A Silent Reckoning: Sinner's Empire Nikita Slater (smart books to read .txt) 📖

her chair move back a few inches and glanced up at Karl who gave her a quick wink. He was making sure the table didn’t smack into her.

“I am making this term non-negotiable. Either your doctor friend travels with you or we do not move forward with our partnership.” Radik was now laser focused on Jozef, speaking directly to the other man. “Which would be a shame. You do not want me for an enemy.”

A chill travelled around the table and Havel stepped out of the shadows, startling Shaun who hadn’t seen him. Of course, he would be nearby during what sounded to Shaun like a very important meeting. Havel’s presence felt reassuring and bolstered Shaun’s confidence.

We have many enemies; you won’t be any more significant than the rest.

Shaun translated, but Radik didn’t look at her.

“You do not have any enemies like me, Koba. Think carefully before you refuse this very lucrative opportunity.”

Jozef stubbornly shook his head. I don’t need to think about it. You’re proposing I take my woman into one of the most dangerous regions on the planet. The answer is no.

“She’s been there before, which makes her an asset. She will also be helpful in moving my package.”

Jozef didn’t speak again. Shaun supposed he didn’t need to. He’d made his position abundantly clear. She wanted to argue as well but this wasn’t the right place to do it. She knew better than to undermine Jozef’s position by arguing with him publicly. She would talk to him in the privacy of their home.

Their home. She’d been there less than a week and already she was thinking of the penthouse as their home.

The tension ratcheted up as the two men faced off, neither wanting to back down. Shaun knew Jozef well enough to know that he wouldn’t be the one to back down. Not in this instance. He’d made his position on Shaun’s safety abundantly clear the day before when he’d pulled his gun on the man who’d been following them.

It was Radik who broke first, his fierce expression melting into a jovial grin.

“We will discuss it no further. I can appreciate a man who will protect his woman, even to the detriment of himself. I feel the same about my women.”

The tension around the table evaporated as the men discussed a few more details. Twenty minutes later, Radik stood and shook hands with Jozef and Shaun. He lingered over Shaun, his expression softening.

“If you ever visit my home country, look me up. My protection will keep you safe.”

“Thank you,” Shaun murmured, pulling her hand from Radik’s grip and tucking it against Jozef’s arm. She was uncomfortable with the large man. She suspected he was either a military general or a warlord. It didn’t matter which. Depending on the region, the two were synonymous.

Once Radik and his men were gone, Havel and Karl stepped outside the curtained VIP room, giving Jozef and Shaun some privacy.

Shaun looked at Jozef, crossing her arms over her chest and narrowing her eyes. “Tell me about the package. What’s inside and how dangerous is it?”

Chapter Twenty-One

I don’t know, Jozef signed.

Annoyance crossed Shaun’s features. “You’ll include me in a conversation like that?” she waved her arm around the table. “But you won’t tell me the details.”

Jozef reached for her, dragging her onto his lap as he sank back into the booth. He wedged Shaun between him and the table, turning her so she was facing him, but his hands were free.

I don’t know the details of the package, Jozef clarified. According to Radik’s original request, the contents of the package are to remain anonymous. If Radik’s enemies were to find out what it’s worth, they would stop at nothing to get hold of it.

“Do you think it’s dangerous, like a bomb or something?” Concern edged her voice.

Jozef debated with himself. Tell her the truth or leave her in the dark where she was less likely to worry over him. He was elated by her genuine concern for his safety, but she would need to reconcile herself to his job. He didn’t walk dogs for a living. Among other things, he was a mercenary for hire.

Yes, the job will be dangerous. Even if the contents of the package aren’t dangerous, the danger will lie in moving it through several regions with varying levels of active combat.

Her eyes grew wide. “That’s why you don’t want me to go.”

Among other reasons. You don’t need to see what I do for a living. It’s not pleasant and I may not be as effective if I’m worrying over you.

“I saw what you did for a living when you took me from the hospital a year ago.” There was no accusation in her voice. It was a fact she was pointing out to show him she could handle his world.

Jozef knew otherwise. Though she’d witnessed some terrible acts, most committed by Jozef himself, she was still a baby in his world. She didn’t know the worst he could do, and he didn’t want her finding out.

That was before I knew you, before I knew I loved you, Jozef signed, trying to tell her of his regret and sorrow over their first meeting. If I could take it back, I would. I hate that I did that to you and that our relationship will forever be coloured by those first few moments.

Shaun took his face in her hands and leaned over to press a lingering kiss against his lips. His mouth moved beneath hers, and his arms slid around her back, pressing her tight to his chest. When she lifted her head to look down at him, he allowed her to see the vulnerability inside him. It was all for her. She could bring him to his knees, and she could rebuild him into a better man. She had the hands of a surgeon and he would willingly subject himself to her ministrations.

“I won’t pretend that I will ever be able to forget those first few moments when you shot up