AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Oh, really?” Brooks’s mouth quirks into a sadistic smile as he raises his arm and taps the skin over one of his glorious tattoos. “I’ve got the dried drool right here to prove it.”
“That wouldn’t hold up in a court of law.”
The twins exchange a look. I forgot how annoying they can be when they do that—they have whole conversations without a word. I don’t know what they’re discussing now, but Jackson in particular looks gutted.
“So you didn’t see the ghost?” Jackson asks quietly.
“Nope, Mr. Splatterpants himself didn’t show. And it’s a shame, because Brooks and I made a very tempting package.”
The twins exchange another loaded look. Jackson slumps against the wall, looking very much unlike his usual chipper self.
Orion moves across the room and picks up some of the monitoring equipment. “I’ll get started on these. With all the paranormal activity in this hotel, we’ve got to have something.”
He throws me a final, desperate look before ducking past Jackson and fleeing the room.
Brooks swings out of bed, flies across the room, and grabs Jackson by the ear. “And you and I are stepping into the hallway for a little chat.”
“About what?” Jackson tries to claw the doorframe, but Brooks rips his hands off. “Ow, you’re hurting me.”
“About stealing clothes from women without their consent—”
Jackson looks frantically at me, his face ashen.
“She was with this guy, and I thought…” Jackson swallows. “I thought maybe he’d taken her somewhere, but—”
My poor, stupid heart flickers at the protective look he gives me. That was always the way he was in high school, making sure I was okay.
But then I remember that we’re not in high school any longer, that they left me, and I harden my heart.
“Chop his balls off for me, husband.” I wave sweetly to Brooks. “With a rusty guillotine.”
“Happily.” Brooks slams the door.
A moment later, I hear raised voices, mostly Brooks.
While the two of them are in the hallway, I check the crystal in my pocket. It’s still glowing blue. I grab my phone and call Becka.
“Okay, which Bellua’s bed did you wake up in?” she asks as soon as she clicks on the video chat.
“Brooks,” I answer smoothly. “But we’re married, so it’s okay.”
“What?” Becka screeches loud enough that if there were any sleeping ghosts left in the hotel, they’d be well and truly awake now. “Lily, tell me you didn’t—”
“Relax. Brooks muscled his way into the job, and he booked us in the honeymoon suite so we could monitor the room. So we’re Mr. and Mrs. Lily Dean.”
Becka laughs. “Very modern of you. I always thought you’d take your husband’s name since you’re such a sucker for tradition.”
I stick my tongue out at her. “You know me so well.”
“So, what activity have you recorded so far?”
“Straight to business, I see.” I fluff the pillows behind my head, finding the T-shirt Brooks wanted me to wear balled up behind them. Despite myself, I lift it to my nose and sniff.Mmmm.“You’re not going to wine and dine a girl first?”
“I’m just trying to get my best friend out of a compromising situation with three hot monster hunters she should very definitelynotfake marry. What’s the deal?”
I turn the phone around to show her the symbols I placed on the wall. “We’re all set up, but so far, nothing. No visitations during the night, unless we slept through them. Orion is checking the tapes now.”
“What about the crystals?”
