“No, I didn’t tell her why. I could hardly say that my family owned this house before World War One. Damon told her that the paperwork she has only applies to the house not the land but I didn’t go into details about my claim to the place.”
“So why did she agree to let you stay even if only temporarily? I doubt it was because of your charm.”
“It would be easier if she’d just leave.”
“We’re still trying to figure this out. She’s only been here a few hours. We’ll get to the bottom of it soon. Until then, just try to get along.”
“Getting along is not a vampire thing.”
“I am well aware of that,” Nick said. “I’m also aware that you haven’t told us everything about your vampire past.”
“And I never will,” Ronan said.
“Then tell me the parts that might affect us here in Vamptown.”
“There is nothing. I already told you that when you approved of my staying. You checked me out.”
“I know that you were an indentured vampire turned by Baron Voz. Vamptown has already survived a rival vampire attack followed by a demon infestation. We don’t need a Master Vampire coming down on us.”
“I put in my time,” Ronan said. “I’m no longer indentured. Check it out with Voz if you don’t believe me.”
“I did.”
“And?” Ronan said.
“And he confirmed your story.”
“It’s not a story. It’s the truth.”
“Not all of it.”
Ronan clenched his fists. “It’s all you need to know.”
“If you bring trouble here, you will pay,” Nick said.
“Understood.” Nothing Nick could threaten him with could compare to what Voz had already threatened. Ronan had bargained with the devil. The devil known as Voz. He’d done so to save his sister. But if he didn’t find the key Voz wanted then Ronan would be indentured to Voz for eternity.
* * *
“I thought you’d never get rid of her,” Ruby said after Daniella left.
“Step away from my Keurig,” Sierra ordered the ghost.
“The what?”
“The coffeemaker. And anything else you can break. I only own four mugs.”
“Now you own three.” Ruby pointed to the shards still on the floor.
Sierra angrily picked them up and tossed them into the garbage. Luckily the mug had broken into three pieces instead of many. “Stop breaking stuff! I don’t need this. I’ve had a long day.”
“Long?” Ruby put her hands on her ample hips. “You want to talk long? How about waiting ninety years or more for someone to hear you, or see you? Do you have any idea how it feels to be invisible?” Ruby said.
“Actually I sort of do.”
“Were you a ghost?”
“No,” Sierra said. “But growing up, we moved around a lot. I was always the new kid who never fit in. I coped by blending in to the background and becoming invisible so I wouldn’t stand out.”
Ruby played a tiny violin. “Tough tinsel.”
“Hey, that’s my line,” Sierra said. “I’m a writer. We’re sensitive to other people stealing our lines.”
“Like I said, tough tinsel. Let’s get down to the bottom line here, shall we? You owe me. It’s thanks to me that you inherited this house and not the other two that came here before you. I helped scare them off,” Ruby said.
“Then scare Ronan off as well.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Why not?” Sierra demanded.
“Because Ronan must stay,” Ruby said. “Or we will all perish.”
Chapter Four
“What? What are you talking about? What do you mean Ronan has to stay? Why?” Sierra demanded.
“To save you from the man upstairs,” Ruby whispered.
“Do you mean God?” Sierra whispered back.
“I mean Hal,” Ruby said.
Sierra frowned. “I don’t understand. Who is Hal?”
“He’s the ghost upstairs.”
“Why do we need saving from him?”
“Because he’s evil.”
Before Sierra could ask more questions, Ronan interrupted her.
“Who are you talking to?” he said.
She whirled to face him. “Don’t do that!”
“Do what?”
“Sneak up on me that way.”
“You’re tired.” He looked at her with those chocolate-brown eyes of his. “You should go to bed.”
“Yes, I should but not because you said so. And don’t think I’ve forgotten about needing those three references.”
He pointed to the empty cupcake box on the counter. “Daniella will vouch for me.”