The three talked well into the evening until the shadows crept through the windows, blanketing them in cozy darkness. It was Vasiliy who called a halt to their discussion by standing and stretching.
“I assume you will spend the night?” Vasiliy asked. At Jozef’s nod, he continued, “I will show you to your room then and give you a change of sheets. My daughter and… my daughter has been staying in there for a few weeks. You will want to freshen the room while I prepare our supper.”
Shaun stood as well, her back protesting at being in one position for hours. The time had passed quickly and pleasantly.
“Thank you,” she said, following Vasiliy down a hallway. “We appreciate your accommodating us last minute. I’m sorry we interrupted your time with your daughter.”
Jozef put his hand on Shaun’s arm, stopping her. She glanced back. Jozef moved past her, pushing her behind him, his hand snaking beneath his jacket as they traversed the length of the cabin. He still didn’t trust Vasiliy not to lead them into a trap.
She supposed his cautious nature had helped keep him alive over the years, but it saddened her that he couldn’t relax and breathe without the constant fear of attack. She hoped that a few days spent with Vasiliy would help him learn to relax and trust someone.
Her heart ached as she realized he had trusted someone. And that someone had tried to kill him a few weeks ago.
Chapter Nine
Once they were alone in the bedroom, Jozef began pacing and signing.
It might be stupid to stay here. Maybe we should go.
It was weird for Jozef to be indecisive. It took Shaun a moment to realize he wasn’t indecisive for himself, but for her. He didn’t want a decision he made to put her in danger. A laughable idea since his existence put her in danger, but she appreciated his hesitance anyway. She reached to take his hand. He let her pull him in for a loose hug. She wrapped her arms around his waist and held him.
“I trust you, and if you’re willing to stay here, then a part of you trusts Vasiliy. I trust that part of you, Jozef.” She tipped her face up to kiss his jaw. “We came here for a reason. Go with your gut on this one.”
He didn’t smile, but his eyes softened to a deep blue velvet and he kissed her. He didn’t use his tongue, but rested his mouth against hers for a few seconds, whisper soft. Though it wasn’t an erotic kiss, it still made Shaun’s heart leap with anticipation.
He nodded, as if coming to a decision, and gently pushed her away, reaching for the sheets Vasiliy set out for them.
Shaun’s lips quirked in amusement as it became clear Jozef had never changed a bed in his life. In the mansion, he had servants to make up the beds, and in their apartment, Shaun had always been the one to rise last and had made the bed for them.
She giggled and took the fitted sheet from him, showing him how to tuck the corners around the edges of the mattress. He watched in fascination, then put the same amount of focus into making up the bed as he would in cleaning and assembling his gun.
He frowned at the bed once they finished. It looked sloppy.
Shaun tossed herself onto the mattress and patted the blanket beside her. Jozef pulled his jacket off, then, with some hesitation, unbuckled his holster and pulled it off too. He settled onto the mattress next to Shaun, easing her head under his arm.
It was a small bed, meant for one, but Shaun appreciated its coziness. She loved touching Jozef, breathing him in, holding him close. He was her anchor and she needed him close.
Even the few hours they’d spent with Vasiliy had done what weeks of counselling had not. Shaun felt relaxed. She felt more confident and able to deal with life. She was grateful to Jozef for bringing her here, though he himself wasn’t entirely sure he’d made the right decision.
They lay together until Shaun fell asleep, her head pillowed on Jozef’s outstretched arm. She woke to Jozef gently shaking her. She looked up at him sleepily where he sat on the bed next to her hip.
Time for supper, he signed.
Vasiliy must’ve knocked on the door. She dragged herself up and stretched, feeling more energized than she had in weeks.
No nightmares, Jozef told her as she pushed herself off the bed.
She tried to determine if any bad dreams had interrupted her nap, but she didn’t think so.
She caught Jozef’s hand and pulled him to the door. “Let’s go. Something smells delicious and I’m starving.”
Later, after a satisfying meal of homemade Borscht with sour cream and biscuits, Jozef and Shaun were tucked away in their bedroom once more. Shaun had fallen quickly asleep, while Jozef sat on the edge of the bed with his phone.
Vasiliy’s daughter was here before we arrived. After you set up a perimeter, make sure someone tracks her path out of the woods. Given how elusive she’s been, I doubt you’ll be able to capture her. Try anyway.
Jozef sent the text to Havel, who had finally caught up to them. Jozef hadn’t been particularly careful in covering their tracks, so he wasn’t surprised when Havel showed up with a handful of men, insisting on providing security for the cottage. Jozef agreed under the strict condition that Shaun not find out the team was out there. Which meant they would have to sleep, eat and piss in the woods.
His men were used to harsher conditions. He wasn’t worried.
An hour later, he got a text from Havel. He’d been expecting a check-in once they followed the Phantom’s trail through the forest. What he wasn’t expecting was the contents of the message.
The daughter wasn’t alone. There was a small set of footprints with hers, heading south, away from the vehicles. The second set of prints weren’t deep. Probably a child.
Jozef leaned forward, elbows on his thighs, and frowned at his phone. He wasn’t surprised that Vasiliy had kept the existence of a child from him. But something was bothering him, niggling at his consciousness. Like a puzzle with only one piece missing before it was solved.
It was time to have a discussion with Vasiliy. No more insistences that he couldn’t tell Jozef who his daughter was. No more calm assurances that he didn’t care if he lived or died as long as she was safe. Jozef needed the information, if only to keep his budding empire safe. He needed to know that the Phantom wouldn’t come after him, and indirectly, Shaun.
He stood, careful not to bounce the bed as he moved and then glanced down at his fiancé. Soon to be wife. He was done waiting. He didn’t want to force her decision, but he wasn’t going to change his mind.
She wanted to be sure of him, of their lives together. He’d been giving her time for her own peace of mind, but it was time to take the step she seemed so reluctant to take with him. He needed to know that she was tied to him in every possible way. Spiritually, physically, mentally and legally.
He made his way silently from the room, grateful that Shaun slept heavily. He worried she would have a nightmare while he was gone, but he didn’t have a choice. If things got ugly with Vasiliy, he absolutely didn’t want her witnessing it.
He made his way noiselessly down the hall to Vasiliy’s bedroom. As Jozef suspected, it was empty. He’d done some reconnaissance around the cabin, before settling down with Shaun for the night. His host hadn’t been in the cabin when they’d retired.
Jozef made his way to the bookshelf in Vasiliy’s office. It was already standing open. An invitation? Jozef entered the long passageway that led away from the cabin, into an underground bunker that contained Vasiliy’s workroom. As he neared the workroom, he realized Vasiliy had left the workroom door open as well. The strains of a Spanish opera reached down the corridor.
Sure enough, the door was wide open, an invitation to Jozef.
As Jozef stepped through the doorway, the smell of turpentine hit his nose. Vasiliy, who was sitting on a stool and leaning over a doll, said, “I was expecting you.”
It was an eerie reminder of the first time they'd met – in that very workroom. Only that time Havel had been there, Vasiliy hadn’t known sign language, and Jozef had been on a mission to
kill the older man.
“Pull up a seat,” Vasiliy invited, waving a hand toward the other side of the table where a stool was tucked neatly under the table. Vasiliy leaned back, holding a paintbrush aloft as he stared down at the doll he was working on.
Jozef hesitated, glanced back at the door, then pulled the stool out and sat down. He arranged his body so he could face both the door and Vasiliy. It made him uncomfortable to have the trapdoor leading into the forest at his back, but he had to compromise something and he assumed the trapdoor was firmly latched.
When Vasiliy was looking at him, Jozef signed, who is your daughter?
Vasiliy smiled slightly. “I believe we’ve had this conversation, Jozef. And it has led us to an impasse.”
The impasse will end tonight, Jozef assured him. I don’t want to hurt you, but I need the information and I don’t have the luxury of time anymore. I have an empire to build. I need to know who my enemies are, and who are my allies.
Vasiliy nodded thoughtfully and carefully set his brush aside. He leaned back in his stool and studied Jozef. “Alright, I will tell you.” When Jozef lifted his hands to sign, Vasiliy interrupted him. “You’ll have to patient though. I won’t give you a direct answer, I will simply give you a piece of the puzzle. It’s up to you to figure out where it fits.”
Jozef growled his frustration but didn’t argue. Vasiliy’s words were eerily similar to his own thoughts of a few minutes before. He was here, with Vasiliy, and he had nowhere else to go. He could work on his patience, while at the same time hopefully get the answers he needed.
Proceed.
Vasiliy remained silent for a minute, as though gathering his thoughts, then nodded decisively, finally allowing his gaze to fall on Jozef.
“I knew your father… well, actually, both of your parents.” He paused, waiting for Jozef to absorb the shock. And it was a shock. Of all the directions he thought this conversation could take, he hadn’t expected his parents to be the subject. Luckily, he’d had years of practice schooling his features and didn’t give his surprise away.
Vasiliy gave him a knowing look, indicating he could read Jozef’s thoughts. It was tempting to kill the man just to get Vasiliy out of his damn head.
“Your father worked as liaison to your uncle. He ran the street crews and travelled between cities meeting with Krystoff’s contacts when he couldn’t go himself.”
Jozef signed that he already knew this.
“Back then I did business often with your uncle, though I met more often with your father.” He paused again, his faded eyes on Jozef. “Gregor was a tough man, but he was also fair. After several meetings, we established a friendship, along with an alliance. This is how I know it was your uncle, or someone in his inner circle, who killed your father.”
Jozef’s hand came down on the table hard, causing the doll to jump. Vasiliy frowned and lifted her from the table, setting it carefully on the bench behind him before refocusing on Jozef.
You will not throw out accusations without proof, Jozef signed, adding a snarl for emphasis.
Vasiliy shrugged. “Of course, I have no proof. You will have to take my word. And I would appreciate if you withheld your threats until I’ve finished. I’ve been waiting years to tell you this story, and I’d rather not keep it to myself anymore. Too much responsibility for a retiree.”
Spit it out then, Jozef signed.
“Your legendary patience is slipping, Mr. Koba,” Vasiliy said chidingly. “You must maintain your cool. Especially with the jackals who’ll be circling your newfound empire. You’ve spent years building your reputation, don’t damage it now.”
Jozef heard the words, felt the words, but couldn’t contain his anger. Vasiliy was correct. He’d spent a lifetime learning how to become thoughtful, measured, patient. Like a jungle cat, he didn’t strike until he was sure of his kill. Only the events of the past few weeks had rattled him to the core. He was no longer certain of who he was, where his place was, or where he really wanted to be. Perhaps that was what drew him to Vasiliy and his little cottage. He knew Vasiliy had answers to questions he didn’t even know to ask.
He took a calming breath and nodded at Vasiliy to continue, before signing, I won’t interrupt again. Please say what you wish without fear of retaliation.
“Good… now where was I?” Vasiliy trailed off. “Your father came to visit me often and we bonded over cigars and vodka.” At Jozef’s look, Vasiliy chuckled. “Yes, we were your stereotypical tough guys. We had the world at our fingertips, or at least I did. As you know, your father was the younger son of a powerful mafia family, and while he’d been raised understanding that he would follow in Krystoff’s footsteps, it wasn’t enough for him. He wanted what his brother refused to share. He wanted equal power and equal placement in the family hierarchy and he wanted his son to eventually take up the Koba mantle.”
Jozef couldn’t hide his shock this time. He’d been five when his parents died. He didn’t remember them well, but what he did remember was pleasant. The smell of his mother’s skin, her soft voice, his father’s boisterous laugh and jovial temperament.
He couldn’t picture his father plotting to take over his uncle’s empire. It made sense, though. A part of him had always wondered if his uncle had killed his parents. He hadn’t wanted to believe that the man who raised him was also responsible for his status as an orphan. But knowing his father was planning an attack made Krystoff’s actions more understandable. If that was indeed what had happened.
Vasiliy confirmed Jozef’s thoughts. “Your father carefully plotted to overthrow his brother. He didn’t want to take the entire Koba organization for himself, just what he considered his fair piece. Though I understood his disgruntlement with his placement, I tried to talk him out of his plans. The longer he thought about it, the firmer he became. His plan was solid too. He had many people working the streets of Prague, all loyal to him. He was going to use them to take the estate in a bloodless coup. Or so he hoped. His plan might have been successful, except Krystoff found out.”
Jozef swallowed hard, trying to stifle the long-buried emotions rising in his chest. Images were flooding his brain, distracting him, making it harder to keep a straight face. Images of his parents lying dead on the floor, riddled with bullets. His mother’s beautiful brown eyes, frozen open for eternity, forever burned in Jozef’s brain.
Did you tell my uncle about my father’s plan?
“No. Though I didn’t agree with Gregor, I wouldn’t have put him in danger.” Vasiliy’s answer was immediate and heartfelt. “I believe my wife, Vasha,” he said her name with such disgust there was no missing the hatred he harboured for his wife, “must’ve overheard one of our meetings and told her sister. She confessed after your father was killed, and I realized there was only one source the information could’ve come from. I nearly killed her in my rage.”
And you’re positive it was my uncle who killed my parents? Though the story made sense, explained a lot of things, he had trouble believing his uncle had caused such damage to his family. Now, it was too late to ask Krystoff what had really happened all those years ago.
Jozef touched the scar on his throat, tracing the ridges with his fingers. He rarely thought of his lack of voice. No point. He was mute and that wouldn’t change. But once again, burning rage threatened to consume him as he thought about the destruction to his family and his voice.
Vasiliy’s gaze softened as he watched Jozef.
“Who else would leave a child witness alive?” Vasiliy asked softly. “Only someone who cared. Who couldn’t bring themselves to do more than make sure you never spoke your story?”
Jozef shrugged. It was overkill. I remember little from that night. Never have.
“I’m sorry that happened to you, Jozef. You didn’t deserve it then, and you don’t deserve it now. You should have grown up knowing your parents. Knowing the strength of your father and the love of your mother. You should have your voice.”
Jozef glanced away fro
m Vasiliy, pain blossoming in his chest. It was the first real emotional reaction he’d had to the deaths of his parents since he was a child. It was the first time he really felt their loss. Then, Vasiliy was the first person to really talk to him about them.
Vasiliy changed the subject, giving Jozef time to collect himself and regain his ability to sort through the plethora of information Vasiliy was giving him with a cool head.
“It was shortly after that I became better acquainted with your aunt and uncle.” He cleared his throat. “There’s no straightforward way to say this, and I’m not one to sugar-coat things. It was at this time that your aunt and I had a brief affair. She was grieving for your parents and knew that I’d been friends with Gregor. I think being together gave us both a place to shelter during the storm of change that came after their deaths. When I found out she’d tried to kill my wife while the two were still living at home, I broke off the affair.”
Jozef stared at Vasiliy. An affair? He hadn’t seen that coming.
What does this have to do with me? Jozef signed, then he stopped as he realized where Vasiliy was headed. The conversation had started with Vasiliy’s daughter, had wound its way to Jozef’s parents, and then landed on an affair with Dasha.
Motherfucker.
There was a child from the union with my aunt, wasn’t there? Jozef asked.
Vasiliy nodded, watching Jozef expectantly, without adding more to his story. He didn’t need to. Jozef could do the math on his own.
To be sure he was correct, Jozef signed, L-E-E-Z-A is your daughter?
“Yes,” Vasiliy confirmed, then waited as Jozef reached the next conclusion.
Leeza was the Phantom.
Chapter Ten
Jozef was stunned by the news that Leeza was not only Vasiliy’s biological daughter, but she was also the elusive Phantom. The more he thought about it, the more sense it made. Leeza had become secretive over the years. She used to be outgoing, caring, fun. But since her marriage she’d become withdrawn, impatient, unfeeling.
Goodnight, Sinners (Sinner's Empire Book 3) Page 6