Search (The Empire Chronicles #2) (4 page)

I decided not to mention that I didn’t have the money to move, let alone pay the rent on a better place. It didn’t seem worth the effort. I was still trying to face the reality that I had a whole new family.

She mumbled something about realtors. “I hope you don’t have plans for today.”

“I work this afternoon.” I’d picked up an extra shift. I was working as often as possible. It wasn’t like I had much else to do, and I was still saving for college tuition.

“Work? Where do you work?”

“Coffee Heaven.”

“A coffee shop?” Georgina looked ill. “You serve coffee?”

“Yeah… it doesn’t pay great, but it’s something.” By the way she was staring with her mouth gaping open, you’d have thought I’d just admitted to being an exotic dancer.

She took a couple of deep breaths then let them out. “Okay. First thing, get yourself dressed. Allie and I will wait here.” She looked around at the furniture like she was deciding whether it was safe to sit down.

“Okay… but then what?”

“We will worry about that when you’re dressed.” She looked confused. Like she couldn’t imagine anyone questioning her. At least I knew that women got respect in the Laurent family. I already knew Allie spoke her mind, but boy did Grandma do it too.

Allie mouthed, “Don’t argue.” I wasn’t planning on it. Something about that woman made her more intimidating than any of the giant paranormal guys I’d met recently. I also liked her. She seemed real, and I respected that.

“Okay…” I figured stopping for a shower was out of the question, so I slipped on a sundress and pulled some of my hair back and left the other half down. If Georgina was telling the truth about how I looked earlier, she’d be satisfied with my attempt. I brushed my teeth, slipped on flat strappy sandals and walked back out into the living room. I wasn’t a big make-up person, but I remembered to apply some lip gloss before I met up with the others.

“Who is this?” Georgina held a framed picture of Vera. She sat on the couch while Allie sat across from her on the only chair in the room. The fabric on all of the above was well worn.

“My sister.”

Georgina continued staring at the frame. “Where is she?”

“I don’t know, but I’m going to find out.”

“She’s missing then?” Georgina set aside the frame and studied my face like it was a puzzle.

“Yes. She disappeared without a trace a few years ago, but I recently got a lead.”

“And who gave you this lead?” she pressed.

I hesitated. I assumed Georgina was telling the truth about being my grandmother, but the whole “you’re part of the family” thing could all be an act.

It’s like she read my mind. “You have to trust me. I can’t help you if I don’t have all the details.”

“Why do you want to help me?” People always had ulterior motives. Like Toby. I hoped his motivation was wanting to spend time with me, but I wasn’t dumb. It could be something else entirely—like wanting to somehow use me to see Allie again. Argh. I needed to stop worrying about my love life at such inappropriate times.

“You’re my granddaughter. I’ve always wanted a granddaughter, and now I have two.”

Allie seemed surprised by the words, and Georgina noticed.

“I nearly broke down when I thought we lost you. You are also a Laurent—although why you insisted on putting off the wedding is beyond me.”

“It’s only a few more weeks…” Allie ran a hand through her perfectly straightened hair.

“Where are you getting married?” I jumped on the opportunity to change the subject. It would give me time to think.

“Hawaii.”

“Oh, wow. I’ve always wanted to go there.”

“You will be at the wedding, obviously, but let’s stay focused.” Georgina patted the empty spot on the couch next to her.

I tentatively sat down. I was always braver and stronger when I was standing. My confidence seemed to waver when I sat.

“What lead?”

I stood up again, needing to lead the conversation. “Do you know how I found out what I am?”

“Only that you were forced to transform quite suddenly.”

“I was pushed off a building. The Empire State Building to be specific.”

“By whom?” Georgina stiffened. “Who did it? They shall be punished for—”

“A bear.”

“A bear? What were you doing with a bear?”

I laughed. I had to. Like I had willingly gone with Murphy? “It wasn’t by choice, and I’d only recently discovered he was a bear.”

“Who’d you think he was before that?” Allie asked. I’d forgotten that I’d never filled her in on all the details.

“He was my sister’s boyfriend.” I left out the part about him being the older brother of the guy who broke my heart and took my virginity. “They were dating when she disappeared.”

“She was taken by bears then.” Georgina spoke calmly, with no trace of emotion in her voice. I’m not sure if that was because she felt none, or because she was trying to stay calm for my benefit.

“Evidently.”

“What would the bears have wanted with her sister? If they knew who Casey was, why not just take her?” Allie’s forehead wrinkled in thought.

Georgia crossed her legs. “I don’t know, but I think the secret to discovering the answer lies in you, Casey. I need to learn more about you. I have one theory, but it’s going to take some research before I know anything definitive.”

“I’d sit down for this.” Allie gestured to the couch. “This may take a while.” It was nice to see Allie wasn’t afraid to speak her mind around Georgina.

I sat, sinking into the old couch cushions as I waited for Georgina to talk.

“How old are you, Casey?”

“I’m nineteen.”

“And your birthday is?”

“January 10
^th
.”

“So that means you were born when Levi was almost four years old.”

I nodded even though I didn’t know exactly how old Levi was. It just seemed like what I was supposed to do.

“What do you know about your mother?” Georgina’s voice softened an octave, and that scared me. It meant she was trying to cushion a blow.

“She’s from upstate.”

“Upstate New York?”

“Yeah. She spent part of her childhood in Vermont, but then moved to New York.”

“And your grandparents on that side?” Georgina continued.

“They died before I was born.”

“So you never visited her hometown?” Her eyes never left my face.

I shook my head. “No.”

“And the man you thought was your father?”

“Yes…”

“Did you visit his hometown?”

“No… his parents also died before I was born.” Wow, it seemed sketchy even to my own ears.

“And this cousin…. Who are his parents?”

“My uncle and aunt. Dennis and Debbie. Why?” Finally, someone I’d met.

“Do you know anything about them? Where they’re from?”

“Also upstate, I think…” Had I really been that complacent? That naïve? I’d never given much thought to how little I knew about my family. Mom got upset when I brought it up, so as a point, I didn’t.

“In other words, you know nothing about your mother’s side of your family.”

“Pretty much.” I sounded dumb, but it was the truth. No reason to sugar coat it.

Georgina appeared deep in thought, but then she suddenly stood up. “Let’s go shopping.”

“What? What about your theory?”

“I need to do some research first, but let’s go shopping before we go down to New Orleans.”

“New Orleans? I can’t leave.”

“Sure you can. You can even invite your friend. If my hunch is right, you can use all the protection you can get.” Georgina walked out the door. I guess she wasn’t going to wait for us.

“Protection? What’s going on?” And was she talking about Toby?

Allie stood. “I wouldn’t argue. She’s not going to tell us anything until she’s ready.”

“I bet you’re right.”

“I am.” Allie smiled. “Are you going to call Toby?”

“I’m not sure. I probably should do this alone though.”

She nodded. “Yeah… I agree. Besides, Toby can get down there pretty quickly if you need him.”

She came to me for help. She didn’t go to Jared, or even Eric. She came to me. Maybe it wasn’t as big of a deal as I was making it, but it was enough of a start. I’d take it, and I’d make it more. I’d lost a chance with Casey once. I wasn’t doing it again.

My determination was at an all-time high. The way she looked at me said it all. She missed me, and not in a completely platonic way either. If it weren’t for my bitch of an assistant, she’d have been with me already. I crushed the plastic tumbler in my hand. At least I wasn’t holding a glass cup. That could have been messy.

I leaned back against the couch. I’d have to deal with Nelly, but I wasn’t quite sure how to proceed. My dad may have been human, but he taught me a few things about women. His number one lesson? Tread lightly with a woman who’s been scorned. So maybe Nelly wasn’t a typical woman, but that just made being careful more important. She wasn’t allowed to use magic on a Pteron, but then again, she wasn’t supposed to screw up the love life of a Pteron either. After some deliberation, I finally came up with a plan. I got up and headed down to the office after texting Nelly to meet me.

“You wanted to see me?” Nelly sat on the edge of my desk when I walked into the office. If I had any doubts about her interest before, they were wiped out by seeing her sitting in a barely there skirt and a partially unbuttoned blouse.

“Yes, I did.” I felt my anger rising, but I needed to stay calm. Nothing good ever came from me losing my temper, other than the release of adrenalin I got when I transformed.

“This late at night?” she pouted in a way she probably thought was sexy but actually made her seem childish.

“The way I see it, I have two options right now.”

“Options?” She sat forward slightly.

“Yes. Either I fire you and make sure you never get hired by The Society again, or I get you to make everything up to me.”

“Make what up to you? And I take that option.” She looked half excited and half nervous.

I decided to get rid of the excitement right away. “You ruined things with Casey. I’m going to fix everything, but that doesn’t change the fact that you took away the best thing that’s happened to me in years.”

Her face blanched. “Toby, I can explain.”

“Can you?” I crossed my arms, still fighting the urge to shift.

“She isn’t good enough for you. You deserve better, but you were too blind to see the truth that was right in front of you.”

“Oh, I deserve better, do I? And who would be a better option?” I pretended to mull it over. “It wouldn’t be you, would it?”

“You’d have to be blind to not realize we are meant for each other.” She licked her lips.

“You have to be blind to not realize I’m in love with someone else.” My dad’s warning ran through me, but she needed to hear this. She needed to get over any delusion that we’d be together. Even if I’d ever had interest, which I didn’t, she’d have killed it by sabotaging things with Casey. The act spoke volumes about the person, or rather witch, she was.

“I was only trying to protect you.”

“Do you think I’m an idiot?”

“No, of course not.” She stood up without bothering to adjust her skirt. I averted my eyes. I had no desire to look at her exposed skin.

“You didn’t do that for me. You did it for you.”

“Toby, I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry if I mistakenly led you on. I know what it’s like to want someone you can’t have, but that still doesn’t excuse what you did.”

“How can I fix things? How can I make this better?” She actually looked like she might cry.

“You’re going to help me without asking questions.” I needed to get some good out of the mess she’d created with my life. I couldn’t go back and change what happened with Casey in New Orleans, but I could make sure I kept her safe.

“I always help you.”

“This is different. This is going to involve breaking some rules.”

She smiled. “I like breaking rules.”

“I know. And if you want to date a Pteron so badly, why not try Tim? He has a thing for you.”

“Really?” Her excitement at the mention of my cousin’s name gave me the confirmation I needed. She wasn’t that into me. She just wanted to date someone in power. She wasn’t the first.

“Go home, Nelly. I’ll let you know when you’re needed.”

“Thank you. I won’t let you down.”

“You better not.” I turned and walked out of the office. I hoped I wasn’t making a mistake. I didn’t want to keep Nelly around, but I was going to need a witch. And finding a witch who would keep her mouth shut wasn’t easy to come by.

With Nelly on board, I needed to track down Eric.

I checked the number on the apartment before knocking. No one answered at first, so I pounded again.

“What the fuc—” Eric yanked open his door. “Oh. It’s you.”

“We need to talk.” I was all business even though I wanted to laugh at catching the bear drinking some tropical drink. He didn’t strike me as the type.

“And we need to do it now?”

“Yes. Is that a problem?”

“Only marginally.” He held open the door so I could enter. He checked the hallway before closing the door behind us then set his drink down on a side table.

“Afraid you’re being watched?” I glanced around the sparsely furnished apartment. Nothing in the place would let on that it was inhabited by a bear except for the Urusus symbol that hung over the mantle. The bears were a sentimental group.

“I know I’m being watched as are you.”

I shrugged. “Nothing we can do about that. Are you bugged here?”

“No.” He nodded yes. Nice one. Maybe Eric was sharper than I gave him credit for.

“Oh. Good. I really need to discuss the atlas deal with you.”

He pointed to his coffee maker and nodded again. I knew what he was getting at. “What’s there to discuss? We’re not doing it.”

Despite my frustration with having to regroup, there was something fun about a random code conversation. It made me feel like I was undercover. “That’s too bad. We’ll find someone else then.”

“I guess so.”

I headed to the door. “You’re going to regret this.”

“No, I don’t think I will.”