The next day, after an incredible night, where Jozef woke her repeatedly to fuck her into oblivion, Jozef called Shaun into his office. She felt a little like a schoolgirl being called to task by a parent or teacher. It was a strange feeling considering her years of education and work experience. But that was what Jozef did to her. He made her feel deliciously off-balance and a little unsure, while still building up her confidence.
When she arrived and knocked on the door, it was opened by Atlas, who nodded coldly at her and slipped past. She glanced after their boulder of a butler and then entered Jozef’s office.
His face looked like it was carved from stone, but she wasn’t worried. That was his usual expression when he was working. As soon as his eyes landed on her, his face softened. The implacable lines around his mouth and eyes smoothed, and his eyes shone with the love that was ever present around her.
She walked around the side of his desk and, as he pushed his chair back to make room, dropped into his lap. She pecked him on the lips and smoothed his hair behind his ear. He needed a haircut.
She wondered who cut his hair. A barber? Were they brought in or did he go to a shop? Or maybe he did it himself. Though she didn’t think so, since his hair was always neatly layered and tidily buzzed around the neck.
“You wanted to see me?” she murmured.
He nodded and lifted her off his lap, setting her on his feet. He stood, his body brushing against hers.
Shaun’s gaze drifted down him, taking in the glory of Jozef in a perfectly fitted business suit. He wore it informally, which made him even sexier. His jacket had been removed and his rich wine-coloured dress shirt was unbuttoned at the throat where his tattoos were most prominent, and the sleeves rolled up his muscular forearms.
He took Shaun’s hand and led her back around the desk to the two chairs by the fireplace, which had a cozy fire snapping and flickering, casting shadows over the furniture.
Jozef hesitated, before waving his hand at the chair, indicating she should sit down. She sank into the chair as he dropped into his own. Some of the happiness he’d felt at seeing her drained from his expression.
She tapped his knee to bring his gaze back to her and signed, please, tell me what’s wrong.
He stared at her, and she saw the struggle behind his deep blue gaze. Finally, he nodded. This is where I sat with my uncle. We passed many pleasant hours here, discussing family and business. I… he paused, as if searching for words, then signed, I miss him.
Shaun’s throat felt tight, and she had to fight the urge to apologize once more. She felt the weight of her responsibility toward the destruction of his family. Yet, she also knew that she wasn’t to blame for their decisions. Dasha had made the decision to attack Shaun and Krystoff had made the decision to strike out at Jozef without discussion, without giving Jozef the chance to negotiate a cease-fire. Krystoff had defended his wife, while Jozef had defended Shaun.
She leaned over to touch his hand, which was resting on his thigh. You have every right to feel sad and to miss your uncle. What happened was tragic and unnecessary. It’s okay to cherish your memories of a man you loved.
I killed him, Jozef countered.
You were defending yourself, your building and everyone inside. Just because you were the one to end his life, doesn’t mean you don’t get to mourn for him. Life is complicated and messy, no matter what we do to keep it in order. His decision to attack you and your decision to defend yourself doesn’t take away from a lifetime of knowing him as a father figure. If the memories are too painful, then you can redo the office, get rid of the furniture. If the memories keep him alive for you and give you strength, then don’t touch any of it.
Jozef blinked rapidly but nodded his head. He squeezed her hand, then signed, I am grateful to have you.
She laughed, and signed back, you have me because you weren’t going to take no for an answer.
He looked back at her seriously, no, I won’t.
It wasn’t lost on Shaun that he’d switched from past tense to present. He wouldn’t let her go back then, and he wouldn’t let her go now.
They stared at each other and Jozef’s gaze hardened, became purposeful, and she knew the balance of power had shifted once more. Being with Jozef was like standing on quicksand. One moment he was a normal, loving boyfriend, the next a terrifying mob boss who held her life in his hands. Of course, he was one and the same, and she’d be lying if she said his shifting personality wasn’t deeply sexy to her.
She licked her lips. “You’re going to let me do the surgery, aren’t you?”
She purposefully used spoken language, rather than sign language, as it made her feel more in control of the moment. Especially since she knew she was talking to the mob boss, not the guy who’d made love to her all night long, giving her the delicious ache she felt throughout her body.
He nodded. Yes, but there are conditions.
“What conditions?”
I will have a face-to-face discussion with the hospital director. He must allow my men access to every part of the hospital you will work in so we can keep you secure while you’re distracted with your work.
Shaun felt some horror as she pictured the nightmare of logistics involved in securing an entire surgical ward. There were so many elements involved: sanitization, staffing, patients. None of it would be easy, but she could tell by looking at Jozef that he wasn’t willing to budge on this condition.
She nodded. “Alright, talk to him. If he refuses, then I won’t be doing the surgery.”
I’m not trying to punish you, or stop you from doing your job, but I won’t compromise with your safety.
She smiled and signed, I know. You would never deliberately hurt me; mentally or physically.
She used the same words he’d used the night before, and she could see the pleasure lighting his eyes.
I will make sure he doesn’t say no, Jozef signed, his face twisting with purpose. You can look forward to your surgery and let me take care of security.
Shaun’s heart ached with love for the man sitting across from her. She loved that he was using facial cues along with hand signals. When they first met, his face was carved of stone, even while he was signing. An unusual thing for someone who was nonverbal. Body language, hand signs and facial expressions went hand-in-hand with transmitting intent as well as language. But Jozef had lived a brutal life and hadn’t incorporated facial expressions into his language. During their time together, he’d naturally fallen into it, and used facial cues often when they were together.
Thank you, this means a lot to me, she signed back.
He nodded, then said, I have another condition.
She tilted her head, waiting.
We set a wedding date.
Shaun’s heart sank and she moved back in her chair, physically distancing from him.
You don’t want to marry me? He frowned.
“It’s not that.” She sighed heavily. “I’m disappointed that you’ve made this part of a negotiation about my career. The two things are separate and shouldn’t be part of the same discussion. You don’t have to coerce me into marriage.”
Then marry me tomorrow.
“No,” she said automatically, shaking her head.
Then our wedding becomes part of this negotiation. He shoved a frustrated hand through his hair, before continuing. I don’t understand your reticence.
Shaun turned her gaze to the fireplace because she hated seeing the disappointment on his face. “When we met, it was under extreme circumstances and I was forced into an engagement. Then, six months ago, you came to Canada and kidnapped me again, forcing me to move to a part of the world that I would never have considered home. With your actions, you sent not only my life into a spiral but also my mother’s. Though we’ve found common ground, and I can’t argue that there is love between us, I’m also not ready to tie my life to yours irrevocably. Not without sorting through our issues.”
Yet, you wear my mother’s ring. His gaze dro
pped to the lovely ring she almost never took off. Willingly and with the knowledge that one day we will be married.
She stared back at him, then signed, I wear this ring with the understanding that there is enough love between us that we can sort through our differences before leaping into what could turn into a disaster of a marriage. At his fierce frown, she held up a hand. Not that I think our marriage will be a disaster, but we still have some major differences that need to be worked through before I’m willing to take the next step with you.
He looked thoughtful as he considered her words, and she thought for a moment she’d convinced him. Then he signed, no, I don’t agree. We plan this wedding now. I’m done waiting. I have compromised on your surgery, now you will compromise on this.
Frustration rose in Shaun. “You’re forcing me to choose between a career I love and a wedding I’m not sure I want? You’re holding this surgery hostage, Jozef, and that’s not fair. This isn’t a compromise.”
He shook his head, no, you’re wrong about the surgery.
“But you won’t let me do the surgery unless I set a wedding date!” she exclaimed.
Is that what I said?
She opened her mouth, then closed it, thinking over what he’d actually told her. “You said the wedding date was part of our negotiations.”
And so it is, he signed, pushing out of his chair, and standing. As in, this wedding is non-negotiable. I also told you to look forward to your surgery, regardless of what else is happening in our lives. You will be in that room with your doctor friend, and you will get to conduct your surgery.
Shaun was confused. “Then I don’t have to plan a wedding?”
Jozef leaned over and took her arms in a gentle grip, lifting her from her chair. He kissed her lips, then set her away. Yes, you most definitely have to plan the wedding. I’ve set the date.
“What?” she exclaimed.
You have two weeks.
She gasped. “Jozef, no. We need to talk about this.”
He pushed her toward the office door, opened it, and shoved her out into the path of a startled Cooper, who’d taken up post outside the door while waiting for Shaun’s meeting to finish.
We’ll talk later, but the wedding goes forward. I’ve waited a year and a half. I’m not waiting a minute longer.
She chewed her lip, then blurted out, “But I can do the surgery, regardless of my consent for the wedding?”
He flashed her a grin, then slammed the door in her face.
“You’re a jackass!” she yelled through the door, before turning to walk into Cooper, who gripped her arms and set her away from him.
She glared at him. “Come on, we have work to do. I need to get my hands on every piece of research I left behind in Montreal. While we’re waiting for it to get here, we can catalogue the furniture and paintings in this mausoleum of a mansion and decide what goes into storage.”
The grin dropped from his face and she felt better.
Chapter Sixteen
“Saskia!”
Seconds after she heard her name, Saskia was enveloped in a tight hug. After a few seconds, she wrapped her arms around Madison and hugged her back. It had been three years since she’d seen her best school friend, but time fell away as the two reconnected.
“Let me look at you.” Madison pushed Saskia back and looked her over from head to foot, clucking her tongue. “You’ve lost weight, you have rings under your eyes, and you look stressed as all fuck.”
Saskia grinned, feeling herself relax for the first time in weeks. She’d taken a circuitous route to get herself into London. She’d had to go through Germany and Belgium, then France, using the fake IDs she’d commissioned after starting university.
“It could be worse,” she said, her voice husky. “I could look a lot more dead.”
Madison shook her head. “Don’t even joke about that. When my dad heard rumours that your family was under attack and you were missing, I was frantic.” Madison blinked rapidly. “I’m so sorry about your dad, he was a sweet man.”
Saskia sucked in a deep breath as pain sliced through her. She’d suspected her father’s fate but hadn’t known for sure. She’d had to lie low, purposely cutting herself off from the outside world. She told herself it was because she hadn’t wanted anyone to trace her movements, but in reality, she could have easily found out about her father. It was likely splashed all over European news.
She hadn’t wanted to know how bad it was. She didn’t think her heart could take it if any of her family members had died, and she’d been right. The news of her father gutted her. She started crying and couldn’t stop.
Madison didn’t say another word, gathering Saskia into her arms and rocking her on the city bench where they’d agreed to meet.
Saskia wasn’t exactly sure why she was crying. She hadn’t been close to her father, not in years. He was a mobster, and she was a family accessory. Decorative until she made an advantageous marriage, then the decoration of another mafia family.
Yet, her heart shattered at the news that Krystoff was dead. Her brain flooded with everything she would miss about him. She remembered the way he smelled as she sat on his lap when she was a child. A combination of tobacco, vodka, and crackling fireplace. He wasn’t a good man, but he was the rock in the Koba family. He was her father, now he was gone, and she would never speak to him again.
She was glad she’d told him she loved him the last time she’d talked to him.
Saskia pushed away from her friend and wiped her face on her sleeve. “Have you… have you heard anything about my mom?”
Madison sighed, rubbing Saskia’s back as she tried to bring her tears under control. “No, nothing. She went missing from the Prague hospital the night your father died, and there hasn’t been any news since. My father has been making inquiries on your behalf, hoping to find her safe and bring her over here.”
Saskia wasn’t surprised. Madison’s father, Lord Alexander Grayson, was a significant part of the London underground. He would have his fingers in every part of the European mafia scene. Lord Grayson adored his daughter and would keep tabs on the Koba family for Madison’s sake.
“Will you let me know if you hear anything?” Saskia asked, sniffling.
“Of course,” Madison assured her. “I’ll do you one better though. You’ll stay with me while you’re here, so you can get your news directly from the horse’s mouth.”
Saskia smiled weakly. “I appreciate that, Maddy, but it’s like I told you when I phoned, I can’t stay with you. I’m certain my cousin is looking for me, and I don’t know if his intentions are good or murderous. I refuse to put you and your family in danger.”
“Nonsense.” Madison used her motherly voice, a voice she used often during their high school years, despite being single, gorgeous and a major part of the London party scene.
“There’s no way I’m going to let you put yourself in danger for me. I can take care of myself,” Saskia insisted.
“I’m sure you can,” Madison said briskly. “But you aren’t going to. We’re doing this together. We’ll lie low and we’ll work out a plan for your future. I’m not letting you go anywhere until I know you’re perfectly safe and happy.”
Saskia let out a watery laugh. “Happy.”
Madison wrapped her arm around Saskia and squeezed. “It’ll be okay. I promise.”
“It hasn’t been okay in a long time,” Saskia murmured, laying her head on her friend’s shoulder. “I don’t even know what okay feels like.”
“We’ll get there, sweetie.” Madison looked up as a car with tinted windows pulled up to the curb. “Our ride is here.”
“Maddy…”
Madison shook her head. “You’re coming with me. My dad has set up a safe-house for us. We’ll stay there until he’s able to either negotiate with your cousin or get you a new identity that can’t be traced.”
“Jozef has a long reach.” Pain sliced through her as she thought of her cousin and the possibility that h
e might be gunning for her. She hated the mafia with a passion. In what other world would a beloved cousin, almost a brother, have to make such a terrible decision?
“Ours is just as long over here. He won’t be able to reach you, I promise.”
It was so tempting to allow Madison and Lord Grayson take care of her. In some ways she was much older than her years, having grown up in a demanding family, but she was also still a nineteen-year-old girl. She wanted to rest, to stop having to make decisions on the run, to let someone else take over for a while.
“Okay,” she whispered, fear surging through her. Fear of the unknown, fear of putting her friend and her family in danger. “Let’s go.”
Together they climbed into the town car Lord Grayson had sent and sped through the streets of London toward an unknown safe-house.
They arrived less than an hour later.
Saskia’s lips twitched as she climbed out of the town car and stared up at the magnificent towering glass skyscraper. The glass had a green tint that shone with sparkling newness as the sun hit it.
“This is lying low?” Saskia shook her head. “I was clearly not doing it right.”
She thought of the tiny basement suite in Lichtenstein she’d rented through Airbnb using one of her fake ID’s. Or the leaky hovel she’d spent four days in outside of Paris. That place had been a few hundred years old and likely never renovated.
Madison grinned. “A safe-house doesn’t need to be disgusting. Trust me, we’ll be safe here. This place belongs to a friend of my dad’s so it can’t be traced back to my family.”
As they walked through the bright penthouse suite, filled with light, tasteful art and modern decor, Saskia wondered about the person who owned the place. What did his regular home look like if this was his spare?
She laughed out loud as she inspected the pool. “Yeah, I think I can lie low here.”
The two women spent the rest of the afternoon getting reacquainted. They gossiped about old school friends, ordered sushi from one of Madison’s favourite restaurants and made themselves at home.
Goodnight, Sinners (Sinner's Empire Book 3) Page 10