Page 75 of Iblis' Affliction
“How old is he?”
“Three.” She beamed, like all mothers do when they talk about their kids.
“Okay. Don’t worry about anything. You will both be taken care of. I promise.” He smiled, and she smiled back.
He stood still for another ten minutes, watching her vanish in the dark alley she came from, before he said, “Make it look like an accident. Be a good guardian to the kid.”
“Talha?” Dinçer cocked his head, eyes wary.
“I can’t let her live. A mother always wants the best for her kid. It’s only a matter of time before she comes to me again with a greater request. Then again and again. It will not stop. Eventually, she will sell the information to those who pay better. I can’t risk it. I’ll keep my word and take good care of the kid. At least, he won’t know the disgrace of his mother. Do it today.”
“Count it done,” Dinçer said, taking the wheel. “Where now?”
“Drive me to the maids who quit after that night, then we can go home.”
HIS BODY DIDN’T FEELlike it belonged to him anymore; still, he welcomed exhaustion, as it left no room for thoughts about Slater. Falling into the bed that promised oblivion, he closed his eyes listening to the ringing silence. He still had a few hours before his meeting with Ifrit. But the longer he listened, the more awake he became.
The dream refused to come, as even through the layer of plastic, Talha could feel Camilla glaring. Beyond exhausted, he lay on his bed, limbs stretched, concentrating on the notion of his spinning head. Even in the darkness, he knew the room was drifting around him, the walls shrinking with every rotation, as if wanting to squish him.
“Don’t look at me like that…” He couldn’t explain why he was talking to her or even keeping her head in his room, yet somehow, he couldn’t leave it anywhere else. “I’m sorry, but you are already dead. You are smart. You should understand. It’s an opportunity, nothing more…”
“Who are you talking too?” The smooth, honeyed voice cut his monologue, sending a spasm down his body better than any electroshock.
“Do any of you know what privacy means?” Talha sat up, taking in the crouching form of the reaper.
“No, what’s that?” Laughter rang in Savas’ voice, as a huge smile stretched his lips. The buckles snapped, as the ripper opened the freezer. “She is pretty. What did she do?”
Without hesitation, he picked up the head and stared into Camilla’s eyes.
“Don’t touch her, idiot. She is already prepared for forensics.”
“Don’t worry, Reis, I wear gloves. What did she do?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Talha frowned. “How did you enter?”
“You have a blind spot in your security system.”
“A blind spot? Where?”
Ignoring him, Savas pored over the dead eyes. He tilted her head left, then right, as if trying to solve the puzzle or read something in her face. “She must have done something to deserve such a death. How was it? Do you have pictures? I wonder how perfectly she fit into all the gore. Like a pearl, so pale…”
“Hands off her, Reaper,” Talha growled, feeling the first bubble of anger bursting in his throat. “Why did you come? Where’s Dinçer?”
“Oh, jealous much? Don’t worry, I mean no harm or disrespect. I came to collect your bride, why else? I figured why to wait till morning if I can come now.” A leer in his voice tightened every one of Talha’s nerves, instilling a thought about a gun into his head. He only had to slide his hand over the linens and under the pillow to grip the handle. “Let’s make a deal, Reis. Tell me your love story. All of it, without anything to hide. If your story is good and truthful, I won’t charge Dinçer and I’ll point out the blind spot in your security. If you lie, I’ll kill you. Hmm? What happened to her?”
With a loud thud, the head dropped back into the fridge. The ripper straightened, looking at Talha.
Fucking reapers…Talha cracked his neck, getting up.No respect. No privacy. No peace. I’m gonna break his jaw…
“You are overstaying your welcome, and this is the last warning. Put her in the backpack and go away, or I’ll smash your pretty face against the table.”
“You find me pretty?” Savas’ yellow eyes fixed on him as a weird, complex expression crossed his face. “You sleep with him, don’t you?”
With a cat-like grace and incredible speed, Savas jumped forward. Hands connecting with Talha’s chest, they tumbled on the bed with the ripper on top of him.
“Why don’t you make a deal with me, Reis? For every three of your wishes, you’ll grant one of mine. I might ask for your life, or I might ask you to bring me an apple. It’s as simple as this.”
Cold fingers dug into his shoulders as the scarred face approached.
