Dangerous Benevolence by Zrinka Jelic

Author:Zrinka Jelic [Jelic, Zrinka]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fiction, thriller
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2018-02-18T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Urgency pressed on Dario’s shoulders while Ana fumbled with the keys to Fred’s mansion. He had hoped she wouldn’t ask him to accompany her inside Fred’s house, but fear reflected in her wide eyes. Only a coward would send her in there alone.

He squinted to make out shapes through the frosty glass decorating the door. The twining cast-iron vine ran through the amber glass obstructed his view. She grabbed the golden knob, slid the metal inside the keyhole, then exhaled a shaky breath.

“Doubt this key will work.” She stared at her hand. “I think Fred gave me a fake key to shut me up. He made it abundantly clear I’m just his guest. Though I feel more like his maid.”

Dario gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. Hell, he’d be frantic to rescue a child if he found out he’d left him with a pedophile. “Please hurry. You may prevent the disaster. Gosh, Ana, I hope I’m wrong. Wait.” He grabbed her wrist, halting her. “Are his cronies staying here?”

She nodded. “There are five guys in the other half of the house. It has a separate entrance.” She finally turned the key, making the loud click of the bolt. At her push, the door silently slid open. “It worked!” Surprise laced her voice.

Dario followed her inside the spacious foyer. Fred had five guys guarding him. The number of his bodyguards seemed low, there had to be more of those who would fall for his money, local, unemployed, desperate men who had nothing left to lose.

A large bouquet of fresh white roses decorated the round mahogany table. Music drifted from the monstrous size television in the room adjacent to the open concept living room. She cast him a worried glance. “When I left, they’d played their gruesome killing game.”

Dario glanced at the screen as they slipped past it. Okay, so he wasn’t much of the gamer, but the split screen indicated two-shooter game. From the low score and EvilNoob profile name of the gamer, he figured it had to belong to Fred. Nickelodeon was the name Ana’s son picked for himself ever since he discovered the cartoon channel, so the higher score belonged to the kid. Had Fred tried to lose on purpose to get some brownie points with the lad or was he really that bad at these shooting games? He had to be, as Irena had said, his killing methods would include poison, freak accidents, sudden illness, not firearms. All executed by cronies on his payroll. Fred’s involvement could never be proven. No, the snake wouldn’t besmirch his name.

“Nicky, Fred.” Ana’s voice trembled as she called from the bottom of the stairs. “Where are you guys?”

Silence hung like a heavy curtain. A faint sound of running water drifted from the upstairs. She swallowed and put one foot on the bottom step. “Come on, guys. This is not funny. Where are you?”

The shower stopped, a moment later fast feet thumped on the carpeted floor, and a door on the other side of the hallway slammed shut.

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