Sin of Silence (Sinner's Empire #1) - Nikita Slater Page 0,108

but he wondered if Krystoff did it as a power move. He had something Jozef didn’t: a voice.

If that was Krystoff’s tactic, then it was pointless. Jozef had never felt powerless from his lack of voice, because he didn’t lack for anything. He could make himself heard. Sometimes his bullets, knives or fists did the talking, but in the end, people knew what he was trying to say.

I am no threat unless something happens to my fiancé.

And if something happens to her? Krystoff pushed.

Jozef pinned his uncle with a cold look. Then I will not rest until I’ve found and removed the persons who caused her harm.

Krystoff nodded thoughtfully. “You have my word that no harm will come to Shaun while she is under my roof.”

Though it sounded like Krystoff was capitulating to Jozef, he’d worded his concession carefully. As long as Jozef resided under Krystoff’s roof, remaining under his control, then Shaun would not be harmed. If Jozef moved with Shaun, then she would become fair game. Jozef needed time to think and decide his next move. Things were changing in the Koba household.

Jozef stood. I will hold you to your word. Shaun is to be treated like family while I’m in Poland.

“You have my word,” Krystoff assured him.

Jozef dug the burner phone from his pocket, crushed it in his hand and handed it to his uncle. No more tests.

Krystoff’s face stiffened but he nodded his acquiescence.

As Jozef turned to leave the office, Krystoff’s voice reached out to him. “Don’t forget where you belong, son. You are a Koba. Loyalty, pride, family.”

Jozef looked down at his hand resting on the doorhandle. The words vernost, hrdost and rodina were tattooed on his first three fingers. Loyalty, pride, family.

He jerked his head in a nod, opened the door and left.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

There’s no security that I can detect. No men, no cameras, no alarms.

Jozef nodded as his man filled him in. Terek had gone ahead to meet up with their Polish contact and to stake out Vasiliy’s hideout. Despite Terek’s assurance that the house wasn’t wired, Jozef wasn’t taking chances with the safety of his team. With the tight timeline they were on, they’d only had a few hours of surveillance, rather than the minimum of two days Jozef would normally insist on.

Is he inside the house? Jozef asked.

Terek lifted his shoulders in a shrug, his look of frustration mirroring Jozef’s, who was silently cursing his uncle for setting up such a disorganized hit. Twelve years earlier, when Krystoff had wanted to up the Koba game in the global market, Jozef had suggested putting together an elite team of mercenaries for hire. His team consisted of the best people he could find in the areas of security, explosives, surveillance, investigation and tech. He'd worked with them until they became a well-oiled machine. He always had a five-man team who travelled with him, a two-person tech team at home, and a secondary B-team in training. After years of taking jobs, Jozef had come to understand exactly what he and his crew needed for each job: time to plan, time to train, time to surveil, and the correct equipment. They’d had the opportunity to do none of that for this job, meaning they were forced to go in blind.

Jozef hated the idea of doubting his uncle, the man who had adopted and raised him, but it seemed strange that he was being sent on such a rushed mission when he could have easily done the job after the engagement party. That would have given his team a few extra days, enough time to plan, and enough time for Jozef to make sure Shaun was well settled.

He’d hated leaving her behind. She’d simply nodded when he told her and remained silent, a frown creasing her forehead. He could see the questions lining themselves up in her mind: where is he going, what is he doing, is he planning on killing someone? But none had passed her beautiful lips. Before he left, she’d told him to stay safe. He’d held those two words next to his heart, determined that he would do as she asked. He would stay safe for her.

Halil and Havel will go through the front gate while Nikolay provides backup, Jozef signed to Terek, adjusting night vision goggles over his eyes. It was 2:00 AM, and the entire team would be equipped with goggles to help ease their entry into the house. They would also have the element of surprise if Vasiliy was