Thirst [All-American Vampires 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) (16 page)

At his question, Claire seemed to gather herself together. She sat up straighter in her seat, and a quick glance sideways confirmed that a little smile had appeared on her face.

“Yes. We have the same father. My mom died when I was four, and we had a rough couple of years. I was so happy when Dad remarried. Connie, that’s Cass’s mom, was a terrific stepmom, nothing like you hear about. You know, the wicked stepmother being hateful to the poor orphaned girl.” She laughed and shook her head. “She was a stay-at-home mom and did all those things moms are supposed to do. Late-night slumber parties and girls’ day at the salon. All the girlie things that I’d missed out on when it was just me and Dad. She was a terrific cook, too, and loved to entertain. She and Dad used to have the most wonderful parties. I can still remember how she smelled. Like gardenias. She and my father were very happy together. And then when Cassidy was born, I was ecstatic. I loved having a baby sister. I always wanted us to be closer, but I guess the age gap was too big. There’s eight years between us, so we didn’t have a lot of interests in common when we were growing up. Actually, I considered her more of a pest than anything else, I’m afraid. I guess I had gotten used to being an only child, and it was an adjustment, having to deal with another personality. I was alone a lot and tended to prefer my own company. My face was usually buried in a book, until I discovered computers anyway. I wasn’t very social.”

“And Cassidy was?”

“Oh, yes. She was very popular. She played tennis and soccer and took dance and gymnastics. She was on the middle school cheerleading squad. There were always kids over at the house swimming in our pool in the summer and running wild. Her personality was very outgoing. She was only fourteen when our parents died, and I was twenty-two. It was hard on her, and she went a little wild. Trying to control her was difficult, and I was so young myself. I guess it made me the bad guy most of the time. I was setting curfews and refusing to buy her things, grounding her. Her high school years were rough on both of us. We’d only just started building a better relationship when everything happened, the attack and everything after it. That’s why I felt so guilty about leaving her behind when I escaped. And why I have to find her. I just have to.”

“I understand, Claire. You have to stop beating yourself up about it. I can tell you honestly that from what you’ve told me, you really had no choice. If you had stayed, you’d either have been killed or separated from your sister and sold. Then what hope would she have? It was a hard choice you made, but you made the right one, in my opinion. If you think my opinion is worth anything.”

She reached over to squeeze his hand where it rested on the console. “It is, Hawk. It’s worth a lot. I know you’re right. And I’ll try not to feel guilty about it anymore. I’m going to concentrate on the future, not the past. There’s nothing I can do to change it, anyway, even if I wanted to. So I just have to keep moving forward.”

“Exactly. Your family sounds terrific, by the way.”

“They were. I miss them so much. Dad was a doctor, just a general practitioner, not one of those big-time specialists or anything like that. I can remember going with him to his office and playing with his tongue depressors and stethoscope when I was very young. I was really close to him, I guess because I lost my mom so young.”

“Your dad and Connie died in a car accident?”

“Yes, a drunk driver ran a red light and hit them right in the side. Connie died instantly. My dad lived for almost a week, but he never regained consciousness.”

“That’s tough. Was there no other family who could have taken Cassidy?”

“Not really. Connie had no one, and my dad’s mom was in a nursing home. It was just me and Cass.”

“You were so young for such a huge responsibility.” He was amazed that she had managed as well as she had.

“I know. And a lot of people advised me to just let her go to state care. But I couldn’t. She was my baby sister. My only family. I would have done anything to keep us together.”

It was obvious to Hawk how important her family was to her, and he knew that she was never going to stop looking for Cassidy. It just wasn’t in her. He wondered what it would be like to have that same passion and love that she felt for Cassidy directed at him. He wanted it, he realized. He wanted more from her than he’d ever expected. The question was, what did she want from him?

Hawk had called Gia on his cell phone when they got to Jackson to let her know they were almost there, and Claire saw her waiting on the porch of her house for them as they pulled up the long drive. Her home was actually located a little northeast of the city in a more rural area, and Claire appreciated the softly landscaped yard as they came to a halt. As Claire stepped out of the vehicle, she took a moment to admire the quaint-looking home. It was a pale-peach color and had shutters of a deep hunter green trimmed in white. With a steeply pitched roof and decorative millwork, it reminded Claire of a cozy little gingerbread house. A little amusing considering Gia was a witch, Claire thought. Claire just hoped Gia didn’t plan on putting them in an oven Hansel and Gretel style.

When Gia stepped forward so that Claire could see her better, Claire decided she looked nothing at all like a witch and a bit more like Malibu Barbie. Gia’s hair was long and blonde, with a soft wave that Claire was sure was completely natural. Claire immediately hated her. Her figure was hourglass and her breasts generous. As she threw herself with a happy squeal into Hawk’s arms, she didn’t look to be much above five feet tall. Claire seriously considered pounding a couple more inches off her when she kissed Hawk full on the mouth in what was definitely more than a sisterly smooch.

To give Hawk credit, he didn’t participate in the kiss, just stood there with his hands lightly resting on the woman’s arms in an attempt, Claire hoped, to keep the witch from pressing herself any closer to him.

Finally Gia stepped back, a sulky pout on her face. “What’s the matter, Hawk? Aren’t you as glad to see me as I am to see you? Last time you were a little more enthusiastic. I never thought you’d play hard to get, but I’m game, if that’s what you’re into these days.”

Hawk grinned sheepishly toward Claire before turning Gia around. “Gia, I’d like you to meet Claire Landry, my…er…lady friend. Claire, this is Gia Thorne.”

The expression on Gia’s face was one of horrified embarrassment, and she rushed forward to offer Claire her hand. “I am so sorry. I had no idea Hawk was involved. He’s always been something of a lone wolf, so to speak. Please excuse the overly enthusiastic greeting. If he had warned me”—she tossed a glare toward the man, and Claire almost laughed at the discomfiture on Hawk’s face at the reprimand—“then I would never have done anything to make you uncomfortable. Forgive me?”

Claire couldn’t help but like the beautiful witch and smiled as she shook Gia’s hand. “It’s all right. We haven’t been together long. I think we’re both just starting to get used to the idea.”

Gia slid an arm around her waist and pulled her forward. “Well, come on inside. I can’t wait to get to know you better. Any woman who’s managed to catch Hawk has got to be something pretty special.”

Claire sent a questioning gaze over her shoulder at Hawk, who shrugged with helpless male bafflement, an odd look on someone usually so stoic and in command, and began following behind them.

“I wouldn’t exactly say that I’ve caught him,” Claire confided to the friendly witch.

“Ah…just dangling him on a string, huh? That’s the way to do it. Keep him guessing. That’s good for every man, but especially someone like Hawk. Women usually just fling themselves at him, you know? It’s something about that standoffish aura he wears. Drives the ladies crazy. It’s almost pathetic to watch.”

As she continued talking, Gia led them into a quaint little parlor. “All righty. Have a seat, you two.” She indicated the cozy floral-print love seat. “Make yourselves comfortable.” After they had settled, she asked, “Can I get either of you something to drink? I don’t have any bottled blood, but I have some beer or wine. Not for you, of course, Hawk, but I did stock up on your favorite bottled water when you called to say you were coming.”

“Nothing for me, thanks,” Claire declined, wondering why Hawk wasn’t offered any of the beer or wine. She sensed a story there but knew that now wasn’t the right time to probe for answers.

“Me either, thanks, Gia.”

Gia settled in a rocking chair across from them. “How are the Buchanans, Hawk? I haven’t talked to either of them in a while. I still can’t believe that Ty is married.”

“They’re good.” Hawk stretched an arm across the back of the love seat, and his hand brushed Claire’s shoulder. Claire recognized the possessive gesture for what it was and suppressed a smile as she exchanged a knowing glance with Gia. “Ty found himself a great girl. Libby suits him perfectly. They’ve been in Alaska for the past month, but they’re finally on their way home. Quinn is in Chicago right now, meeting with the Council.”

“Oh, really? That’s very interesting. Is the Council pursuing him in the hopes that he’ll join them? I heard that Eva Turlington was leaving the Council.”

“That’s what we think. Although they haven’t made him an outright offer yet. So far they just seem to be testing the waters, trying to decide if Quinn is what they’re looking for.”

“Well, if they offer it to him, I hope that he takes it. We need some stronger leadership up in Chicago than what we’ve had for the past fifty years or so. In my opinion the council has gotten way too weak. They need to start changing with the times. We’re no longer living in the 1700s, but some of those old geezers seem to be stuck there. It’s time to have someone up there who can move us into the twenty-first century. Honestly, some of them act like we’re still driving horse and buggies and using outhouses instead of living in the electronic age. The only thing they’ve really accomplished recently is creating that NPA website, which I think one of the younger aides actually suggested and created for them.”

“I agree with you. I think Quinn would be a great addition to the Council. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.” Hawk pulled his arm down from the back of the sofa and leaned forward. “I don’t mean to be rude, Gia, but we’re kind of in a hurry. Maybe we can chat another time, but right now we’d like to get straight to the reason we’re here.”

Gia didn’t look offended by Hawk’s bluntness. Instead she turned to look at Claire. “I understand that you’re looking for your sister, is that right, Claire?”

“Yes, my sister Cassidy. She’s been missing for several months, and I’m very anxious to find her.”

“She was kidnapped by vampires, correct?”

Claire nodded.

“Hawk explained most everything to me when he asked me to search for her, but I have to warn you that the odds are about fifty-fifty that I’ll be able to find her. It’s very difficult for me to locate someone that I’ve never met before. I’m not sure if you understand how this works, and it’s not something that’s easy to explain. Basically, it’s a matter of focusing energy. Every witch has talents that lie in different areas, what most humans would consider psychic powers. Natural-born witches have the ability to tap into energy in a way that others can’t do. My talent is finding missing objects and people. It’s easier if I have something that belongs to them. Something meaningful. Without something personal of hers, I may have difficulty focusing. And from what I understand from Hawk, you don’t have anything of Cassidy’s that she’s held within the last few months.”

Claire reached into her pocket and pulled out Cassidy’s necklace. “Until last night, I didn’t have anything of hers that she’d touched for almost a year. Now I have this.” She passed the opal over to Gia. “We just got it from someone who knew her. It was in her possession less than two months ago. Will it help?”

Gia smiled as she studied the necklace. She closed her eyes, and a stillness came over her features for a few moments. When she opened them back up, she nodded. “It will help a lot. You’ve just increased the odds to about eighty percent that I’ll be able to find her.” She stood up. “I know you’re impatient. We’ll go ahead and get started. Come with me.”

They followed her down a short hallway and into another room that looked like a small study. The walls were lined with bookcases which were filled to overflowing. A large desk sat in front of a bay window. Off to one side was a waist-high table that held stacks of files and more books. Opposite the table was a small sofa.

Gia walked over to one of the bookshelves and searched for a moment until she found what she was looking for. Pulling out the rather large book, Gia carried it across the room to the large table and set it down. Claire saw that it was a very well-used atlas. Gia began shoving the papers and books to one side. Hawk moved to help her, and before too long they’d cleared enough space so that Gia could spread the atlas out.

“We’re going to start the last place that you know for sure that she was. Tell me specifically the last place you saw Cassidy with your own eyes.”

Claire didn’t even have to think about it. “It was in Georgia. Just outside of Atlanta.”

Gia flipped through the atlas until she had the right map.

“Okay, let’s see what we can do.” She held the necklace in her left hand and gestured toward Claire. “Claire, could you place your hand over mine.” Claire stepped beside her and covered the hand that was holding the necklace. “Hawk, join hands with Claire, please. I need to be able to pull on your psychic energy. It will make the search easier if I have some extra power in reserve. It won’t hurt you at all. I promise. Since you’re emotionally connected to Claire, and she to her sister, it should help to get a clearer location.” After Hawk had done as she asked, Gia reached out with her right hand and held it above the map. “Claire, I need you to concentrate on your sister. Try to picture her in your mind exactly how she looked that last time you were together. Also try to picture as much of the surroundings as you can.” Closing her eyes and softly muttering to herself in a language Claire did not recognize, Gia bent her head forward in concentration.