Carnal Sin by Allison Brennan Read Free Book Online Page A

martyrs, heroes, saints. Rico trained his men--and Moira--well, but in the end, they all knew they would die fighting.
    There were no old men who'd graduated from Olivet. That Moira was one of Rico's hunters increasingly bothered Rafe.
    Skye broke the awkward silence. "Will you be staying the night?" she asked Rico.
    He shook his head. "The sooner I transport the demon to Olivet, the better for everyone."
    Rafe watched Skye assess the situation as any experienced cop would. He wondered what she thought of Rico.
    "Why are you moving it in the first place?" Skye asked. "Not that I'm complaining--I'd rather have the creature as far from Santa Louisa as possible. But Anthony said the vault at St. Francis is strong enough to hold it."
    Rico nodded. "It is. But Olivet's facilities are far more extensive and better equipped to contain the demon. And we have guards. Father Isaac at St. Francis is devout and capable, but his age makes him vulnerable. I want to minimize his risk."
    "And what are you going to do once you get it there?" Skye asked.
    "Keep it restrained until we find out how to send it back to Hell. Or kill it."
    "Demons can't be killed," Anthony said.
    "We can't be certain of that. Based on the evidence I've seen, Moira killed the demon that imprisoned Raphael. We're exploring every possible solution to this crisis. We have no choice. The last time the Seven reigned on Earth, virtually every man involved in banishing them back to the underworld died."
    Skye tensed. "This has happened before?"
    Anthony said, "Nearly a thousand years ago. It's documented in the Book of the Unknown Martyr Father Philip brought with him before--"
    Anthony paused. Father's death had been hard on him. As hard on him as on Moira. And still, Rafe realized, Anthony wouldn't talk to Moira about it.
    Rico said, "In the Martyr's book, there is a lot written about the Conoscenza . We also know from the Unknown Martyr that his battle was not the first. This has all happened before and it will continue to happen until the Conoscenza is destroyed. In this age, we can't afford to lose everyone. This is but one battle in a war that will last until the end-time."
    And that, Rafe realized, was the truth that unified them. St. Michael's Order was founded on the core principle that inaction in the face of evil was the greatest sin.
    "How did they do it a thousand years ago?" Skye asked. "They had to have been successful."
    "They were. They sent the Seven back to Hell. But we don't know how, because everyone involved died in the process. The book ends with only an incomplete plan. We don't know what they did, only that they believed they could destroy the Conoscenza with fire. Yet, it resurfaced twice in the last eight hundred years, and each time was allegedly burned. And it still survived."
    "It sounds impossible," Skye whispered.
    "The Conoscenza is written by demons with demon blood, on paper made from human remains," Rico said matter-of-factly.
    Skye paled, and Rafe wanted to shake some compassion into Rico.
    Rico continued, "I read your report, Anthony, and Moira's." He turned to Rafe. "I didn't get one from you."
    Rafe looked Rico in the eye. "I didn't realize I answered to you."
    Rico said, "It would be helpful to know from your point of view what happened at the Mission last November. Your recovery is very important to St. Michael's, as is anything you remember during your coma, and upon waking."
    Skye straightened her back, and Rafe wondered whether she'd known Anthony had sent Rico her police reports. Rafe wondered if they were public.
    To Rico, he said, "You know what happened."
    "I still have questions."
    "Then ask them."
    His refusal to bow down to Saint Rico irritated the trainer, though he hid it well. Rafe suppressed a grin. The man needed to be taken down a notch. He wasn't a saint yet.
    Rico said, "We'll get to that later. Anthony, I have an assignment for you."
    "Of course. What do you need?" Anthony sat at the table and the others followed