Chapter 15 #2
I didn’t expect to walk into decades-old marital drama, but still, that was one of the easiest jobs I’ve ever done. Now comes the much more difficult task of getting to the bottom of Ivan’s attachment and how we’re going to get rid of him for good.
It’s a short drive to the house with the oceanfront view. It’s Mendez’s house, but it’s also where we have our meetings. It’s the perfect place for hushed conversations concealed beneath the sound of rumbling waves and reinforced walls.
Walking through the heavy wood doors, I’m greeted by the man himself, Ozvaldo Mendez—serious businessman turned paranormal investigator who keeps our asses in line.
“Phantom,” he says by way of hello, intent on using our code names whenever it comes to official business.
“Jefe,” I salute in jest.
He rolls his eyes at the nickname we chose, not just because he’s our lead, but because it irritates him. “Can you ever be serious?”
“Can you ever chill out? I mean, come on, is that really necessary?” The whole nickname thing can be hard to take seriously. The whole reason we created them was for when we’re on a case and we don’t want entities holding power over our names. Not much risk of that here in his makeshift fortress.
“Just come inside.” Mendez shakes his head. “Do I even want to know what the hell you’ve brought to my doorstep?”
“I won’t lie to you, Oz, you’re not gonna like it…I don’t. But I need the team’s help.” I kick off my shoes, placing them by the others in a neat line by the door. “He’s unlike other entities that I’ve dealt with. This attachment is strong, man.”
We sit across from each other in the living room, and Ozzie lights up a joint. We both take a long drag before diving into the details.
“It’s been, like…” he counts on his fingers, “almost ten years. That’s gotta be a hell of an attachment. He definitely has some roots in her.”
“Longer,” I sigh. “Pretty sure it’s more like fifteen years or so.”
“Well, shit.” Ozzie leans back and crosses one foot over the other, one arm reaching across the back of the leather couch—his thinking posture, we like to call it.
My eyes are drawn immediately to the matching snake and bone tattoo every member of Veiled Coast has–a reminder of the duality of mortality and how death has touched us all.
“You were right to ask for help; you shouldn’t try to do it on your own.
Something like that isn’t letting go easily. ”
My nerves ratcheting up, I reject the joint when he attempts to pass it over again.
“I’m afraid, Oz.” We’ve been through enough together that I have no problem admitting it. “It’s so much worse than I thought.”
“What do you mean?”
“She says she invited him into her life. Says—”
“Says what?”
“That she’s bound to him. That her afterlife belongs to him.” The words are bitter and wrong in my mouth like black licorice.
“That sounds…intimate.” He grimaces and puts out the joint. “So, it’s more than a simple spirit attachment?”
“Yeah. It has to be. It’s like—” I search for the words that fit.
“It’s like he’s in love with her. No. Not in love with her but obsessed with her.
With coveting her.” I bite my lip, debating whether or not to share more about what Sol told me.
“He’s been watching her since we were in high school.
He waited for her…earned her trust. He has a hold on her I don’t quite understand, but it’s deep enough for her to throw the whole life we planned together away.
It’s bad enough for her to struggle and suffer for years to try to keep him away from me. ”
“Away from you? Why would that matter?” His dark brows furrow.
“He’s the reason I’m like this.”
His eyes flick to the streak of white through my hair. “What do you mean?”
“Sol made a deal with him. Her afterlife for my life.”
“How could a ghost even have that kind of sway?”
I shrug because I genuinely don’t know, and I hadn’t even questioned it before.
“I think we should get Hale involved, have her talk to Solaneen. We need to have a better idea of what we’re really dealing with before we act on it.” Ozzie pulls out his phone. “When do you think we can come by the house?”
“As soon as possible, ideally. The three of us under that roof feels like a ticking time bomb.” I scrub a hand over my face. “He asked me to kill her, Oz. His entitlement to her…I don’t fucking like it. I don’t know how much longer I have until his patience runs out.”
“Why would he think you’d be willing to do that?”
“No fucking clue. I wouldn’t even consider it. My only guess is that he can’t do it himself. If he could have, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation because she never would have made it back to me.”
There’s a long silence as he considers my words. “He’s not going to stop until she’s dead.”
“Or someone stops him,” I add, because that is the only option worth considering.
Mendez nods solemnly. “There’s one thing I just don’t understand, something that feels important…”
“What?”
“Why her?”
I bristle at the comment, even though I know he doesn’t mean anything by it.
Sifting through my emotions, I reach for the most useful response.
“She’s always been able to communicate with the dead—well, for as long as she can remember.
I imagine that’s unique enough to catch a lonely spirit’s attention. ”
“Yeah, maybe. But a lot of people can. For such an intense, unrelenting attachment, I just think there has to be more to the story here.”
“He’s a predator, Oz. What more is there to know?
” The bite in my voice is unwarranted. His analytical approach and my emotions when it comes to Sol create an uncomfortable friction.
But it’s one that will only benefit us. I’m too close to this to have a clear head.
It could drive me to the point of madness if I let it.
But I’m holding on to procedure and level-headedness as much as I can. I won’t fail her again.
“I’ll be interested in hearing her side of the story. It’d be beneficial to observe them too. Hopefully, he’ll allow us to do that.”
“Doubt he could resist. He seems to show up when I get too close to Sol for his liking. I can’t imagine he’ll stand aside while you all take her attention.
But who knows? If need be, I think I know how to provoke him.
” There’s no stopping the barrage of mental images of Sol spread out on that countertop while I drive her toward the edge.
She falls apart so prettily. I don’t need an excuse to touch her, but if it makes their job easier, I will absolutely use the opportunity to both our advantage.
What I asked Hale to look into pops in my head, but there’s no point in bringing that up until I hear back from her. It could be nothing, it could be something. The last thing we need is to introduce more what-if’s to this scenario.
“Maybe riling him up wouldn’t be so bad. It would give us a better idea of what he might be capable of. But let’s keep that in our back pocket.”
“You have something in mind for a plan of attack?”
“I think we need to approach this like we would a client. We shouldn’t attempt anything without a real plan. And we can’t do that until we know for sure what we’re dealing with. Like I said, I think an interview with Hale first will help us immensely.”
“Okay. I’ll do whatever it takes. You think the others will be up for this? I can pay.”
“Get the fuck out of here with that.” He rolls his eyes and shakes his head at me. “We’re family. Nobody wants your money; we want to see you happy. I think we’ve all earned it.”
“Thanks, dude. You’ve always been a good friend. I appreciate it, really. Next job, I’ll forgo my cut.”
“That’s really not necessary.”
We both stand.
“It’s the least I can do. Plus, don’t speak too soon. You don’t even know what I’ve gotten you into.”
“We got this.” He shakes my hand, clapping me on the back. “We’re going to help your girl, and then we’re going to open a bottle of that obnoxiously expensive whisky I know you keep in your office.”
“Hell, I’ll give you my entire stash if we do this.”
“I’m holding you to that.” We both laugh as he opens the door.
Stepping over the threshold, I hesitate, then turn back to him.
“She has a hard time in new social situations. Adjusting to new people has always been hard for her.” Ozzie’s brows furrow, but he doesn’t interrupt.
“I know you all have…feelings…about her. But if everyone can just cut her a bit of slack. I know we need information from her, but let’s try not to go full interrogation on her.
She’s been through a lot—I don’t even know the half of it. ”
“Of course.” He nods seriously. “We’re here to help her, help both of you. We’ll treat her just like we would a client.” Rubbing the back of his neck, he adds, “I can’t speak for Dash, though. That’s all you. You know I don’t get involved in that messy little past of yours.”
“You knew we were messy before you convinced us to turn this into a business,” I remind him, but don’t mention the way we left things the other day. If there’s one person I can count on, it’s Jayden. He won’t let anything get between us, not when he knows how important this is to me.
“I know.” He levels me with a look that reads between the silence of my inner monologue. “I’m just saying. We have a good thing going with this team. It would be a shame if things soured because he can’t handle that she’s back. Just promise me you two won’t let this come between you.”
“Yeah, yeah. Okay, Dad.” I smirk as I use the nickname he hates more than Jefe, but he’s ready for it.
“How many times do I have to tell you that I prefer Daddy?” He laughs, revealing a thousand-watt smile framed by dimples.
“I’m spoken for, but don’t worry, we’ll get you set up with someone soon.”
“You know I’m not dating right now,” he sighs.
“Who said anything about dating?” I clap a hand on his shoulder. “You just need to blow off some steam, loosen up a bit. After this is all said and done, we need to take you out.”
“Don’t even think about putting ideas in their head.”
With a non-committal shrug, I take my leave and head back down the drive.
I’ve only been on the road a few minutes when I get a call back from Hale. I pick up on the second ring.
“That was fast.”
She scoffs. “I’m a little insulted that you continue to underestimate me.”
“Won’t happen again. So?” Anticipation makes my foot heavier on the pedal.
“I think you might be onto something.” She laughs. “With your…condition, I think you might actually be able to repel other spirits from her.”
“How does that even work?” I ask, trying to keep my optimism leashed.
“Well, when a woman and a man—”
“Shut the hell up,” I laugh, and hers joins mine. “You know what I mean.”
“You’re no fun.” She sighs. “But basically, if you…release inside her, it appears it acts like an internal possession that repels other supernatural entities. It won’t break the attachment, but it can temporarily overpower his claim on her.”
“So, as long as she has my cum inside her, he won’t be able to reach her?” I can’t fight the excitement in my voice.
“Kind of. But Hawthorne, don’t overestimate what this means. This is a temporary solution. You can buy yourself a few days, maybe, but we’re talking a few hours when digested. It’s not a foolproof solution that you can rely on long-term.”
“You just made my fucking day.” I don’t quite understand it, but I’m also not mad about it. Getting to have her, claim her, while also protecting her, what could be better?
“Yeah, I bet. Look, by all means, enjoy it. But remember, a repellent, not a safeguard.”
“Got it.”
“All right. Ozzie called; we’ll be over in the next few days. Just waiting on a text back from Jayden.”
“Maybe he sits this one out?”
“Dammit. Don’t tell me she’s already coming between you two.”
“It’s not like that, okay.”
“I’ll see what he says. But Hawthorne, if you let distance grow between you guys, it has a higher chance of festering. You two just need to talk. I know you’ll work it out.”
“He’s the one not responding to my texts or calls.” I sigh. “But yeah, you’re right. We’ll work it out.”
“Damn straight. Anyways, gotta go. Have fun tonight.” With a mischievous cackle, she ends the call, and the dark, synthy sounds and romantic lyrics of Mareux pour through my speakers once again.
Suddenly, the rest of the drive home doesn’t seem so long. I finally get to give in to my urge to fuck our problems away, and I fully intend to make it well worth the wait.