Sin of Silence (Sinner's Empire #1) - Nikita Slater Page 0,50

upon her that escape was impossible. She could harm herself in the attempt, and if she somehow succeeded, he could lose her. She was a highly intelligent woman who was used to thinking on her feet. After she’d mentioned Doctors Without Borders at the breakfast table, Jozef had googled the organization and discovered they worked all over the world in all kinds of conditions. Which meant she was more than capable of taking care of herself.

If he didn’t find a way to convince her to stay, he had no doubt that eventually she would figure out a way to leave that was far more effective than a dash through a dress shop.

He stood, dragging her off the mattress. She tried to sign something else to him, but he ignored her. He didn’t want to be swayed by her pleas. She needed to find out what could happen to her if she tried to escape again, which meant he had to come up with a punishment. He moved his grip from her neck to her arm as he thought about it.

The shed.

It was harsh, not meant for a woman, especially an innocent. The shed was an on-property prison where they took people for interrogation and execution. It was cold, dark and empty, but it wasn’t permanent. It wouldn’t hurt or kill her. Jozef could use the prison to show her what her alternative was if she refused to settle down.

He hoped it wouldn’t break her, but he had to do something. If she continued acting up, his uncle would pressure Jozef to get rid of her. As much as Krystoff loved his nephew, he wouldn’t allow Jozef to keep a woman who could bring down the family with the information she had on them. If Krystoff demanded Jozef take the girl out, then Jozef would have to make some tough decisions. No part of him wanted to go head-to-head with his family, but he couldn’t allow them to harm Shaun. She had to learn to behave, to follow their code.

He walked swiftly through the mansion, his grip on her tight enough to cause pain. She was no longer attempting to use sign language; now she was talking rapidly, her voice edged with hysteria as he dragged her.

“Please tell me where you’re taking me,” she begged him. “You promised not to kill me. Jozef, please!”

She tripped and almost fell. Using her arm, he swung her back up, but he didn’t break stride. She was going to have bruises up and down her arm tomorrow. He almost wished he could tell her it would be okay, that she needed to slow her breathing and relax, but he also needed her to be terrified. It was an impossible situation, not one he’d ever been in before. He hated treating Shaun badly.

Jozef dragged her through the kitchen and out the back door, startling the cook and his assistant. Shaun tripped over the steps and this time he allowed her to fall in the dirt. She lay on her side in a bed of crushed flowers, sobbing and curling into herself. Jozef knelt next to her, getting right in her face where she had no choice but to watch his hands.

Get up now.

The tears continued to fall while her breaths came out in frantic rushes. She was shaking so hard it was a miracle she didn’t collapse completely. Her pupils were dilated and unfocused. She wasn’t reading his hand motions but retreating into herself. She was having a panic attack. He hesitated to continue, worried about her mental state. He had no choice though; she had to learn what could happen if she tried to escape again.

He lifted her in his arms, cradling her against his body as he continued to walk with her through the perfectly manicured gardens. She curled into his chest, still crying, unable to focus on anything besides her own terror.

Jozef hardened his heart as he walked. This was the only way. The life of an organized crime family was a brutal one, and if Jozef wanted Shaun to be part of his world, he needed to toughen her up. Force her to fall in line.

They called the property’s prison ‘the shed’ because it looked like a large version of an old building where an estate gardener might keep his tools. The shed housed four cells: each a concrete room with a wooden pallet, a toilet, a sink and a thick metal door with a grate in it. Jozef hated the idea