“I know it’s not much of a consolation, but I’m not completely in agreement with Cian on not having you involved.” Jeff tried to watch his words carefully, but it stung that Cian had basically taken over the group tonight. “I think you could be an asset, but at the same time you have more to lose...and so does your family.”
“Cynthia would kill me if I got injured, or worse, died,” Sergio admitted, sighing wearily. “She didn’t even want me here in Austin tonight. She wants to take Cian’s offer.”
“Cian’s offer?” Jeff arched an eyebrow.
“Yeah, Cian’s been trying to throw money at us since Grandmama died.” Sergio’s green eyes were rimmed with red and a little watery. Like Amaliya, he had been close to his grandmother and her death had hit both of them very hard.
“Money? Really?” Alexia cocked her head. “What for?”
“He wants us to go into hiding. Somewhere far away. He’s been on me almost every night. But tonight, when Amal said what she did...” Lowering his head while shuffling his feet, Sergio let out a slow exhalation. “Well, I get it. When I thought she had been murdered I was so angry, so full of despair. I would have done anything to have changed her fate. When I found out she was still alive, - well, sorta alive - I was so relieved. Then we lost our grandmother and all those feelings came flooding back. I understand how she would feel if something happened to...” He pointed to himself.
The group around Jeff remained silent. Jeff caught the swift look between the two siblings. They had yet to actually lose someone close to them to the world of the supernatural. The brutality of the hidden world was something he understood very well. Jeff had lost his mother and his leg. Innocente had been someone they had known and liked, but not actually loved.
Eduardo, meanwhile, seemed completely unconcerned.
There was a subtle shift in the air and Jeff glanced over to see Rachon was no longer in the room. Samantha was checking her phone while sauntering over to the group. She had a distracted air about her.
“Everything okay?” Jeff asked.
Samantha shoved her phone into her purse. “Yeah. Mom’s bugging me about Sunday dinner.”
“I meant about Rachon?”
Shoulders sagging, Samantha toyed with one of the curls at the nap of her neck. “Uh, I suck as this phasmagus thing. I couldn’t answer any of her questions.”
“Told you.” Eduardo nudged Benchley with one elbow. “Talking about Prosper.”
“Well, I wasn’t much help. I am still struggling with the whole ghost thing. I can’t control which ghosts I se
e. They just show up randomly.”
“I’m totally going to help you with that,” Benchley promised. “I’m already chasing down some leads to get some really primo information.”
Jeff slid an arm around Samantha as she snuggled into his side. “You’ll catch on. You’re the first phasmagus in a very long time.”
“I suppose asking you if you saw my grandmother recently is not the best idea?” Sergio said, hope in his voice.
“I haven’t seen her since that night,” Samantha answered sadly.
Sergio bobbed his head, already surrendered to that possibility. “That’s good though, right?” Sergio looked between the ghost hunting siblings. “It means no unfinished business?”
“It means she went into the light,” Alexia assured him. “She’s on the other side.”
Benchley appeared to be about to say something, but Jeff lightly kicked his ankle. Sergio needed to be comforted, not overwhelmed with Benchley’s many theories about ghosts.
Sergio didn’t notice, or chose not to. The big guy nodded, then looked toward the hallway. “I guess I should say goodbye to Amaliya. Do you think Rachon is still around?”
“You think she’s scary, too, huh?” Benchley grinned.
“I think she’s nice,” Samantha said. “In a scary sort of way. She really does care about her family.”
“But we’re not her family,” Jeff reminded his girlfriend, giving her a significant look. “She’ll put them first, every time. Even if it means letting us die. Or killing us.”
“I wouldn’t go as far as saying I would kill you,” Rachon said from the entrance of the hallway, a slight smile upon her full lips. “We’re allies now. I take that fact very seriously. And, I’m trusting you with Baptiste.”
“I didn’t mean any offense,” Jeff said, wishing he’d chosen his words a bit better.
“None taken. You were speaking the truth.” Rachon drew closer to them, her maroon eyes examining each one. “I’m about to take my leave, so I thought I’d impart some wisdom before I depart.”