So, while I was being stared at, I was also determined to out-polite these fuckers and charm the socks right off of anyone that needed to be charmed, so I strutted in with my usual confident smile and began to work my magic on the stuffy old coot behind the counter.
She took one look at me and froze. Then, slowly, she pulled her eyeglasses down her nose, her gaze trailing up and down my frame before finally meeting my eyes.
“Hello, ma’am,” I drawled, conjuring up a thick Southern accent that I knew would disarm her. “What a lovely day we’re having today!”
She blinked, twice, and I smiled wider. I knew I had her. She smiled, and politely nodded.
“Indeed, young man,” she agreed. “Welcome to Kehoe House. How can I help you?”
“I’m in town visiting my darling grandmother,” I lied. “The internet told me this was the best bed and breakfast in all of Savannah.” I spoke slowly, drawing out my vowels and staring deep in her milky eyes.
“Oh,” she said, placing a hand over heart. “I suppose you’re right, it is. It’s a very historic and beautiful property.”
“Well, I can’t wait to explore. I have a reservation,” I said, sliding a Visa platinum card across the counter. She looked at it and raised a brow, before nodding and pulling up my reservation.
With that card and this skinny-ass Armani suit I was wearing, even with all of my tattoos, I could easily pass for a hip executive as some tech start up these days.
“Oh, yes, Mr. Featherstone, I see it right here.”
“Jeremiah, ma’am,” I replied. “Please call me Jeremiah. And you are?”
“Me? Oh, I’m Pearl,” she said, she blushed slightly. She slid a room key my way and I pocketed it.
“Pearl?” I exclaimed. “Well, Pearl is my mother’s name, and I must say, Pearl, you are just as beautiful as she is.”
“Oh, my!” She flustered, her cheeks reddening more. “Why, thank you, Jeremiah. I hope you find your room to your satisfaction, and if you need anything at all, you let me know. Your room is just to the top of the stairs. Breakfast will be brought to your room and most people prefer to have it on their private balcony.”
“Thank you, Pearl, that sounds delightful,” I said, grabbing my suitcase and heading for a nearby staircase that was polished so well I could see my reflection in the wood.
“Oh, and Jeremiah?”
“Yes, Pearl?” I turned back.
“Don’t let the children’s voices get to you. They’re harmless, despite what you may have read on the internet.” Pearl smiled a nervous little smile.
I’d lied about that reading about this place on the web, of course. I knew nothing, because Riot had taken care of our accommodations, just as he always did. I was hoping to have a little peaceful down time in fancy town and now she’s telling me there’s a bunch of kids causing a ruckus?
“Children?” I parroted.
“Well, not children, really, just their voices. We haven’t actually seen the children in many years now.”
“Excuse me, Pearl, what are you talking about?” My head spun. Where the fuck are these loud kids hanging out that you couldn’t see them?
“Oh, I hope I haven’t frightened you, Jeremiah,” she said, shaking her head. “Really, they’re just ghosts. In the attic. They’re completely harmless.”
My heart skipped a beat and I could see Riot laughing in my head. The motherfucker booked me at a goddamned haunted hotel! Punching his stupid face was going to be such a pleasure later.
“Ghosts?” I asked, swallowing hard, hoping I’d misheard her.
“Yes, but harmless ones, truly,” she said. “Not like at the other hotels.”
“Y’all got more than one haunted hotel?”
“Well, many, yes. I would say most of them, actually. Savannah is kind of known for that, did you not know?”
“I did not,” I replied. I was torn between high-tailing it out of there or riding it out but it sounds like I may experience this anywhere I go, according to nervous Pearl there.
I’m not a fearful man. I’d go up against almost any opponent that was placed in front of me. Tougher than me, bigger than me, smarter than me — didn’t fucking matter. I’d give ‘em a go.
But you can’t punch a fucking ghost.
And the idea of sleeping while some fucking ghostly kids had their way with me, doing who the hell knows what, did not appeal to me in the slightest. Maybe my imagination was just running wild. It was probably just a publicity schtick, after all.
“Harmless, huh?” I asked Pearl.
“Oh, yes, absolutely,” she said. “You might not even hear them at all.”
“Right,” I nodded. Hoping for the best, I reminded myself who I was and turned back to the stairs, deciding to ride it out.
I was still going to punch Riot, though. Maybe twice for this one.
Chapter 6
GRACE
The Marshall House reminded me of New Orleans, with its block-long balcony decorated with ornate iron work the color of the deepest forest. It looked out over a bustling street, with a luscious park across from it. The building itself was old and stately, the lobby filled with flowers and antique couches, fringed lamps and stained glass windows. The marble floors and elaborately carved wooden banisters gave it an old-world feel that took you back centuries.
I loved it immediately and knew it would be the perfect place to use as a base the next few days. The staff was intensely courteous, even if they did give Ryder a few extra glances.
Riot had spread us out into different hotels, but he and Lacey were staying in the room next to us, so we could easily hand off Sadie when I needed to work. Slade was at the Kehoe House down the street and Blade was staying at the 17hundred90 Inn not far away. Hannah had checked into the same hotel as Blade
