picnic。 Just the five of us。〃
He glances at my car。 〃Did you bring some goodies？〃
〃No。 You did。〃
His impatience is never far away。 〃What are you talking about？〃
I throw my head back and laugh。 〃You're such a fake！ Your politeness only appears when it is useful to you。 Now that you have stolen the money I won fair and square； you want to take me out for dinner。〃
Tex is indignant。 〃We did not steal this money。 You offered to return it to us。〃
〃After pressure from you。 Let's call a spade a spade。 You're a crook。〃
〃No one calls me that and gets away with it！〃
〃Really？ What are you going to do？ Kill me？〃
He steps forward and slaps me across the face with the back of his hand。 〃Bitch！ You just be happy I'm not that kind of man。〃
I put a hand to my mouth。 〃Aren't you that kind of man？〃 I ask softly。 〃I see your heart； Mr。 Money Bags。 You have killed before。 It's good we meet tonight； out here in the desert。 If you lived； you would probably kill again。〃
He turns to leave。 〃Let's get out of here； boys。〃
〃Wait；〃 I say。 〃I have something else to give you。〃
He glances over his shoulder。 〃What？〃
I take another step forward。 〃I have to tell you who I really am。 You did ask； remember？〃
Tex is in a hurry。 〃So； who are you？ A Hollywood star？〃
〃Close。 I am famous； in certain circles。 Why just a few days ago the entire LAPD was chasing me around town。 You read about it in the papers？〃
A wary note enters his voice。 Once again； his men glance around； this time looking for Arab backups。 〃You're not connected to that group of terrorists； are you？〃
〃There were no terrorists。 That was just the cops trying to cover their asses。 It was just me and my partner。 We caused all the ruckus。〃
He snorts。 〃Right。 You and your partner wasted twenty cops。 You must be a terminator； huh？〃
〃Close。 I'm a vampire。 I'm five thousand years old。〃
He snickers。 〃You're a psycho； and you're wasting my time。〃 He turns again。 〃Good night。〃
I grab him by the back of his collar and yank him close； pressing his cheek next to mine。 He is so startled…he hardly reacts。 But his men are better trained。 Suddenly I have three revolvers pointed at me。 Quickly； I shield myself with Tex。 My grip on him tightens； cutting off his air。 He gags loudly。
〃I am in a generous mood；〃 I say calmly to the others。 〃I will give you men a chance to escape。 Ordinarily I would not even consider it。 But since my cover has been blown； I am not so picky about destroying every shred of evidence。〃 I pause and catch each of their eyes； no doubt sending a shiver to the base of their spines。 〃I suggest you get in your cars and get out of here…out of Las Vegas pletely。 If you don't； you will die。 It is that simple。〃 I throttle Tex and he moans in pain。 My voice takes on a mocking tone； 〃You can see how strong I am for a honey child。〃
〃Shoot her；〃 Tex gasps as I allow him a little air。
〃That is a bad idea；〃 I say。 〃To shoot me they have to shoot you first because you are standing in front of me。 Really； Tex； you should think these things out before giving such orders。〃 I glance at the others。 〃If you don't get out of here； I'll have you for dinner as well。 I really am a vampire and； for me； prime ribs e in all shapes and forms。〃 With one hand； I lift Tex two feet off the ground。 〃Do you want to see what I do to him？ I guarantee it will make you sick to your stomach。〃
〃God；〃 one of the men whispers and turns to flee。 He doesn't bother with the car。 He just runs into the desert； anywhere to get away from me。 Another fellow edges toward the periphery。 But the remaining man… the guy who grabbed me in the casino； the same one who frisked me…snaps at him。
〃She's not a vampire；〃 he says。 〃She's just some kind of freak。〃
〃That's it；〃 I agree。 〃I take steroids。〃 I glance at the guy who wants to leave。 〃Get out of here while you still can。 You will see neither of these men alive again。 Believe me； you'll hear their screams echoing over the desert。〃
My tone is persuasive。 The guy leaves； chasing after the first one。 Now there are just the three of us。 How cozy。 In reality； I was not looking forward to having to dodge the bullets fired by three separate men。 I allow Tex a little more air； let him say his last words。 His tune has not changed。
〃Shoot her；〃 he croaks at his partner。
〃You could try it and see what happens；〃 I remark。
The hired hand is unsure。 His gun wavers in the air。 〃I can't get a clear shot。〃
Tex tries to turn toward me。 〃We can make a deal。 I have money。〃
I shake my head。 〃Too late。 I don't want your money。 I just want your blood。〃
Tex sees I am serious。