Dylan seemed to think that over. “Just let me know what to do. I mean it, Mike. I want to help you out.”
I swallowed. “You already are.”
Dylan huffed out a breath. “I feel like I should be doing more.”
“You made me pancakes,” I reminded, gesturing to my plate.
Dylan just shook his head and gave me a fond smile. “You deserve so much more than pancakes, Mike.”
His eyes spoke volumes and I found myself blinking away tears. Why was he affecting me so much? Why was Dylan just different than everyone else? Why did he feel likemyperson? I couldn’t imagine him not being in my life. I loved Jackson and would always consider him my chosen brother, but Dylan was just… special. He was special tome. And from the way his eyes softened as he gently pushed my plate closer to me, he felt the same. I just couldn’t help but wonder if I was special in acertainkind of way to him, and if, perhaps, I hoped that to be the case.
I was back at work, this time with green tea in my system—Mom’s advice—and I stood and waited for Rino to join me in his office. The mansion had so many rooms and this was the only room I’d been in so far besides the halls.
The door opened and to my surprise Pete walked in with Rino right behind him.
“Pete?” I grinned, hugging my younger brother for the first time in almost two years. I’d wanted to see him sooner but I’d simply been too drained to do so.
“It’s nice having you back, big bro.”
I laughed and tightened the hug before letting him go. “What brings you here?”
“Rino thought I might be able to help.” The way Pete blushed when he looked at Rino had me swallowing down any further questions. I did not need to know. I. Did. Not.
“Cool,” I said, not really knowing what was going on but knew when to keep my mouth shut. My brother wasn’t so little anymore and I’d already been scarred plenty by whips and seeing Jackson having someone tied up as they choked on his—
“I’m Erik.” Erik’s smooth voice saved me from going downthatroad again and I took in a deep breath as I watched Pete take in Erik.
“Nice to meet you,” Pete smiled, then gestured to Rino. “I wasn’t sure what you had planned for today, but maybe we should see if Mike can handle one ghost at a time? It will still give us an idea if it’s the number or the different energies that drain him.”
Rino nodded in agreement. “Erik, we need you to wait in the hallway while we call in the other ghosts one at a time.”
Erik just nodded and left, seemingly ready to do whatever they asked of him.
A few seconds passed and then the woman ghost I’d already met gently floated into the room, her dress told me she’d been dead for well over a hundred years, her face was young looking, maybe around her mid-thirties to forties. It was a new thing I had to get used to, feeling sad over seeing these ghosts while knowing they died before their time.
“I’m Annalise,” she informed me, her tone kind and understanding. She was the last ghost I’d seen before I started to waver last time.
“Nice to meet you,” I replied, feeling embarrassed as I recalled the last time I’d seen her face. She hadn’t even gotten her name out before it turned black around the edges of my vision.
“How are you feeling?” Rino asked, stepping closer to me, likely fearing I was about to stumble again.
I shrugged. “I’m getting a slight headache but that’s pretty much it.”
Rino nodded at that, then called loudly, “Richard! Please come in.”
I’d already met Richard, an older gentleman that had died seventy years ago from old age. He’d lived at this very mansion and had decided to stay.
“Nice to meet you again, Mike,” Richard smiled. I could tell everyone was eyeing me with worry, but I only felt the headache worsen.
Rino looked me over then spoke to Annalise and Richard, “Step closer to Mike, please.”
They did, approaching me slowly. The headache worsened and I was cradling my throbbing head within seconds.
“Stop!” Rino ordered and they backed away immediately. “Are you okay, Mike?”
“Hurts,” I grunted, feeling like my brain was being pushed against my skull.
“So, it’s mostly their closeness that drains you,” Rino concluded, sounding like a man determined to figure it out.
