Thirst [All-American Vampires 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) (12 page)

Claire watched as Tatiana accepted the picture and bent her head forward, her long, dark hair falling down to conceal her pale features. Hawk shifted beside her, drawing her attention for a brief second. Their eyes met. She wanted to reach out to him, but she didn’t. She wasn’t sure why. He’d held her hand before, offered her his silent support. In fact, so far, he’d made all the advances and had instigated almost all the touches. She wondered if he felt everything was one-sided. That maybe she didn’t really want him. It was just so hard for her to admit when she needed someone. As if sensing her thoughts, Hawk reached out, and she grabbed onto his hand like a lifeline.

Claire jerked her gaze back to Tatiana just in time to see her hand reach up to close around the necklace she wore. She looked up and straight into Claire’s eyes. “Cass.” Claire heard her whisper it, though it was spoken so softly she wasn’t sure that anyone without vampire hearing could have heard the small puff of sound.

“Yes. Cass. Cassidy is my sister. You’ve seen her.” Claire spoke confidently. “That’s her necklace you’re wearing, isn’t it?”

As soon as the interpreter finished translating Claire’s words, Tatiana nodded. She reached up and unclasped the chain, holding the necklace out toward Claire. Claire reached for it. As soon as her fingers closed around the necklace, tears filled her eyes. Memories of her sister flooded her. She remembered the day her stepmother had given Cass the necklace and how much her sister had loved it. Blinking back tears, she turned the necklace over and saw the initials JVK inscribed there. Joanne Victoria Kilmer. Cassidy’s grandmother. She rubbed her thumb across the back, feeling the slight roughness of the lettering. A sob broke free even though she tried to hold it back. Though she had sworn to herself that she wouldn’t, she couldn’t stop the eruption of tears that overflowed her eyes and began trickling down her face. Hawk got out of his chair and squatted down in front of her, taking her hands in his. He squeezed them and then raised them to his mouth, dropping a warm kiss on the back of each one. She squeezed his back, so grateful that he was there that she couldn’t find the words to express it, but she wanted him to know.

Again she felt his presence lend her a measure of calm, and she was able to get herself under control. He passed her a tissue that Eloise had handed him and resumed his seat. She blotted at her eyes and then looked around. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to break down like that. I’m not usually so emotional.”

Hawk scowled. “Quite frankly, I’m relieved to see it. I had a feeling you had a lot of stuff stored up. It’s good to get it all out.”

It was Eloise who spoke then, commenting in her no-nonsense manner, “Hawk’s right. Don’t apologize, Claire. You’ve been under considerable strain for the past several months, from what I understand. I think everyone here realizes that sometimes a good cry helps relieve some of that tension. Now, let’s see if Tatiana can tell you anything about your sister.”

Claire took a deep breath and looked back at Tatiana. “Can you please tell me everything you remember about when you met Cass?”

The girl nodded. As Tatiana began to relate her story, Claire concentrated on every word as the interpreter translated them. Every detail, no matter how seemingly insignificant, might lead her to Cassidy. She heard Tatiana explain how she and several other girls had been held captive together in a house somewhere near the coast. Tatiana was very confused about where that was exactly. Vampires would come and look over the girls periodically, sometimes selecting one to take away with them. Those girls were never seen again. About two months ago, another man had shown up. This one had a young woman with him with shiny, silver-blonde hair cut very short. This girl had stood nervously at the man’s side, speaking only when spoken to and keeping her head low, though her eyes had constantly darted around the room. Her gaze had lingered on the girls with what Tatiana described as pity.

When the man had left to discuss some matter with one of the captors, this girl had tried to speak with some of the captives, but the language barrier kept them from having any real, meaningful conversations. Tatiana had been sitting in a corner, holding herself apart from the others, huddled up into a ball. She’d been afraid that she might be selected to be taken away.

The new girl had come to sit beside Tatiana and put her arm around her shoulders, just holding her and offering her comfort. When Tatiana had touched the beautiful necklace the girl had been wearing, she’d taken it off her own neck and slid it around Tatiana’s. Then the man had come back and taken her away.

She looked apologetically at Claire. She had never seen her again.

Claire asked, “Did you hear the man’s name, Tatiana?”

After the interpreter had put the question to her, Tatiana thought for a moment and then said, “Hunnerson?” She shrugged.

Hawk looked thoughtful. “Maybe Henderson? Or Harrison?”

Tatiana shook her head and then looked confused, and Claire knew that she was doing the best she could. At least now they had a name…or sort of. Then Hawk asked if Tatiana could describe the man. After thinking for a moment, she told them he was very tall, over six feet, and thin, with salt-and-pepper hair and green eyes. She also mentioned that he had been missing his right pinky finger, and he’d dressed very expensively, Tatiana was sure. She’d worked selling men’s clothes in Russia, and his clothes were better than anything she’d ever seen. Claire was thrilled. The vampire was unusual looking and wealthy. Surely they could find him from that description.

She stood and walked over to Tatiana. Taking her hand, she leaned down and kissed the young girl on her cheek. “Thank you so much. You have helped me more than you could ever know. I truly feel like there’s a real chance we can find my sister. And it’s all thanks to you. You are a brave and beautiful young lady.”

Tatiana looked alarmed when Claire had first risen, but now she also stood and tentatively wrapped her arms around Claire’s shoulders. Claire accepted the hug of the young girl, struck by how generous she’d been.

After a quick squeeze, Claire stepped back and wiped the tears that had risen in her eyes again. “Good grief. I’ve never cried so much in my life.”

Eloise rose and said, “I think that’s enough excitement for one night, don’t you? Darren, will you take the girls back to the game room?”

In short order the girls and Darren had left the room, leaving Eloise, Hawk, and Claire alone.

“Well, that went better than I had feared. The girls have been so anxious about Tatiana. They all seem to look on her as a younger sister, and I think they were afraid that she would not handle this well.”

“She did wonderfully, and we are so grateful,” Claire reassured her.

Eloise shook her head. “I don’t know if you two have plans for where to spend the day, but I wanted to offer you a room. We have a basement area that is set up for any vampires who come to help with the therapies.”

To Claire’s surprise, Hawk accepted, though they had previously discussed finding a hotel room for the day. “That’s very kind, thank you, Eloise. I know you prefer to limit the paranormal presence here as much as possible.”

“I think the girls will be comfortable enough with you here. I also wanted to offer to donate for you if you need to feed. I was a donor before, as you know, and don’t mind at all.”

“Thank you, Eloise. I do need to feed and didn’t really want to have to go out to search for a donor. I’m certain Claire is in the same predicament.”

Not looking at Hawk, Claire demurred. “That’s very kind, Eloise, but I don’t want to abuse your hospitality. You’ve already done more than enough. I’ll be fine with just the bottled blood we brought with us.”

She knew that Hawk had turned to her in surprise, but she kept her gaze focused on Eloise, who said, “Well, if you’re sure…”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Claire. I know it’s been a while since you fed from a live donor. You’ll make yourself sick.” Hawk’s brow furrowed in a frown.

“I’m not being ridiculous, Hawk. I’m fine, like I said.”

“Will you excuse us for a moment, Eloise?” He took Claire’s arm and led her across the room. Stopping next to the long table, he glowered down at her. “I don’t know why you’re being so stubborn, but I can tell from looking at you that you’re blood weak. When is the last time that you fed from a live donor and not a bottle?”

She shrugged. “It’s none of your business, Hawk.”

“Oh, that’s where you’re wrong, sweetheart. Right now, you’re my responsibility. We’re in the middle of something that could turn dangerous at any moment. We don’t know whose feet we might be stepping on in this search. I seriously doubt that whoever has Cassidy is going to feel like just handing her over when we find her. Don’t forget the kind of people we’re dealing with here. Simone is insane, and whoever she’s dealing with is probably just like her. I need you to be strong and alert at all times, and we both know that you can’t go more than a few days without seeking out a live donor. Bottled blood just will not cut it as your only source of nourishment. So you need to get past whatever it is that is preventing you from feeding properly and just do it. Eloise has generously offered her blood. On top of everything else, it is unbelievably rude to refuse her.”

She knew she was not going to win this battle, so she gave in. It was a ridiculous quirk to have anyway. Who ever heard of a vampire who hated to drink blood?

* * * *

Hawk watched as Claire tentatively accepted Eloise’s wrist, bending her head to sink her teeth into the rich vein. Eloise’s eyes almost closed in the pleasure of the bite. After only a few sips, Claire stopped and licked the wound closed with her powerful saliva. Hawk was tempted to insist she take more, sure that the fool woman hadn’t gotten near enough. But he refrained, although he certainly planned to broach the subject with her when they were alone. What the hell was her problem?

Eloise turned to him and offered him her other wrist. Hawk drank quickly but efficiently. By the time he had finished, it was obvious that Eloise was very aroused.

After sealing the wound, he grabbed her shoulders. “Are you going to be all right?” he asked, studying the flush on her cheeks and her dilated pupils.

She nodded. “Yes. My partner is waiting for me in our apartment above the garage. I’m sure she’ll appreciate the effects of your bite.”

Hawk grinned appreciatively. “Good. I’m glad someone will reap the benefits.”

Eloise headed to the door. “If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to your room.”

They followed her down the hall to the large kitchen at the back of the house. She pulled open a door to a darkened staircase that led down. After reaching out to turn on the light, she told them, “Once you are in, just turn the lock on this door. Straight down the stairs you’ll find a couple of bedrooms with a bathroom between them.” She glanced at them speculatively. “You can use one or both rooms. There are no windows at all, so you don’t have to worry about sunlight. No one will enter the basement while you’re down here.”

“Thanks.” Hawk indicated for Claire to move down the staircase. “I need to run to the SUV and get our bags and my laptop. I’ll join you in a minute.”

He watched her nod her head and then move down the staircase. It didn’t take him long to retrieve their suitcases. When he joined Claire, she was sitting on the bed in one of the bedrooms. She looked at him as he entered, and he could see the uncertainty on her face.

He set her bag down at the foot of the bed but kept his own in his hand. “I’m giving you the choice, Claire. I can use the other bedroom if you’d prefer, or I can stay in here with you. But I want to warn you, if I stay, it won’t be just as a bedmate. It will be as your lover. So you need to decide if you meant what you said earlier. Do you want me in here with you or not?”

Hawk knew he was taking a chance here. She’d already agreed to be his lover, but he didn’t want to give her any chance to say that she’d felt forced or coerced to take him to her bed. He knew she was feeling raw emotionally, and he was sorry he was causing her more anxiety, but it would be better in the long run if this wasn’t hanging over their heads the whole time.

He saw her bite her lip, but she met his gaze firmly. “I want you in here with me, Hawk.”

He allowed his mouth to tip up in a slight smile. “You don’t look like you want me in here.” Her arms were clasped defensively across her middle, and her feet were firmly on the floor with her legs held tightly together as though she were afraid he might jump on her at any moment.

He dropped his suitcase and walked over to her. Reaching down, he pulled her to her feet and up against him. She was very still against him, neither rejecting him nor encouraging him, almost like a small animal afraid that if it moved it would attract the attention of something dangerous. Too late, he thought to himself. She already had.

He bent and dropped a soft kiss on her head. “Why don’t you take a shower and get ready for bed. I need to check some e-mails on my computer.”

She looked relieved at his statement. He hid his smile as she got her things from her bag and quickly went into the bathroom, closing the door firmly behind her. He heard the lock click and almost laughed. She was an unexpected surprise, and the more he was around her, the more she delighted him with her shy yet passionate nature.

Turning his computer on, he brought up his e-mail program and quickly scanned through for anything he needed to attend to before he could get back home. He opened a couple from Kirby and fired back the answers to her inquiries. Seeing nothing else that couldn’t wait, he began composing a note to Quinn, relating to him what he and Claire had been doing and what they had discovered. As he’d hoped, Quinn was online and immediately opened up his IM program.

Q: Sounds like you are making progress. Think you can find this “Hunnerson” person?

H: Hope so. I’m taking her to Gia’s tomorrow. See if she can find a location for us.

Q: This could be a good lead to Simone.

H: My thoughts exactly. This man is bound to at least know how to contact her.