Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Collection 6-10 by Laurell K. Hamilton

while I changed. Black jeans, a royal blue polo shirt, white jogging socks with a blue stripe, black Nikes, and I felt more myself. I laid the Browning’s shoulder holster in my suitcase. The Browning was my main gun, and I missed it. I’d have missed it under normal circumstances, but now my hand ached for the gun.
    I guess that’s what backup guns are for. The Firestar 9mm is a good gun and fits my hand well. My hands are small enough that a lot of 9mms are just too big. The Browning was about the limit of a comfortable grip. I wore the Firestar in an inter-pants holster, set for a forward cross draw, which meant you could see the gun. I wasn’t sure I cared tonight.
    I put on wrist sheaths and both knives. These were the last two of a foursome that I’d had custom made for my hands, with the highest silver content possible in the steel. I’d had to have two of them replaced; monsters ate them. I put the two new knives in the suitcase still in their felt-lined box. They were pretty and sharp enough to cut your skin if you ran a thumb along the edge.
    While I was having the lost knives replaced, I’d ordered a new one. It was nearly a foot long, more a sword than a knife. I’d had a leather harness made that let me carry it down my spine, with the hilt under my hair. I hadn’t used it before, but I’d seen it in a catalog and couldn’t resist.
    I had a Derringer, a sawed-off shotgun, two full-sized, pump-action shotguns, a twelve gauge, and a mini-Uzi. The Derringer, the Uzi, and the sawed-off shotgun were all gifts from Edward. Not Christmas or birthday gifts. No, we’d be outhunting vampires together, and he’d give me a new toy. I’d asked for the shotgun.
    The full-sized shotguns wouldn’t pack in either the suitcases or the gym bags. I put them in their individual carrying cases, with straps. The gym bags held my vampire hunting kit and my zombie paraphernalia. I put extra ammo in both bags for temporary keeping. Heck, I shoved extra ammo in the suitcase, too. You could never have too much.
    I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. The gun was pretty obvious against the bright blue of the shirt. I finally put a black jacket over it, what they call a boyfriend’s jacket, because it’s sort of big through the shoulders and body. The sleeves rolled back to expose the silky lining. I liked the jacket, and with one button fastened, it hid the Firestar, though not completely. You’d still catch glimpses of it when I moved, but maybe people wouldn’t run screaming.
    I felt naked without the Browning, which was kind of funny, considering I had an Uzi in my suitcase. But hey, I slept with the Browning.
    Richard never said a word about the two shotguns. Maybe he would have complained about the rest if he’d seen them, but he picked up one suitcase, put one gym bag over his shoulder, one shotgun carrying case on the same shoulder, and let me pick up my share.
    “Can you carry both suitcases?” I asked.
    “Yeah, but I’m shocked you asked. The last time I tried to carry something unasked, you nearly handed me my head in a basket.”
    “I want one hand free for my gun.”
    “Ah,” he said, “of course.” He took the other suitcase without another word. He really is a very wise man.
    Mrs. Pringle stepped out of her door as we were leaving. She had Custard in her arms. He growled briefly at Richard, and she hushed him. “I thought I heard you out here. Are you all right, Anita?”
    I glanced at the hole by her door. “I’m fine. How ’bout you?”
    She hugged Custard, raising his tiny furry body near her face. “I’ll be all right. Are you going to be charged?”
    “It doesn’t look like it.”
    “Good.” She glanced at the suitcases. One for clothes, one for weapons. “Where are you going?”
    “I think I’m a little too dangerous to be around right now.”
    She searched my face like she was trying to read my mind. “How bad is this mess, Anita?”
    “Bad enough,” I said.
    She gently