Page 265 of The Defiant Curse

Elizabeth laughed.

“Oh, you heard him right.”

Jesus.

H.

Christ.

That was…not what they expected, along with the fact it tried to drag her away.

“I don’t like that shit,” Callen admitted. “We can sell the castle. We can get rid of it. Had we known…”

Ethan stopped him.

“No, we’re not selling it. In fact, I’m buying in. Tell me how much I owe you, and I’m signing on as another partner. If that’s okay.”

Again, there was more silence. He and Chris had discussed this last night after they overheard Ethan telling Gene his intent.

“What the fuckity fuck fuck is going on today?” Callen asked. “I swear to God, I have to be asleep. Elizabeth loves a haunted castle, we have a ghost infestation, and now Ethan wants to buy in. I’m so confused,” he said, pretending not to know, since Ethan clearly didn’t know they’d overheard him.

Oh, well, they had more news for him.

“She looks like Ceit Granndach. EXACTLY like her, if we’re being honest,” Ethan stated. “You guys bought a castle where the once lady of the place is an exact copy of our wife—or our wife is a copy of her.”

That hung there.

What the hell?

“Are you kidding?”

Nope.

He wasn’t.

“I’ll send a picture of the painting done when Ceit first came to the castle to live. Dead ringer—in fact,” Ethan stated. “So, can I buy in?”

Chris was confused.

“Why are you asking us?”

He was to the point.

“I was rude when you asked me, and I should have gotten involved. As part of the family, and your spouse, your venture into this should have had my support. This place is calming, and I love it here—minus the ghost war. That we’ll put to bed at some point.”

Chris was honest.

“You can’t buy in, Ethan.”

His heart sank.

“Oh, okay. I understand.”

They didn’t think he did.

“Bro, we put your name on it the second we bought it. Did you think we’d exclude you, even if you said you didn’t want to be involved?” Callen asked. “You and Gene have a stake in it. Elizabeth is the one who gives that shit away all the time. We knew you wouldn’t.”

He felt so happy.