Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 142916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 715(@200wpm)___ 572(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Chapter
16
Silke leaned toward Castello, deliberately exposing her throat as a temptation. “Just so you know, that isn’t going to happen.” She whispered to him in a low, sultry voice completely at odds with the way she tempted him to use the wicked, curved ceremonial knife he had withdrawn from his jacket.
Castello’s hand was down beside the arm of the chair, concealing the blade from Silke. Benedek was so close he could easily see it.
He’s armed, he warned.
Benedek’s entire body reacted to his woman speaking in that tone to another man. Even though he was aware of what she was doing, every cell in his body objected right along with his mind. He didn’t make the mistake of interrupting her or interfering. She was far too close to the demon. She was the slayer, and it was clear she had a plan. Still, he stood close to the demon, close enough to stop him from swinging his hidden knife at Silke’s exposed throat.
Castello drew back as if her voice shook him, and maybe it had. That sensual tone had shaken Benedek. Ese Jordan took a step toward her, his face flushed red. Bakker had punched in the security code for Silke’s cameras. She’d texted it to him, and he’d been looking through the recorded videos. Now he just stared at Silke as if stunned by her. Visser cleared his throat several times as if unable to speak. He was the one to break the silence.
“What isn’t going to happen, Silke?” Visser asked.
Silke leaned back in her chair looking relaxed. She gestured toward Castello with a graceful motion. “His idea is to kill me and gain access to the house so he will be able to kill my mother.” She spoke matter-of-factly, not at all as if she were accusing Castello of the conspiracy to kill. “Ese is with him and intends to kill one of you while Castello does away with the other.”
Ese Jordan pulled himself up to his full height, face red, fist clenched. “What are you accusing us of?”
“I can read minds, Ese,” Silke said. “You’ve suspected I could for a long time, which is why you have as little contact with me as possible. Just for your information, Castello intends to kill you and make it look like you were the one to slaughter everyone here.”
Jordan swung around to glare at Castello, who appeared amused. Benedek knew he was anything but. Now the two policemen were just out of his reach, taking Silke at her word. They had known her from the time she was a toddler and Fenja brought her out into the world. They knew the good she did everyone. Castello was a total stranger whose voice bothered them. He might not be able to get through their shields, but his voice grated on them.
Castello stared at Silke with murderous intent. “Why would I do such a thing?”
Silke ignored him, focusing her attention on the two law enforcement officers. “You might want to look at Castello for the disappearance of Drakos. He needed an excuse to bring you here in the hopes that you would get me to allow you in to see Fenja.”
“Is she given to flights of fantasy?” Castello demanded, beginning to go from feigned amusement to real anger. He wasn’t used to being thwarted. Nothing had gone the way he thought it would go. He had never expected Silke to confront him.
“She can read minds,” Jordan insisted. “Everyone knows that.”
“She can’t read my mind,” Castello said. “We came here for a serious purpose, and once again, she’s stopping us from finding Drakos.”
Have Bakker continue to go through the security camera videos, Benedek said.
“Perhaps you will find something in the security cameras, Gerrit,” Silke said helpfully, using that sultry voice Benedek objected to her using.
It’s my voice. I can’t help it if your blood is making me sound all sexy. I’m about to be in a fight for my life with a demon. I can assure you, my mind isn’t on sex.
Benedek could have told her every man present had his mind on sex but that wouldn’t be fair to her. She couldn’t help that Carpathian blood had enhanced her natural beauty. He didn’t just see her physical beauty. Her character shone through. That was one of the things the demon had the most difficult time with. He was both fascinated and repelled. He was attracted to her brightness and yet needed to crush the light in her.
Immediately, Gerrit Bakker began to thumb through the various videos, but he did so while keeping a distance from both Castello and Jordan. He left the porch to stand on the first wide stone stair, facing Castello and Jordan. Visser distanced himself as well, turning his body slightly to present less of a target and ensuring he could dive from the edge of the porch into the flower beds below.