Page 94 of The Devil and His Ghost

“We let them think it helps. You know, like a security blanket. It doesn’t actually do anything, but it makes them feel better. In reality, that’s just water, a piece of wood, and a bunch of words.”

Kendyll glanced at Jonathan and I but quickly faced forward again.

“Demons,” Bethelma said with a wary shiver. “What a terrifying thing to have in your space. I hope there aren’t any at the new haunted property I just purchased.”

Kendyll raised a brow and gave the woman a disbelieving once over. “You bought a haunted property?”

“You didn’t know?” Alex asked in surprise. He frowned at the old woman. “Bethelma, you said you were going to talk to Kendyll about it first.”

Bethelma scoffed and shook her head haughtily. “Why would I? I’m her employer, not the other way around. I’d be a fool to pass up the opportunity to own an abandoned mental hospital.”

Kendyll went eerily still and quiet. The color drained from her face, and her green eyes dulled as though her mind had left Brookdale Manor behind.

Growing concerned, I opened my mouth to ask her what was wrong, but before I could, she spoke in a lifeless voice.

“What hospital?”

“Mountview Psychiatric Hospital in New York,” Bethelma answered with a pleased, wrinkly grin. “You should know it well since it’s the loony bin they had you locked up in before you found me.”

Kendyll shook her head slowly and lied shakily, “Mountview isn’t haunted. You don’t want it.”

“Who cares if it’s actually haunted? It will still be a money pit for fools who want to play ghost investigator, not to mention all the filming we could do there for ourselves. If there’s truly nothing there after you’ve done your sweep of the place, we can make stuff up. Even better since you were actually a patient there and can ensure it feels authentic.”

My mind raced upon hearing this news, but before anyone could say more, the priest returned to the entrance.

“Well?” Bethelma asked the man of the Christian god, wringing her hands nervously.

“The demonic force put up a fight, but it is gone. I’ve cleansed the place for you. Only the benevolent spirits remain,” the priest said with a saint-like smile.

I would’ve laughed at his ridiculous tale, but I was too focused on Kendyll’s lost gaze. Alex walked the man out of the manor while Bethelma faced Kendyll once more.

“Is it really gone?”

The question seemed to bring Kendyll back from wherever she had drifted. She cleared her throat and blinked a few times. “Yep. He’s gone.”

“Not now,” I argued with a cross of my arms. I leaned in to whisper in Kendyll’s ear, “Not ever, Ghost.”

She held back her glare until the old woman turned away. The minute the coast was clear, Kendyll snarled her lip at me.

I grinned. “You’re so cute when you’re angry.”

Especially since her glare wasn’t nearly as powerful as it could’ve been. Exhaustion outlined her eyes from our sleepless night. I hadn’t been lying when I said I was going to fuck her all night long. My cock stayed inside of her until her alarm went off this morning, signaling time to return to the manor.

“I’ve sent Father Davies away,” Alex announced as he came back in. He looked at his watch. “Bethelma, since it’s daylight out, do you want to review your daytime footage from yesterday to see if you want to redo any of it? Since we have time to kill before nightfall.”

Bethelma yawned and waved a wrinkly hand. “No. I’m going back to the hotel until we’re ready to shoot the investigation. I want to sleep more.”

Kendyll rubbed a tired hand over her face. “I’m just going to stay here. I’m exhausted and don’t want to make this drive again. I’m going to nap in one of the rooms upstairs.” She looked at Jonathan and gave him a sleepy smile. “If that’s okay with you.”

Jonathan nodded and gestured toward the staircase. “Of course. Please. Rest well.”

“Sh—Should I stay here with you?” Alex asked while looking far too hopeful.

I scoffed a pitying laugh for the poor bastard. He kept trying and just continued to get shot down. Kendyll would never—

“Sure.”

My eyes widened, and my blood ran cold. I whipped my head in Kendyll’s direction, but she wasn’t looking at me. Her gaze was fixed on Alex, who beamed happily.