A Silent Reckoning: Sinner's Empire by Nikita Slater (ereader iphone .txt) 📗

you or take the preemptive strike. You need to be ready for either scenario.”

Jozef stared at Havel, his brain sluggish with anger, fear and hate. He shook his head, trying to push away the emotions. Havel was right. He had to wake the fuck up and concentrate. His people would be counting on him as both leader and protector of their organization.

Jozef nodded at Havel and took a mental grip on himself. It was time to start using his head instead of his emotions.

He squared his shoulders and signed, okay, I’m ready.

Havel dipped his head in a nod of approval. “We’ve gotten several reports from the hospital. As you know, your aunt will recover, but she can’t be moved. Krystoff is unwilling to leave her side, but I think he’ll eventually see the wisdom in mobilizing.”

Mobilizing against Jozef and Guard Dog Securities.

Krystoff would know as well as Jozef that if an attack was imminent, his best bet would be a preemptive strike. Hit them while they were vulnerable. Jozef had to think like his uncle in order to neutralize the threat. He had to think big picture.

He signed, his movements fast and precise, I don’t want to hit the mansion. It’s too heavily fortified. We’ll lose men. When we go to war, we’ll take our stand on home territory.

“Here?” Havel asked.

Yes. We know how to defend our home base, we’ve done drills. You had the men prepare for this eventuality while I was still in prison.

Havel’s phone chirped and he glanced down at it, then looked at Jozef. “He’s preparing for war. He’s called in every man on his security team to hold the mansion. He’s hustling the girls back home. Our guy on the inside doesn’t know when the strike will happen though.”

Jozef took a breath and glanced at Shaun and Fatima. They weren’t paying attention to Jozef and Havel. He nodded at Havel to step outside the apartment door.

Jozef gritted his teeth as the pain of what he was about to say hit him like a punch to the gut. He had to do it. He was the vztekl´y pes, the guard dog. He had to pull the trigger.

As soon as they stepped outside, Jozef made sure Havel was paying attention.

You need to find the location of my cousins and take out Leeza and her husband. Leave the child and Saskia alive and bring them to me. He couldn’t bring himself to harm either one. It was gut-wrenching to put Leeza on the kill list, but she was the eldest, could become a problem in the future if he didn’t take her out of the equation. Send a team to the hospital. As soon as my uncle leaves, you will take out Dasha.

Havel’s face hardened and he closed his eyes in a long blink so Jozef wouldn’t see the emotion. By the time he opened them, his eyes were glittering with purpose.

“Consider it done, boss.” His voice held the same steel that was running the length of his spine. “What about Krystoff? He’ll bring reinforcements to the meeting. You won’t be able to take him out.”

Jozef took a breath as gut-wrenching pain burned through his veins. He took the emotional pain and channeled it into purpose and will, the way his uncle had taught him.

Once he finds out about Leeza and Dasha he’ll come to us. He’ll be reckless with grief. We’ll take him out, right here, on home territory.

Havel looked thoughtful and then nodded toward the apartment. “What about the women?”

As soon as Shaun can be moved, we’ll send her and her mother to the safe house.

“She’s not going to like it.” Havel didn’t need to specify which woman he meant. They were both equally stubborn, but Shaun was the one who could argue Jozef out of a perfectly decent plan.

It doesn’t matter what she wants, Jozef signed. She can be angry at me later, once she’s healed.

Havel stared at Jozef for a moment, letting him see his vulnerability. “This is fucked up, man.”

Jozef nodded, closing his eyes for a moment and taking a deep breath, reclaiming his calm. When he opened his eyes, he signed, I’ll send a message to my uncle, asking him to meet. I want you at the hospital. Send the others to take out Leeza. I won’t ask you to hunt the woman you love.

Havel looked shocked. “You know?”

Jozef nodded but didn’t respond. He turned away from his second-in-command and reentered his apartment.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Saskia knew she was in trouble when her guard doubled seconds before her father called. One of the men grabbed her by the arm and hustled her toward a waiting car while she fumbled with the phone.

“Dad?” she asked breathlessly.

“Saskia, are your guards with you?”

“Yes, and a bunch of the estate guards are here too. Since when do I need such a huge escort to get home from the university?” Saskia knew damn well they weren’t there just to escort her. Some serious shit was going down.

“You need to listen to every word they say, Saskia. I don’t want any of your shenanigans. You listen to your guards and go home to your sister.” He paused, then added. “I’m in the hospital with your mother.”

Saskia froze, stopping in her tracks. She ignored the frustrated exclamation from her guard.

“What’s wrong with mom?” she demanded, yanking her arm and pacing away from the guard. “Is she… is she going to be okay?”

“Yes, she’ll be fine,” Krystoff snapped. “I don’t have time to talk. You need to go with your guards and join your sister at home. I want you both in the safe room within the hour.”

Saskia’s brain whirred frantically as she tried to work out what was happening. If Dasha had gotten into some kind of accident, Krystoff wouldn’t be trying to rush his daughters to safety. No, there was a very real threat and it had something to do with her mother’s injuries. There was only one potential enemy Saskia could think of in the city.

Jozef.

“What did you