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“Is that what you guys call me?” I smirk, slipping the knife back into my pocket. “How cute. Well, I’ll be on my way—”
“Lily, are we even going to talk about this?” Jackson’s voice rises as he pleads with me. “Why aren’t you at school? Why are you chasing monsters? Why—”
“Are we going to talk about what happened on prom night?” I demand, glaring at each of them in turn.
I’m shaking all over, I’m so angry. How fuckingdarethey? They’re the ones who left me, and they think they have the right to stand here and demand I give them answers?
Blood sticking to my hands as I race across the lawn…
Brooks’s eyes peering at me through the windshield of his car as I sob…
The ‘Stang pulling away, leaving me alone in the aftermath of my parents’ murder…
Brooks and Jackson exchange a glance that’s heavy with meaning. Orion opens his mouth, but Brooks cuts him off. “Our business is our own. We did what we did to protect you—”
“You can protect two things, Brooks—jack and shit.”
A tiny noise, something akin to a growl, rattles his chest. Old Lily might’ve found it sexy. New Lily finds it sexy…but also irritating as fuck. Just who does he think he is?
“You have to leave,” he insists. “This hotel is dangerous. That’s the most powerful ghost we’ve ever—”
“I’m aware of that, shit-for-brains.” I dust off my hands. “That’s why I’m here. I have a job to do.”
Brooks reaches for me again, but I duck under his arm and race up the grand stone staircase to the hotel’s entrance. They yell behind me, but I don’t stop or turn around. I’m not going to let the Bellua brothers get in front of me, not even for a chance to scope out the gold-encrusted lobby.
The spirits are on my side because when I approach the towering main desk, there’s no line. The front desk supervisor is a tall, willowy man who could easily apply for a job as Lurch inThe Addams Family. His name tag reads, “Hello, I’m Robert.”
I walk right up to the desk, trying to look like I belong in this crazy luxury hotel.
Robert beams, his papery skin crinkling. “Welcome to the newly refurbished and reopened Bridgemont Hotel. How may I help you—”
“Hello, Robert. I’d like to book a week’s stay in the honeymoon suite—”
Something hard digs into my side.
I yelp and twist, but Brooks has already shoved his way in front of me.
“We’re going to take the honeymoon suite,” he declares. “We’ll pay cash up front.”
“I’m afraid that we’re not currently booking that room.”
“I want to talk to the owners,” Brooks growls.
“I’m afraid that’s not possible. The owners are not at the hotel, and they’re not contactable at this time.” Robert steeples his fingers together and nods apologetically at both of us. “But for such a beautiful couple, I can offer you a range of other options, including our opulent Diamond Suite, with its view across the—”
“I’m not here withher,” Brooks snaps, his whole body shaking with rage.
You don’t have to sound so offended,I think bitterly.
“Idemandthe honeymoon suite.” I reach into my pocket and slam down the wad of cash I brought. “Only that room will do. It’s for…sentimental reasons. I’ll make it worth your while.”
Robert shifts uncomfortably. “Ma’am, you know there was a most unfortunate incident there just a couple of weeks ago? We’ve only just cleaned the carpets—”
“I don’t care. It’s that suite, or I turn around and go home.” I puff out my lower lip and run my fingertip over his knuckles.
I’ve learned a few tricks over the years to help me talk my way into and out of some crazy situations, and the “beguiling” charm Becka made for me helps a little, too.
“Whatever she’s paying.” Brooks opens his wallet and removes one of those fancy black credit cards. “My brothers and I will double it.”
