Sin of Silence (Sinner's Empire #1) - Nikita Slater Page 0,57
too closely, but she knew that it made something inside her burn with jealousy.
Unable to remain silent, Shaun asked, “What other women?"
"The club whores,” Saskia said with an evil grin. “The hotties who hang out there in hopes of catching the eye of one of the Koba boys. They're looking for a good time, drugs, gifts, that sort of thing. They want to get set up in an apartment, be the arm candy.”
“Koba boys?”
Saskia nodded. “Yeah, Jozef and his team. You know, Halil, Havel, Terek, Nikolay. Even Karl gets attention, and he’s like, old. Basically, anyone who lives or works with us is considered cool by association.”
“And these club… women…" Shaun said tentatively, refusing to say the word 'whore' in relation to another woman. “They want Jozef?"
"They want Jozef's money," Saskia clarified. "They want nothing to do with his disability and everything to do with the cash he rakes in for my dad. He's damn good at his job and they know it. They flock to him because he's the baddest bad boy in town and because he can set them up real sweet. But most of them treat him like crap behind his back, tease him because he can't talk."
Shaun appreciated that Saskia was standing up for her cousin. "Ability. Your cousin has a different ability, not a disability. The way he communicates, it’s unique and special. It's not a disability, but something to celebrate."
Saskia laughed sharply. "Look at the chick who tried to run away defending my cousin. Cute. You can keep your lecture to yourself. I'll be the first to get in line to cut any bitch who treats my cousin wrong."
Though she was positive the comment wasn't directed at her, Shaun made a mental note never to treat Jozef wrong in front of Saskia. Especially if she was holding a knife.
"Are you coming to the club?" Shaun asked tentatively. Though Saskia wasn't exactly an ally yet, she would be a familiar face in an unfamiliar situation. Not only had Shaun never been to the so-called club, but she rarely went to clubs at all. She despised high heels, loud music, and sweaty, pawing, drunken dancers.
Saskia shook her head. "No, my parents don't like me going. They think I'm too young."
Shaun took an extra hard look at Saskia. The girl had a sophisticated air about her; a hard shell cultivated over years of wealth and being part of a crime family. Her attitude made her seem older than she probably was.
"How old are you?"
“Seventeen,” Saskia said breezily.
"You’re definitely too young to go to the club," Shaun said with a frown.
Saskia rolled her eyes. "I shot a guy once. I figure that makes me old enough for this sort of thing, but since my family owns the club, the bouncers know better than to let me in without permission."
"Shot a guy?" Shaun asked faintly.
Saskia smirked. "Yeah, he got a little too handsy on a first date and my dad taught me never to put up with bullshit. I only put a bullet through his hand to remind him where he should keep them."
Once again, Shaun decided that this girl should probably be treated with respect.
Saskia winked at her and stood, wiping the crumbs from her toast off her jeans. She made her way toward the door, then stopped and turned back to look Shaun over one last time.
"Wear the silver dress." She cocked her head to the side. “And a pair of very high heels to add to the height you already have. Nothing else. No jewelry and minimal makeup. The mystery of you is going to drive the club whores insane.”
Saskia left, closing the door firmly behind her.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Shaun was escorted to the club by the same guards who’d escorted her to the shops the day before. She smiled warmly at Karl as he held the door open.
Before going inside, she stopped to ask him anxiously, “Did you get in trouble for my escape attempt yesterday?"
He looked surprised at her concern. "No, ma'am. Your attempt was just that, an attempt. It was expected that you would try to leave us, so we were prepared for anything."
She nodded sadly. "I see, so I was always doomed to failure."
He patted her arm and tipped his head toward the vehicle, indicating that she should get inside. Before he closed the door, he said, “Don't let it bother you. The family surrounds themselves with more security than the Queen of England. Not even Houdini would be able to get out."