Lunchtime passed in a flurry of activity. Hank kept a look out for Lauren, but he didn’t see her at all. Perhaps she had the day off. The image of her being comforted by her parents flashed into his head and a sick feeling settled in his stomach. What if she was ill?
Hank hadn’t seen what department she’d come out of, he had no idea what was wrong with her. But could this be tied into her relationship with Thor?
“Julius said the acoustics in the Gothic folly down by the lake is amazing.” Emily appeared on his shoulder. “Are you going to tell me why I’m telling you this?”
“You’re a smart young woman, I thought you might have figured it out,” Hank said amiably as he retrieved his guitar and notepad from his locker.
“Wait, you play, too?” Emily frowned and looked at him thoughtfully. “You have a secret past.”
“Is that a question?” Hank asked playfully.
“Let me think, someone mentioned you to me once. They said you had the looks of a pop star. One they remembered from their childhood days, but they couldn’t remember the name.” She snapped her fingers. “Damn, I knew I should have Googled you.”
“You should have,” Hank agreed.
“Is it a secret?” Emily whispered loudly as she scanned an article about him on her phone.
Hank gave her a lopsided smile. “If I said yes, would you keep it?”
Emily thought for a moment. “Hell no, this is too good not to share.” She held up her phone and put her head next to his. “Smile.”
“A selfie with a has-been.” Hank hooked his guitar strap over his shoulder.
“Julius asked you to play at the music festival, didn’t he?” She tapped the screen of her phone.
“He did. He wants me to write new material.”
“Well, I respect Julius a great deal. If he’s asked you to play, then he doesn’t think you are a has-been.” She tapped the screen again. “There, I’ve put the picture on Facebook. The whole world will soon be talking.” She smiled wryly. “The whole of Bear Creek and Bear Bluff anyway.”
“Now we both know why Julius sent you with that message.” Hank placed his hand on his guitar strings.
“So I’d share on social media.” Her eyes widened. “And I thought I had our boss all figured out.”
“Have a good afternoon, Emily.” Hank left her and went outside, feeling self-conscious as he walked across the manicured lawns, heading down to the Gothic folly with his guitar on his back. He’d always loved the strange building, with its arched windows and domed roof. It had no real purpose other than to stand sentinel over the small lake on the hotel grounds.
Today, it would take on a new role as a music studio. “One man and his guitar.” Hank entered the stone building and looked around. Then he strummed a note, listening to it bounce off the walls. With a wicked grin on his face, he launched into an impromptu rendition of “Wishing Tree.” The song’s faintly dark undertones suited his surroundings.
With his voice loosened up, Hank settled down to finish his song. Whether it was the ambiance of the building or his newfound need to express himself, Hank wasn’t sure. But the notes and the words flowed as if someone had pulled out the stopper that had kept them shut away for years. This was who he was. His father’s actions should never have defined him.
“I was going to ask where I could find you, but I followed the sound of your voice.” Thor stood in the archway. “Elise told me who you are.”
“Did she?” Hank set his guitar down. “I hid away for a few years.”
“A lot of years.” Thor entered the building. “This is a cool place.”
“It is. But I’m guessing you haven’t come here to talk about the décor. Or the temperature.” Hank waited for Thor to circle the room once more.
“I don’t know, those gargoyles are amazing.” Thor sat down across from Hank. “You and Elise are mates.”
“We are, but you already knew that.” Hank couldn’t see Thor’s expression, it was hidden in shadow.
“What’s it like?” Thor looked up. “What does it feel like?”
“Haven’t your parents ever talked about it?” Hank asked, unsure where the conversation was headed.
“They have. But they’re all rainbows and unicorns.” He gave a short laugh. “They say it’s a bond that can’t be broken.”
“They’re right. The bond is always there. For the shifter at least. I don’t know what it’s like for a non-shifter.”
“I’ll tell you,” Thor replied savagely. “It’s like having your heart ripped in two.”
Hank let out a long breath. “Lauren.”
“Lauren. She told me we were mates when we first met. But we were young and kept it to ourselves. I thought she was ashamed of me.” He held his arms out. “Not exactly hunk of the year, am I?”
“That’s not how the mating bond works,” Hank told him gently.
“I know.” He rubbed his face. “We agreed to announce it on my eighteenth birthday. Lauren knew before, ever since we met at one of her gigs. We weren’t naïve, we knew what people would say, it’ll never last.” He shrugged. “And they’d be right. She dumped me the week before we were going to tell the world.” Thor picked up a small stone and threw it across the room.
“Thor…” Hank began, choosing his words carefully. “Lauren seems like a down-to-earth woman. I don’t think she would have done this to hurt you.”
Thor shrugged. “Then why? Why would she do it? I loved her, I told her I did. And she said she loved me. And I felt it, in my heart I felt it.”
“Have you spoken to her about it?”
“She won’t see me, she’s stopped answering my calls. Doesn’t reply to texts.” He got up abruptly. “I guess it was all a lie. Or she was too ashamed of me when the time came to tell her parents.”
“There may be another explanation, Thor.” Hank wished he had the answers the young man needed, but he didn’t. “Talk to her.”
“Words.” Thor shook his head. “If only I could be more like you. If I could open my mouth and sing, tell her how I feel.”
“I told you, if you want me to help you write a song, I’ll do it. Why don’t you perform at the music festival?” Hank encouraged.
“Because I’d mess that up, too.” He walked out of the doorway, framed for a moment under the archway with the light casting him in a silhouette. At that moment he looked like the loneliest man in the world.
And in the next moment, Hank had his second song. But this one wasn't for him. Nor was it for Elise. This song was for Thor. Who would be the God of Thunder.
Chapter Thirteen – Elise
“You wrote a song for Thor?” Elise was impressed. So was Hank by the expression on his face. “You had fun.”
“I did. I didn’t know how much I missed music until I opened myself up to it again.” He caught hold of her and swung her around the kitchen. Elise laced her hands around his neck and hung on.
“You’re a new man.”
“I am. The third incarnation of Hank Rivera.” He held up his hand as if imagining a headline in a magazine. “Has a ring to it, doesn’t it?”
“It does.” They slowed, although the room still spun around as she caught her breath.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, reading her shift in mood.
“Are you ready for what might be dredged up?” Elise grimaced. “Sorry. I don’t want to inject the voice of doom.”
His face cracked into a smile and he shrugged. “I can take care of myself. I know there’s a chance those affected by my father might make complaints about him. If they haven’t already. I’ll give them whatever support I can.”
“That might mean you speaking out against him.” Elise placed her hand on his arm. “Against your father.”
“Yes. I know. Not that I saw anything. Not anything specific. Mostly there were rumors among the band when we were on tour. Then a young woman came to my dressing room door and told me what had happened. My father denied it, of course. At that time, I didn�
�t know who to believe. The look in my father’s eyes told me he had something to hide.” Hank dragged his hand through his blond hair, which masked the gray hairs at his temples unless you looked closely. He was ageless.
“Listen. Whatever happens, we face it together. If these women step forward, let the police do their job and tell them the truth.”
Hank sat down at the table. “Can I borrow this?” He indicated her laptop.
“Sure.” Elise sat down next to him. “You’re going to Google him?”
“Yeah. I figured I should know what he’s been up to these last thirty years.” Hank swallowed hard. “What if he’s dead? I told myself so many times I didn’t care.”
“But you do.” Elise hugged him, resting her head on his shoulder. “Let’s find out.”
Hank tapped on the keyboard and searched for his dad on Google. “That’s him.” Hank leaned forward and studied the face staring back at him. “He went on to become a record producer.”
“Click here.” Elise pointed to his biography. “Lewis Rivera.” She skim-read the bio.
“He remarried.” Hank's voice faltered. “I never expected him to. He had another child.” Hank placed his hand on the laptop and snapped it shut. “All this time I thought he might regret what he did, but he moved on.”
“At least no one can ambush you with the news.” Elise cupped his face in her hands and turned him to face her. “Let it go. Don’t allow the pain back in.”
Hank leaned forward and kissed her lips, his fingers curling into her hair. “How can I when I have you to chase it away?”
“I love you, Hank. I love the life we’ll have together.” She leaned in for another kiss when her phone rang. “Sorry. It might be Frankie.”
“I understand.”
It wasn’t Frankie. Elise stood up and walked to the window. “Hello.” She listened to the voice at the other end of the phone. “I haven’t seen him since he left work this afternoon. He finished up the network and left early.” She switched her attention to Hank. “I’m going to put you on speaker. One moment.”
“What’s wrong?” Hank frowned at her, concerned. “Are the babies okay?”
“It’s Thor’s dad,” she mouthed quietly. “Thor hasn’t come home.”
“He’s over eighteen,” Hank mouthed back.
“We should listen to his dad.” She placed the phone down on the table and pressed speaker. “Hank’s here, too.”
“Hi, Hank. I know this sounds like we’re overreacting, but he left a note. At least a text.” Thor’s dad paused.
“What did it say?” Elise asked.
“That it was better for everyone if he left and not to worry.” Thor’s dad’s voice shook. “We know something is wrong but he won’t open up to us. He’s never been secretive. I just wondered if he’d said anything when he was at the hospital today, Elise.”
“No.” Elise shook her head. “He left early.”
“I saw him afterward,” Hank admitted. “I spoke to him. We’re certain there’s a girl involved.”
Elise rested her face in her hands. How much were they supposed to say without destroying Thor’s trust in them? “Listen, why don’t we try to find him? Wait at home and call if he comes back.” She lifted her face and glanced at Hank, who nodded.
“Talk to you later,” Hank said and ended the call. “Good thinking, let’s go back to the hotel and track his movements from there.”
Elise nodded. “I need to change out of my work clothes.” She ran upstairs, stripped off her smart suit and dragged on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. Sweat beaded on her forehead and she went to the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face before patting it dry and going back downstairs.
“You look hot.” Hank’s lips twitched at the corners.
“I feel hot,” Elise replied in her sultry voice, rubbing her body against his as she reached for her purse. “Ready to go?”
“I was.” He wiped his own forehead. “Now I’m hot, too.”
“Well, you need to set aside all your own needs and desires while we find Thor.” She turned around and left the kitchen, knowing exactly the effect she had on Hank.
Opening the front door, she felt his presence directly behind her. “After we find Thor, I’m going to indulge myself.” His arm snaked around her waist and he kissed her neck, before releasing her and jogging to his truck.
Elise locked the door behind them and joined him, grateful for the air conditioning. “Will this weather ever break?”
“Weather man side we might get a storm later. Let’s hope it doesn’t before we find Thor. We might have to track him by scent.” Hank drove his truck to the hotel, their conversation stilted. Elise had to feel sorry for her mate. He’d been so full of enthusiasm about the songs he’d written. There was also the brooding cloud of his father overhead, too.
“I assume he drove here from the hospital,” Elise said as they got out of the truck and headed for the reception area.
“Lauren’s car is here. maybe he ran into her,” Hank suggested.
“And what?” Elise pushed the door open and they went inside. “That conversation could have tipped him over the edge.”
“Elise, Hank. Are you here to talk about the festival? Only you’ve missed Julius.” Emily came around from behind the reception desk and then hesitated. “What’s wrong?”
“Have you seen Thor?” Hank asked quietly. There were guests milling around and he didn’t want anyone to overhear.
“Not since this afternoon. I saw him arrive and then leave. Didn’t he find you in the gardens?” Emily searched their faces for information. “You have to tell me what’s wrong.”
“His dad called. He said Thor might have run away,” Elise replied.
“He is eighteen.” Emily shrugged. “At that age, I was ready to leave home.”
“We think there’s more to it than that.” Behind Emily, Lauren appeared looking pale. “Lauren, honey. Do you have any information? Anything that could help.”
Lauren shook her head. Her shifter hearing must have picked up the conversation. “Thor’s gone?” She trembled and her face went white.
“I think you need to tell us what’s happened,” Elise took Lauren’s hands. “Emily, is there somewhere private we can talk?”
“Sure, use Julius’s office. He won’t mind. But before you leave, please tell me what’s happening. I’m in charge of the hotel.” Emily’s confidence teetered for a moment. “And I want to help.”
“We’ll let you know as soon as we know.” Elise took Lauren’s hand and followed Hank to the office. “Right, Lauren. Sit down. You look like you’re in shock.” Elise helped Lauren to a seat and hunkered down in front of her. As the color returned to her cheeks, Elise took a sharp intake of breath. “Lauren, your skin.”
Lauren’s frightened eyes met hers and she put her hands over her cheeks. “Don’t say anything, please, I don’t want Thor to know. It’s better if he just thinks I’m done with him.”
“I think he deserves the truth, Lauren,” Elise said gently. Her heart ached for Lauren and Thor. Could fate be so cruel to end this love before it had even begun?
Chapter Fourteen – Hank
“What did I miss?” Hank asked as they waited outside the bathroom while Lauren washed her face. After a whispered conversation with Emily, it was agreed that Lauren would come with them.
“Lauren is ill.” Elise couldn’t meet Hank’s eyes. “When we saw her at the hospital it was for tests.”
“What kind of tests?” Hank asked. Lauren hadn’t said anything about being ill, but she did have an idea of where Thor might go if he wanted to be alone.
“I can only guess. But she’s jaundiced.” Elise touched her cheek. “Her liver isn’t working properly.”
The air puffed out of Hank’s lungs. “Is she…” The bathroom door opened, and Lauren came out.
“Ready to go?” Elise asked brightly. She was doing her best to keep everybody’s spirits up, but the strain showed on her face.
>
“Yes.” Lauren nodded, and they walked out to Hank’s truck. “But I don’t want to talk to him. I can’t.”
“That’s up to you, Lauren, but he’s hurting,” Hank replied. “He thinks you are mates.”
Lauren swung her head around to look at Hank. “He told you that?”
“He said that’s what you’d told him. He believes you are ashamed of him.” Hank reached out and grabbed her arm as Lauren staggered forward.
“Why would I be ashamed of him?” Lauren asked. “I love him.” Her voice came out in an agonized whisper.
“That’s what he needs to know, Lauren. Please, think it over. The truth is always better than lies.” Elise helped her into to the passenger side of the truck and then climbed in beside her. “But that choice is yours.”
“I can’t.” She brushed a tear away. “I thought he’d give up and move on. You know he’s not a shifter, I didn’t think he’d feel it the same way.”
“Well, he does,” Hank assured him. “And he’d do anything for you.”
“There’s nothing he can do.” She smiled sadly. “I see it in my parents’ eyes every time they look at me. That hopelessness. I don’t think I could bear it if Thor looked at me like that.”
“Let’s find him. You might change your mind.” Elise put her arm around Lauren and hugged her tight as Hank drove out of the parking lot and headed back toward Bear Creek.
He followed Lauren’s directions, which took them across the lower slopes of the mountain, and along a dirt road, where they left the truck and continued on foot.
“It’s a couple of miles in that direction,” Lauren pointed to the south. “It’s where we used to meet.”
“Why did you keep your relationship a secret?” Elise asked as they walked along the dirt trail. It was early evening, and the heat hadn’t diminished, the sweat soon poured off them.
“Because Thor was young. We didn’t want our parents to object.” Lauren fanned her hands out as she talked. “We only had a couple of months to wait. And there was a thrill to it being our secret.”
Silverbacks and Second Chances Page 43
