What You Can't See by Allison Brennan, Karin Tabke, Roxanne St. Claire Read Free Book Online Page A

possession?”
    “No. That’s what makes this demon more dangerous, and the human immortal. If someone willingly gives up their body, the demon is not waging an internal battle. All his strength can be used for evil. Be careful, Anthony. Now that Ianax is loose he is growing in power and seeking revenge. Soldiers like us have kept him trapped for centuries.”
    “I’ll be careful.”
    He hung up and considered how the presence of Ianax changed everything. During the battle between Satan and Saint Michael the Archangel, Ianax had been Satan’s strongest ally. He’d betrayed Saint Michael with lies and treachery, and had been sent with Satan into the pits of Hell for eternity. For his loyalty, Ianax wanted to rule half of Hell, but Satan’s ego would not have it. A smaller battle ensued and Ianax was sent to rule the lowest pit of all, the darkest corner. He fed on revenge, betrayal, and lies, and could only be summoned by a union of three dark souls chanting the proper ritual. A ritual Anthony thought the earth had long forgot.
    But it wasn’t just a ritual he required. Ianax demanded human blood, and he’d be doubly pleased with the blood of God’s men. Was the death of those men a rite of passage for Ianax’s worshippers?
    Had Rafe seen something that made him suspicious? Who were the three responsible for this evil act? Three couldn’t have killed twelve people, unless…
    Unless the priests were incapacitated in some way. Had they not been able to fight back? Had they been led like lambs to the slaughter?
    Anthony wanted the crime scene report, but after his disappointing meeting with Skye McPherson, he doubted she’d include him in this investigation. The head of the crime scene unit, Rod Fielding, was too loyal to go behind her back. Maybe the detective—he might agree to help. But at risk to his career? Anthony would have to tread carefully.
    The sheriff didn’t know where to look. She was suspicious of Rafe, didn’t have any faith to accept—on Anthony’s word alone—that Rafe wasn’t involved. He’d have to prove it to her. Skye didn’t seem like the type of woman to rely on faith or trust for anything. He needed to learn more about her, find a way through her emotional shields. Earn her trust. Quickly.
    The cold whipped Anthony as he hid downslope of the mission, a hundred yards away.
    Help us help us help us.
    The windlike chanting grew louder, the dark whispers taunting him, begging him with fearful urgency.
    Moving low and fast, he ran toward the mission.
     
    Skye relieved her deputy at eleven that night. She dismissed his inquisitive stare. She knew what he wanted to ask: why was the sheriff staking out a crime scene?
    She didn’t answer the unspoken question. She wasn’t even sure herself why she was here. Except that she knew, as certain as the sun would rise in the morning, that Anthony Zaccardi would be here tonight.
    The generator had been sabotaged, Rod had told her shortly after her meeting with the bishop. Rod had dusted the equipment, but it was devoid of any fingerprints. Wiped.
    Rod fixed the generator so the crime scene techs could finish working once the sun went down. When they’d turned on the power, every wall sconce came on. Now, in the dark of night, each narrow window glowed yellow. Every window. What had those men feared that the dark terrified them?
    She shivered in her Bronco. When was Anthony Zaccardi going to show?
    After meeting with the bishop, she’d further researched Zaccardi—he was who he said he was. A historical architect hired by the Catholic Church to restore ancient buildings. He was a citizen of Italy, specifically Sicily, but he was born in a small town she’d never heard of. There were no other records for him until he’d used his passport for the first time at the age of ten, from Italy to France. She had no records of parents or guardians, which seemed odd, but she was dealing with foreign governments. Still, everyone she’d spoken with had