Demonized by Naomi Clark Read Free Book Online

little like rotten eggs. The Voice almost deafened me screaming, “ I told you so!”
    “Detective Radcliffe.” Moss stood and came around the antique desk to shake Anna’s hand. “Nice to meet you in person at last.”
    Anna flushed as he held onto her hand just a little too long. I scowled, not liking the predatory smile on Moss’s face. Since when did Anna flush ?
    “It’s good to see you,” Anna told him as he finally let her hand slide free of his fingers. “This is Ethan Banning,” she added, as if just remembering me.
    “Charmed,” I said gruffly. Moss looked me over, his dark calculating eyes, narrowed.
    “Banning,” he repeated thoughtfully. “The private dick, right?”
    The Voice squirmed around inside me. “ He sees me. He knows.”
    “ Ethan has been here before,” Anna said before I could answer either the Voice or Moss. “He questioned some of your employees regarding Rhian Ellis.”
    Moss glanced back to her. A sad smile lit his face. “Poor Rhian. Such a waste. She was very talented.” He sat down again, gesturing for me and Anna to do the same. Anna settled into one of the black leather chairs opposite the desk, relaxing back with a sigh. I perched on the edge of my chair, tapping my foot on the carpet anxiously. Something wasn’t right here, beside the obvious.
    Anna smiled brightly at Moss, showing none of the no-nonsense cop I was used to seeing. I mean, she wasn’t giggling or twirling her hair or anything, but she was…softer. That hard glint she’d had in her eye when we entered Hush was gone. She was slumped in her chair with her long legs stretched out, like she had been at Espresso Express. Chilled out. Moss smiled right back at her, all smug and self-assured.
    “ What kind of demon is he?” I asked the Voice.
    “ Incubus ,” it hissed. Its disgust filled my head. “ Nasty, slimy creature.”
    I felt a flicker of amusement at the Voice’s revulsion for the incubus. I didn’t see much difference between them, personally. The Voice fed on violence and misery of all kinds; the incubus fed on sex. They were both still demons, both still out to hurt us puny humans.
    The Voice sneered at me and retreated back in my mind. I tuned back into the conversation. Anna and Moss laughed like old friends. I wondered what I’d missed.
    Anna cleared her throat, shaking her head. “Walker, please. Let’s focus on business.”
    “Forgive me, detective.” Moss flashed that smarmy smile at her again. “You make it hard for a man to concentrate.”
    She flushed again, dropping her gaze. I thought I might puke. “If I can cut in,” I said, leaning forward to slap my palms on the desktop. “We’re supposed to be talking about Rhian Ellis, right?”
    They both frowned at me, but Moss hid the expression fast, putting on a nice, neutral mask. “Of course. Although I’m not sure what I can tell you.” He spread his well-manicured hands in a helpless gesture. “My girls have surely told you everything already.”
    “Of course,” Anna agreed. “This is just a formality, Walker. I’m sure you understand.”
    I scowled at her, but she was too busy gazing at Moss to notice. “It’s not just a formality,” I said. “Your girls didn’t interview and hire Rhian. You did.”
    He turned his smile on me and I felt something snap in the air between us, like a static shock. For a second my body was on fire, sizzling with a hunger I didn’t have a name for. Then the Voice snarled in my head and threw something back at the incubus. An audible buzz in the air made Moss sit up straighter as surprise flashed across his face. I turned icy cold and my insides went numb. I realized with a start that Moss was trying out his incubus mojo on me.
    “ It won’t work,” the Voice said. “ Your body is already mine.”
    Great. The Voice had a possessive streak . I gritted my teeth and focused on Moss. “So,” I said, “are we gonna do this, or what?”
    Moss sighed and leaned back in his chair