Page 14 of The Curse of Blood and Silenc

Chapter

Seven

Angelo

Enzo kept poundingon the door. “Boss, it’s important. Open the door.”

My jaw clenched, my hand tightening on the blade I held. The vision of Serenity, bruised and surrounded by evil, still burned in my mind.

If Petar hurt her, he would never know a minute without pain. I would keep him alive and in misery for the rest of his life.

“Don’t want to keep him waiting, do you?” Dimitri murmured. “I’m not going anywhere.”

I threw open the door, still clutching the blade.

Gianna ran her gaze over me and clapped a hand over her mouth. “How could you?” I glanced down at my shirt and trousers, stained with Dimitri’s blood.

Pain flickered in her eyes. “Don’t listen to a word Enzo’s about to say. What he found is a forgery.”

Now that grabbed my attention. I focused on Enzo. “What did you find?”

Enzo’s eyes darted to Dimitri and Gianna, then back to me. He handed me a folded paper, his expression grave. “This. Hidden in a pocket of one of Dimitri’s leather jackets.”

“Someone planted that there. Someone’s trying to frame him,” Gianna insisted.

My curiosity piqued, I unfolded the paper and scanned the letter. The elegant handwriting was instantly recognizable. Each word felt like a blow as I read it:

Dimitri,

Your loyalty to the pack will not go unnoticed. The information you provided about the Nephilim’s location was invaluable. Our plans will proceed as discussed.

Ensure the path to Crescent Manor remains unguarded. Your role in weakening the vampire coven’s defenses will prove crucial, and you will be handsomely rewarded when the Luparion Crystal shines again and the Nephilim is mine.

Betray us, and the hunt begins with you as our prey.

Trystan Hunter

When I finished reading, a tidal wave of fury washed over me. My hands shook with rage, nearly tearing the letter. Trystan had tried to take Serenity once before, at one of Simon Cartier’s private auctions. I had had to fight him to secure her. And now, with Dimitri’s help, he was trying to reclaim her? This betrayal meant death.

Wordlessly, I handed the letter back to Enzo, who took it with a grim nod. Gianna looked up from where she cradled Dimitri’s head in her lap, his blood smeared on her dress and hands. Her eyes were wide with fear and pleading. “Please, Angelo. Don’t kill him,” she begged, her voice breaking. “There must be some explanation. Dimitri isn’t allied with Trystan and the wolves, I swear.”

I stared down at Dimitri, determined to drain the bastard.

I could smell the fear radiating off him beneath his bravado. The one eye he could see out of darted between Gianna and me. I saw the silent plea there, his desperation to spare her from witnessing what was about to happen.

“Come on, Angelo,” Dimitri rasped, managing a weak smirk despite his battered state. “You wouldn’t deprive a wife of her husband’s charming company, would you?”

I nodded with my chin, unmoved. “Take her out of here, Enzo.”

Gianna shook her head violently, her dark hair flying around her. “No. No! Stay away from him. You’re going to kill him.”

I gave her a level look, rolling my shoulders. “Yes, I am.”

“No!” Gianna shrieked, her voice raw and desperate. She lunged forward, throwing herself over Dimitri’s body, her hands slick with his blood as she shielded him. “Angelo, don’t do this! I’m your sister. As you love me, don’t kill him!”

Enzo moved to pull her away, but she fought him like a wild animal, kicking and clawing. “Get your hands off me!” she screamed, her eyes flashing with fury and terror. “Dimitri, I won’t let them hurt you!”

It took both Enzo and me to pry Gianna off Dimitri. She thrashed in our grip, her nails leaving bloody scratches down Enzo’s arms. “You’re a monster, Angelo!” she spat, tears streaming down her face. “If you do this, I’ll never forgive you!”

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