Carnal Sin

FIVE

Rico and Anthony retrieved the tabernacle that housed the demon Envy from St. Francis de Sales Church, and Anthony drove Rico to the small Santa Louisa airfield where Rico had landed his private plane earlier that morning.

Rico always kept his emotions under tight rein, which was why most people thought he was heartless. In many ways, he was; his vocation required it. He had no time for the pleasantries that were customary among people. Like Anthony and the others, he’d been abandoned as an infant at St. Michael’s doorstep and raised by the priests and monks in the fortress they called home. He’d been trained to be a warrior for God. He knew nothing else. He didn’t want to know anything else. His calling was clear, and he had never doubted it once in his thirty-seven years. Never.

Which was why Raphael was able to get under his skin. Ex-hunter, ex-seminarian, the guy was full of doubt and questions. And he had the audacity to question Rico about the single most important, most dangerous battle they’d faced this century-which also could be the last. Raphael had never understood that he was a soldier, and soldiers take orders. Though he didn’t agree with them, Rico had accepted Raphael’s choices. Until now. Raphael was spreading his doubts to others, including Anthony. The cardinal had always supported Raphael’s rash decisions, so Rico had kept quiet. But now Moira was showing shades of Raphael’s influence.

Without her doing exactly what she was supposed to do, they would lose. All her training, all the time Rico spent working with her so she would have the mental and physical strength to do what now very much needed to be done, would be wasted.

He hadn’t enjoyed being the lead trainer. He had to break down his people to ensure that they could not be broken when in battle. It was grueling work. Rico survived only because he knew it was necessary to ensure the survival of the human race. Few people wanted to go to war. But in the battle between the underworld and humanity, the underworld would never stop coming for them. It was relentless. Vicious. Evil.

So Rico accepted his calling, but there were times he despised what he had to do. Such as when he had put Moira in a dungeon not unlike the one her mother had kept her in for nine days. Being physically trapped was Moira’s greatest fear. Rico had to put her in the same situation so she could learn to survive if it happened to her again.

God, how she had suffered! Rico had wanted to pull her out time and time again, but he didn’t. He couldn’t. And she was stronger for it. She had survived jail when trapped there two weeks ago. She was still claustrophobic, but she now had the tools to overcome it. She had to be able to survive anything Fiona or the demons put in her path.

There was more at stake here than their lives! That Raphael didn’t see and understand that was far more disturbing than anything the fool had done-or not done-to date. If Raphael corrupted Moira, turned her away from her mission, there would be chaos.

And all Rico had done to prepare her would be for naught.

“Would you like me to inspect your plane?” Anthony asked as he pulled up to the airstrip.

“I’ll do it,” Rico said. “You need to catch that plane to Italy, and you have a long drive to San Francisco.”

“I understand the importance of this trip, but the timing is very bad,” Anthony said.

Rico was in no mood to listen to anyone else question orders. That it was coming from Anthony-who had always been loyal and righteous-was especially disturbing. “Your personal life is inconsequential, Anthony. I shouldn’t have to tell you that.”

Anthony tensed. “I have not allowed my personal life to interfere with my mission.”

“Any personal life interferes. I hope you understand that when you are forced to make a choice.”

“You can’t be telling me I have to choose between Skye and St. Michael’s!”

“Not now. But you know as well as I do that the time will come when a choice is inevitable. Every one of us who has become … involved,” he emphasized, “has had to choose between the Order and their personal relationships. It’s never been pleasant, and usually it’s deadly.”

“You don’t have to tell me that,” Anthony said with anger. “Before he was killed, Peter was my brother.”

“Yes. Peter. He was not just your brother, he was a brother to us all. But your affection for him clouded your judgment then, just like your affection for Raphael is clouding your judgment now.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means exactly what I said. You are blind when it comes to Raphael. We don’t know what happened to him at the hospital, what those magicians might have done to him. What he’s doing now. If you stop and look at everything that has happened these last two weeks-objectively, not with rose-colored glasses-you’ll see that he is teetering on the edge. I don’t know which way he’s going to fall. But Raphael will fall, and he’ll take others with him.”

Anthony slammed his fist on the steering wheel. “It’s her fault!”

Rico’s gut twisted. He couldn’t share everything with Anthony-yet. But soon he’d have to know. For now, he said, “I understand why you have animosity toward Moira, but she’s essential to our mission. Without her, we can’t beat Fiona or destroy the Conoscenza.”

“She’s not that good.”

Rico disagreed, but arguing with Anthony on that point would be fruitless. “There are things we don’t fully know at this point, but the research is extensive and your meeting with Dr. Lieber is essential to filling the gaps in our knowledge.”

“What research? It would help if you kept me informed!”

“I would tell you everything I know, Anthony, except it would cloud your judgment. I don’t want you going into the meeting with any preconceived ideas. After Italy, you’ll fly to Olivet. We’ll meet and combine information. I still have some work to do but will have answers by the time you return to the States.”

“Does your ‘work’ have something to do with taking Moira’s blood?”

“Yes,” he said simply.

Anthony expected more from him, but Rico remained silent.

“I need to leave or I’ll miss my flight,” Anthony said after a moment.

“Be careful, Anthony. These are dangerous times.”

Rico retrieved the tabernacle and watched as Anthony drove away. Too fast. In anger.

Anthony’s anger had always been his weak spot.

Rico walked to his plane. He secured the demon in his hold, which he’d spiritually reinforced to prevent any possible escape. Still, flying alone with the demon tested even his steely resolve.

But he always did what was necessary, no matter what the risk or cost.