Knowing Claire (The Possessed Series Book 1) Read online

  “He is your grandchild, and if you have a problem—”

  “Claire Bryson. How dare you think me so imperious? I’m merely concerned about you and how you intend on handling the situation.”

  “Situation?” Claire could feel her blood pressure rising.

  “I’ve been talking with Ben about this. The births are never easy, and we’ll have to keep the baby secluded as much as possible until he’s old enough to understand and control his natural instincts.”

  Claire took a seat on the sofa and faced Sarina. “What kind of instincts?”

  “Ben says it’s hard to determine with him being a half—”

  “Don’t you dare say breed.”

  “I was going to say human. I understand you’re emotional and hormonal, so I’m going to let that slide. This time.”

  “I’m sorry. I am feeling a little raw and edgy lately. I’m just scared, Mom.”

  Sarina wrapped her daughter in a tight hug. “I know, baby. We all are, but I promise you we will do everything in our power to keep you safe. You know Jaxon and Ben would both lay down their lives for you. So would Tori and I.”

  “I love you, Mom.” Claire pulled back to study her mother’s still beautiful face. “You don’t seem shocked to learn that Shifters exist.”

  “Why would I be shocked? I’ve seen things in my life that couldn’t be explained. I’ll tell you about them sometime when things settle down a bit. Suffice it to say, I believe there are other beings besides Shifters out there, and we’d do well to remember that.”

  Sarina continued when Claire would have interrupted. “Now, Victoria didn’t take it so well. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen her speechless. Her face turned the color of her hair.”

  Claire laughed. “That explains a lot. She still looks a bit green this morning.”

  “Speaking of… You’re looking slightly pale yourself. Let’s go check on your food.” She patted Claire on the stomach. “You are eating for two now. Or more.”

  “Bite your tongue, woman.”

  Chapter Twenty Nine

  Jaxon watched as Claire pushed her food around in circles on her plate, occasionally taking a small bite. He understood her fear of not holding anything down, but she needed to keep her strength up, for herself and the baby.

  “Morning sickness isn’t getting any better?”

  She glanced up from her food rearranging task. “It is.”

  He laid his hand on her back to gently rub in soothing circles. “Is that not appealing to you? I can order you something else.”

  “No, this is fine. I’m just thinking and overly worrying.”

  “About what? Talk to me, Claire.” Jaxon wanted to remove any fear she had or ever would have. To convince her that he would never let anything happen to her as long as he breathed.

  She stared down at the plate before her. “Mom says the births are difficult. What if I’m not strong enough to do this? If something happens to him because of me, I’ll die.”

  “Claire, look at me.” He hooked a finger under her chin and turned her face toward him. “I will not allow that. I’ll be with you every step of the way. Both of you. Whatever is required, I’ll see to it that you have it. The best doctor, the most competent care, and an attentive husband.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Trust me to keep you safe.”

  The look of relief of her pretty face tore at his heart. Truth was, he had no idea what to expect anymore than she did. Babies were unchartered territory for him, and being born from a human female was even more of a mystery. But he would see her safely through this pregnancy if it killed him.

  “I love you, Jaxon.”

  “I love you back.”

  “Gag.” Victoria’s reminder that they were in hearing distance brought a smile to Claire’s face, and for that Jaxon was grateful.

  He turned in his seat to grin at the tenacious blonde. “Know what you need, Tori?”

  “A bucket?”

  “I was thinking more of a strong man to take you in hand.”

  A shadow passed through her eyes, and she averted her gaze. “I’m going to see what I can do to help Bradley in the kitchen.”

  She slid off the stool and rounded the bar before Jaxon could reply.

  Claire laid a hand on his arm, bringing his focus back on her. “I think I’m going to go lie down for a while. I didn’t sleep so well last night.”

  “That’s a good idea,” Ben interjected from a few feet away. “Sarina and I are going to hang out here at the bar for a bit. Get some rest.”

  “Come on, I’ll walk you back.” Jaxon helped her to stand and nodded to the duo staying behind to guard the front.

  Jaxon kept his hand on the small of Claire’s back as they made their way through the kitchen and into the office. He snagged the thin blanket that draped the back of the sofa and patted the cushions.

  Claire climbed onto the couch and accepted the cover Jaxon offered her. “Will you turn the ringer off on the phone?”

  Jaxon strolled over to do her bidding. An image of Claire sitting behind that very desk just a couple of months earlier passed through his mind as a painful reminder of what he’d nearly lost.

  He slid the volume button to the off position on the phone and picked up a picture of Claire’s smiling face from the desk. He ran his thumb over the glass. “Don’t ever leave me like that again.”

  “Jaxon…”

  “Promise me.” He replaced the framed image and moved to kneel down in front of the couch.

  “I wouldn’t have left willingly, Jaxon, I—”

  “Say it.”

  “I promise.”

  “Good girl. I can protect you and your family as long as you don’t keep things from me. No one will ever hurt you as long as I’m breathing. Neither of you.” He indicated their unborn child.

  “I’m so happy you are here with me, Jaxon. My whole world is spinning out of control, and you are my anchor, my rock.”

  “My whole world is spinning around inside you, Claire.” He rested his open palm against her abdomen. “You are my life.”

  She covered her mouth with her hand, obviously attempting to hide a yawn. He bent and placed a kiss on her soft mouth. “Sleep. I’ll be close by. If you need anything, call my cell.”

  “Okay. Thank you, love. I’ll just rest for an hour.”

  “Take as long as you want.”

  She touched his hand as he stood to go. “Have you heard from Alfred?”

  “No, and I’d prefer I didn’t for a while.”

  “He’s your father, Jaxon. You’re going to have to talk to him at some point. He may be able to help locate Mack Doyle.”

  Jaxon had never known anyone like Claire. Her selfless ways and forgiving spirit humbled him. After everything Alfred had put her through, she still worried about Jaxon’s relationship with him. Yeah, she was going to make the perfect mother to his children.

  “He’s not off the hook with any of this. His sins date all the way back to your senior prom, Claire. It’s not going to be easy to forget that.”

  “I never said you should forget, only forgive. He truly thought he was doing the best thing for you.”

  “By taking away the one thing I couldn’t live without? Makes sense to me.” He regretted his sarcasm the second it escaped his mouth. “I’m sorry, babe. We’ll talk about this later after you’ve gotten some rest.”

  Claire nodded and shut her eyes. “Until then.”

  Chapter Thirty

  Claire stretched and shifted to her back. The office was dark, save for the light spilling under the door, casting shadows along the front of her desk. Pots and pans banged around in the other room, and the sound of a train passing through town could be heard over the chaos of the kitchen. Life goes on no matter how many freaks roam the streets.

  A tiny flutter in Claire’s stomach caught her off guard, and she froze. It came again, so faint it probably would have gone unnoticed had she not been so still. She laid her palm against her abdomen and blinked
back tears.

  “Hi, little guy. It’s your mother. Can you hear me?” Nothing could have prepared her for the overwhelming emotions pouring through her. “I love you already. So much.”

  Claire threw back the covers and stood. She couldn’t wait to tell Jaxon about the fluttering sensations. She doubted he’d be able to feel them, but she would surely explode from excitement without sharing it with him soon.

  She opened the door and peered into the kitchen. The chef was flipping something in a pan while cursing about one of the waitresses.

  “Hey, Bradley, have you seen Jaxon?”

  He answered without slowing his tirade. “I think he’s in the dining room.”

  “Thank you, your highness.” Claire strolled past her hot-headed chef, steering clear of his swinging elbow.

  She rounded the bar and grabbed a bottled water while scanning the room. “Hey, Sam. Have you seen Jaxon?“

  The bartender was making one of his infamous Bloody Marys. The man could mix one with his eyes closed. “He’s probably in the store room with the delivery guy, checking the liquor order.”

  “Why are they delivering so late? It’s after dark.”

  “I don’t know. Someone called earlier and said they would be late. Apparently some of the trucks got caught up in the construction on 331 South.”

  “Yeah, it’s a nightmare. I’ll be glad when they finish the four lanes. I haven’t been to the beach this year because of the traffic. Hence the walking chalk.”

  Sam glanced up. “I’m afraid to ask.”

  Claire bent and lifted the hem of her jeans on one leg. “Case in point.”

  “Ah, walking chalk. I’m traumatized.”

  Laughter bubbled up. “I’m going to talk to Jaxon. Is there any way I can con you into ordering me a burger and fries?”

  “Absolutely. One plate of butt food coming right up.”

  “Thanks, Sam.”

  Claire strolled through the dining room, stopping to speak to several of the regular customers. Some of them had been eating at Scruples since before Claire had been born. A few had even frequented the place back when Dexter owned it.

  After hearing about illnesses, divorce, and job loss, she excused herself to seek out the object of her affection...Jaxon.

  The smell of liquor greeted Claire as she entered the store room. Her stomach rebelled and her eyes watered. She cupped a hand over her mouth and nose to dilute the offensive odor.

  “Jaxon?” Silence.

  She hurried from the room and checked the restrooms only to find them both empty. Where are you, lover boy?

  The back entrance had been left open a couple of inches, Claire noticed after exiting the hall, which meant Jaxon was more than likely helping unload the delivery truck.

  She pushed the door wide and stepped outside. “Jaxon, are you out here?”

  Lights from random vehicles cast shadows along the wall of the loading area. Highway 90 was less than fifty feet away and usually busy at this time of night. The hum of air conditioners fighting to cool neighboring businesses drowned out the murmur of voices from inside the restaurant.

  “Hello?” Claire propped the door open before cautiously moving forward. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea, she thought in apprehension.

  Jaxon had specifically told her to stay inside, yet here she stood in the dark, dangling herself like bait before things that go bump in the night.

  The sound of a gun being cocked nearly stopped her heart. Claire stood frozen in terror and disbelief. After everything she’d survived in the past few months, it all came down to this.

  “What do you want?” She hated the way her voice shook. She had to lock her knees to keep from collapsing.

  “Shut your mouth and get in the truck.”

  Claire forced her feet to move. If she could somehow divert his attention, she might have a chance to catch him off guard and make it back inside. “If it’s money you want, I can get it from the cash register.”

  The cold feel of metal touching the side of her face sent every nerve she had racing down her back and into her legs.

  “Don’t even think about it, sweet cheeks.” A hand suddenly coasted up her side to cup her breast in a painful grip. Claire gritted her teeth to keep from crying out.

  “You like that, don’t you?”

  “Fuck you,” she bit out and raked her nails down his arm.

  “You little bitch.”

  Claire opened her mouth to scream as the butt of his gun slammed into her temple. Pain sliced through her skull, and she slid into darkness.

  Chapter Thirty One

  “I think we should take the women to my relatives in the mountains until Doyle is caught.”

  Jaxon paced the sidewalk in front of Scruples while Ben leaned against Tori’s car, watching him with a frown.

  “I go where Claire goes.” Ben’s tone was quiet yet firm.

  Jealousy stirred in Jaxon’s gut. He understood Ben being Claire’s familiar, but there had to be a line drawn somewhere now that she was engaged to Jaxon.

  “I’m bound to her and that baby—”

  “That’s my baby.” Jaxon was immediately in Ben’s face.

  “Calm down, kid. She’s family to me. I love her like my own daughter, and I would die to protect her.”

  Jaxon felt his shoulders relax. “I’m sorry, Ben. I don’t think clearly when it comes to Claire.”

  “I get it. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

  Understanding dawned on Jaxon. “Sarina?” He hadn’t seen that coming.

  “Yeah, well, I don’t know how it happened either,” Ben began.

  A feeling of impending doom passed through Jaxon’s gut. His heart began to pound, and sweat popped out on his brow.

  “It’s Claire,” Ben growled a second before Jaxon spun around and burst through the front door.

  Sam’s words stopped him cold. “Hey, I thought you were with the delivery guy.”

  “What delivery guy?” Jaxon and Ben snarled simultaneously.

  “He’s unloading the liquor truck.” Sam nodded toward the back. Is something—”

  “Get Sarina, Tori, and Chelle to the office. Now.” Ben retrieved a small handgun from his boot and all but tossed it onto the bar. “Clear this place out and let no one near the women besides Bradley. Are we clear?”

  Sam locked eyes with Jaxon, and energy passed between them—something mystical he couldn’t name. Jaxon nodded in understanding, trusting the bartender to take care of the women while he and Ben went after Claire.

  Jaxon rushed through the dining room toward the back entrance. He barely had time to clear the open door before his teeth lengthened and his claws extended.

  The smell of Claire’s blood hit him with enough force he dropped to his knees, and a howl burst from his chest loud enough to be heard for blocks.

  “Easy, kid,” Ben soothed. “We’ll find her. But bringing the police down here isn’t going to help the situation any.”

  Jaxon’s head cranked around in Ben’s direction. The guttural sound of his voice was secondary to the hair emerging along his arms as his beast fought for dominance. “She’s bleeding, Ben. She needs me.”

  “She needs your brains, not your wolf. Get it together.”

  “We’re wasting time. I can track her better if I shift.”

  “I realize that, but I can help if you’ll be patient.”

  A deep growl rumbled up from Jaxon’s chest. His lips peeled back to reveal sharp incisors. “How?”

  He watched as a film dropped over Ben’s eyes, making them appear milky white in the shadows. His cheekbones cracked and protruded under the skin in sharp angles. His nose flattened, and his jaw shot forward.

  Jaxon ran his gaze down Ben’s large body, but saw no signs of a shift, other than hair sprouting along his arms. He gaped at him in shock. “You’re a werewolf.”

  Ben’s face shrank back to its original form. “I’m a familiar, capable of being many different things. This is
one of them. Now, I’m going to bring the car around. Hang tight for a second.” He ran into the alley, leaving Jaxon to stare after him in stunned silence.

  After several deep breaths, Jaxon slowly got to his feet. The need to shift and kill was stronger than his self-control. The smell of Claire’s fear could be detected amidst the odors of oil and exhaust from a nearby air conditioner.

  Jaxon closed his eyes and inhaled through his nose. The faint stench of Doyle’s blood lingered in the air like the carcass of a dead animal. An injury would certainly make him easier to track. Yeah, Doyle would be dead by morning, Jaxon silently vowed.

  Ben pulled into the alley driving Tori’s little black Honda. The passenger door swung open. “Get in.”

  Jaxon jumped into the front seat. He knew Sarina was in the car before the door shut behind him. He flipped the visor down and locked gazes with her in the mirror. “What are you doing here?”

  “I can help.”

  “I’m not risking your life also,” Jaxon ground out.

  “Doyle contacted Sarina.” Ben spoke quietly as he pulled out onto Highway 90. “He wants the money in exchange for Claire’s life.”

  “So, where’s the money?” It sounded too easy to Jaxon.

  “I moved it after I got out of prison and hid it inside an old sofa we kept at Scruples before Charles passed away. That old couch is like a family member to Claire. I knew it would be safe there with her.”

  Jaxon blinked. He couldn’t believe his ass had been planted on two million dollars on more than one occasion. He glanced at her in the mirror. “I take it Claire doesn’t know it’s there?”

  She peered at him for long seconds. “No. I left it to her in my will in case I passed before Doyle did. And on the chance that he died first…”

  “He dies tonight,” Ben interjected.

  “Agreed.” Jaxon studied Ben’s profile. “Once we get the money, we swing by my place.”

  “What for?”

  “Explosives.”

  “What are you going to do with explosives?” Sarina leaned forward with her elbows resting on the back of the front seat.

  “We rig the money bag, and the second Claire’s clear, the local wildlife will dine on Doyle burgers for a week.”