Page 34 of A Haunting at Keystone Manor

I suck in a breath. “First time?”

He doesn’t look at me as he continues. “Andrei convinced my father to let him train me in the family business, and he agreed because he thought it would… toughen me up or something. I was a stupid kid and I liked the attention. I never got it from my parents, not in the ways I wanted. He convinced me he loved me, but I wasn’t ready for that. So he forced me. I couldn’t tell anyone. Who would believe me, or care? It went on for so many years. I was trapped. That’s why I ran. There is this stain on me that won’t come off. It’s tattooed under my skin.”

“You are not stained,” I say, but he powers on like he didn’t hear.

“I thought I was past it, finally. I hate being touched. I can’t stand to have hands on me. I like your hands on me though. You make me feel safe, and wanted. Today brought all those old feelings back up. I kept my walls up for so long, because I had to protect myself, and you pulled them all down. And now I’m getting that stain all over you, too. I don’t want to damage you.”

“Please look at me.” His eyes finally meet mine, and I can barely stand the misery in them. “I wish I knew what to say to you to make you understand that you’re not dirty, or tainted, or damaged. But I can show you.” I hold up my hand.

“I’m not stained. I’ve touched you a hundred times.” I grab his hand and hold it up. “Look at that. There is nothing here that can hurt me.”

A tear falls down his face, but he doesn’t move a muscle as I hold onto him.

“The things that were forced on you are not your shame. No matter how many times it happened, no matter what the circumstances were. You are not the damaged one. You’re a survivor. The day I met you was the best day of my life.” I pause. “Well, afterlife, technically. You make me so happy, and I love every second I’ve had with you. I wouldn’t change anything about it. The only thing that would hurt me is you pulling away from me in some misguided attempt to protect me. I don’t need your protection. I just need you.”

I hold my breath as I wait for his reaction. I’ll die if he withdraws right now.

“Thank you,” he says finally and wipes at his eyes. “I’m such a mess. Sorry.”

“It’s been a long day. I’m sorry you had to go through that. I’m going to do whatever it takes to make sure this never happens again. I want this hotel to be our safe haven.”

I realize I’m still holding onto his hand, so I let him go. Instead of pulling away, he moves his hand to the back of my neck and pulls me in for a kiss. His mouth hovers over mine, and I close the distance.

He’s kissing me like a drowning man that needs air, so I crawl in his lap and shove my tongue in his mouth, taking control from him. His hands find my waist and hold on tight. I rest my hands on either side of his neck, trying to ground him in the moment, loving that he’s trusting me with his vulnerability. It seems to settle something in him, knowing that he doesn’t need to be strong with me. He’s had to be strong for so long. I can be strong enough for both of us.

Chapter twenty-three

Calling Mr. Covington

Alex

I stare at the phone. I need to call Elder Covington and demand a meeting. Brandon is outside taking a smoke break with Seth, so I only have a few minutes to do this before he needs his desk back. I take a deep breath. This is for Jake, I remind myself. This has to happen. I pick up the phone and dial before I can think better of it.

“Elder Covington speaking,” comes the brusque voice of Jake’s father. God, I hate that voice. It’s so devoid of anything resembling humanity. “Hello, who’s there?”

“My name is Alex. I’m the manager of Keystone Hotel now. Kind of. I wanted to talk to you about Jake,” I say. He cuts me off before I can say more.

“Alex? I don’t know an Alex.” He pauses for a minute, thinking. “Are you that little cleaning boy? I thought you were dead. What is going on at that hotel?”

“I am dead, but I’ve been managing behind the scenes for a while now. I’ve had to step up since Kayla got arrested. We need to discuss your future involvement with this hotel, preferably in person. I’ve looked at the tax records; you don’t actually own this place. Jake does, through a trust you set up for him. How convenient for you. It must have complicated things when he died.”

I can hear his heavy breathing through the phone. “I don’t know what kind of games you two think you’re playing, faking your deaths, but you need to be careful. I’m warning you now, boy. You don’t want to play with me.”

“No, I’m warning you. Consider this your official notice. Tell your goons to leave Jake alone. He’s told them plenty of times that he wants nothing to do with you, but they keep coming for him. If I see another one, it won’t end well for them. Or you.” I hold my breath as I wait for his reply, hand shaking as adrenaline runs through me. Right now, I’m glad we have thirty miles and a phone between us.

He chuckles, somehow making it sound evil. “You want to meet in person, you say? Okay. I’d like you to explain all of your demands to my face. I have a few myself, for my pathetic excuse for a son. I’ll be there tomorrow at eight thirty, so be prepared. I don’t like having my time wasted. And Alex?” he pauses.

“Yeah?” I whisper.

“Bring your A-game, otherwise I will eat you alive, little boy. Tell my son I’ll see him soon.”

With that, he hangs up. I put the phone down and slam my head on the desk, trying to calm my nerves. I can’t believe I just did that. Elder Covington is going to fucking kill me.

Running my hand down on my face, I rush to find Jake. I have to prepare him for the meeting I set up with his dad. We’re gonna do a blackmail.

Chapter twenty-four

Interlude: The Interrogation of Kayla