Sin of Silence (Sinner's Empire #1) - Nikita Slater Page 0,25
commit any crimes.
Krystoff caught enough to understand his nephew. He shook his head, a grim smile hovering about his lips. "Don't be stupid, nephew. She may not be committing the crimes, but you certainly will. If you think that she will condone her husband's activities, I can tell you now that you are wrong.”
Josef’s signs were swift and decisive. She will settle into a new life. There is no need for further discussion.
Krystoff raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "You are touchy with your new woman. A good sign for a good marriage, I hope.”
Jozef didn't say anything, but settled into his seat, pulling the slumbering woman closer against him. His uncle might be head of the Koba crime family, but Jozef was a power unto himself. Everyone revolved around him, including his uncle. They had no choice. Jozef was the power, the muscle, the brains behind the crown. Though Krystoff’s words held weight, if he wanted to keep his seat of power, he would align himself with Jozef’s desires.
Jozef closed his eyes and prepared to sleep. They were still a few hours away from Prague. He curved his hand over her leg, resting it there, a sign of his possession. Shaun belonged to him and any man who tried to remove her would die a swift and painful death.
“I never saw Vasiliy himself while enjoying his hospitality, but one of his men spoke to me when I was in the cellar.” Krystoff's tired voice filtered through the darkness.
Jozef tilted his head to look at his uncle, showing he was listening.
“He let slip that the Prizrak was responsible for my abduction. Perhaps a nickname for Vasiliy, since he is not often seen in public.”
Prizrak… or phantom.
Jozef frowned as a thought tickled his memory. A recent shipment intercepted. He’d lost a man and then the authorities had descended, picking up the rest, as though they’d been tipped off. When Jozef had gone to meet his guy on the inside, after the dust had settled, he’d said they were ambushed in a coordinated attack. Then he’d muttered the word ‘prizrak’ before being taken back to his cell.
Jozef had shrugged it off as a strange turn of phrase. Now he wondered if the two incidents were connected.
Chapter Ten
“Krystoff!” Dasha’s shout echoed through the front hall of the mansion as she rushed down the huge double staircase toward them.
Jozef stood next to his uncle with a hand on his arm to steady him. Krystoff was pale with fatigue and the pain of his injury, but he managed a smile for his wife.
Shaun stood behind Jozef with two bodyguards at her back. The bodyguards would remain with Krystoff until Jozef could unravel the reason why Vasiliy had taken the head of the Koba family. Jozef wanted to be reasonably sure they wouldn’t attack again.
Aunt Dasha threw herself into Krystoff’s arms. He grunted, wincing as his exhausted and injured body took the brunt of her weight. She burst into tears and sobbed out her anger and fear into his lapel.
It was well known that Krystoff and Dasha hadn’t been a love match when their families made the alliance thirty years ago. The two had fought as only two bloodthirsty members of mafia royalty could. It wasn’t until Dasha had nearly died giving birth to their second child that Krystoff had realized he had feelings for his wife. They reconciled and became one of the most powerful couples in Europe.
Jozef touched his aunt’s head, attempting to gain her attention. Krystoff was swaying on his feet, dirty, injured and exhausted. He needed to find a shower and a bed as soon as possible. Dasha needed to calm down and take care of her husband.
Dasha looked over at Jozef and, as he was in the middle of signing his request to her, she flung herself at him. Unable to finish his sentence, he caught her and held her as she cried out her gratitude.
Jozef smiled in grim humour. Aunt Dasha was a force to be reckoned with. She had actively negotiated for her husband’s release, but now that he was safe, she was turning into a hysterical wife.
“Th-thank you for bringing my Krysto back to me,” she sobbed against Jozef who patted her back awkwardly.
Krystoff stepped in to peel her away and as she moved back from Jozef her eyes landed on their newcomer. She stiffened and frowned, her hand dropping to her robe pocket where Jozef was positive she kept a pistol.