Jo ambled over to a rolling cart that was packed with medical supplies. “He went to get Dr. Vieira.”
“Are you a doctor?” I asked.
“I’m close to finishing my studies. I’m not sure about a residency gig yet.”
The beautiful lady with glossy black hair and diamond-colored eyes had an elegant way about her. The exquisite square diamond surrounded by amethyst stones on her ring finger sparkled in the bright lights of the room. Her face had a touch of blush coloring her high cheekbones, and her long lashes were lightly coated with mascara. But it wasn’t her physical appearance that gave me the sense she was graceful. She carried herself like she knew who she was and was proud of it and happy.
I wanted to be her. Up until that moment, I always thought I knew who I was and what I wanted. But I’d walked into what seemed like an alternate universe, seeing vampires who loved each other and would die for each other. I wanted that. I missed the feeling of being loved.
My sisters and I were tight and would protect one another, but since our parents passed, I’d lost that feeling of belonging. For far too long, I’d been roaming around in a haze, trying to take care of my sisters and make sure we had what we needed.
I’d always thought of college, a profession—detective came to mind. I loved to solve puzzles and mysteries of any type, including people.
Jo rolled the cart up to the bed. “Do I have your consent to run some tests?”
I let out more air, feeling less panicked than I had before. My gut was telling me I could trust her. My instincts had always been spot-on, so I nodded. “It’s fine.”
“Good. Let’s get you out of that coat.”
After I shrugged off my winter parka, she set it on the chair by the window. Then she readied the equipment necessary to take my blood.
“What part of the medical field are you interested in?” I asked.
“I’ve been studying genetics and hematology.”
“An interesting choice.” If I wasn’t mistaken, hematology was the study of blood, which struck me as comical, given that she was a vampire.
She tore open an alcohol wipe. “My mom died of leukemia, which is one reason I’ve chosen that route.”
“I’m sorry.” I thought of my own mom. “Mine died of breast cancer.”
She gave me a sad smile. “My sincere condolences.”
“I can’t lose Rianne. She’ll be okay, right?”
She opened the drawers on the rolling cart, looking for something. “She will.”
“I’ve never seen a vampire compel someone like Sam.”
She sighed in frustration as she continued to search for something. “Sam and I have several unique powers that no one else among our kind has.”
“My parents and family never mentioned anything about you or Sam or your abilities.” I had no clue why I was telling her that.
“Not many humans know about us,” she said as she checked the medical cabinet.
“Is Abbey your daughter?” I hadn’t been aware that female vampires could get pregnant.
“You’re correct. We can’t get pregnant.”
“You’re reading my mind? Who else around here can do that other than you and your father?”
Jo kept searching inside the medical cabinet. “Just me and him. But I don’t have to touch anyone to hear or read their thoughts.”
I was screwed. “What have you learned so far from reading mine?”
That wave of dizziness was slowly rearing its ugly head. I had a feeling I would be locked up in a dungeon after Jo took a hike down my memory lane.
She returned to my bedside empty-handed. Whatever she was looking for, she didn’t find it. “Why? Are you hiding something?” Her silver eyes morphed into a deep violet color as she gave me a steely look.
