Page 49 of Sin of Silence

She glanced at the card and started laughing. “This has to be a joke.”

“Who’s it from?” Leeza asked, setting the heavy arrangement down on the nearest table.

A servant gave the flowers a scandalized look and whisked them out of the carefully decorated black and gold room before Dasha could see them. Shaun didn’t blame the staff member for his concern. She’d seen things that week that would make a drill sergeant flinch, and now had a new respect for anyone who worked on the Koba grounds.

“The card says it’s from Buckingham palace,” Shaun said with another laugh. “It says, best wishes on your upcoming nuptials. Yours Sincerely, the Duke and Duchess of Wales.”

“Yes,” Leeza said with a knowing nod. “Mom went to boarding school with a few royals. The families occasionally hunted together when my grandparents were in England.”

Shaun felt dizzy and reached for the nearest chair. “Who exactly is coming to this party?”

Leeza’s face creased in understanding and she took the chair next to Shaun, reaching for her hand. Shaun stiffened at the contact, the image of a gun in that delicate hand haunting her. Then she shook the thought away and forced herself to relax. Leeza was just trying to put her at ease, like she’d done the first day Shaun spent in the mansion.

“You really don’t want to know,” Leeza assured Shaun, humour in her accented tones. “It doesn’t matter though. They’re still people, with or without their money. Their shit still stinks, just like the rest of us.”

Shaun laughed out loud, covering her mouth with her hand. “I don’t think you can put yourself in the ‘un-monied’ category with the rest of us.”

Leeza grinned. “Yeah, well, my shit smells like roses, so I guess we know which side of the aisle I’m on.”

“The groom’s, definitely the groom’s,” Shaun quipped and they both dissolved into laughter.

Shaun was wiping tears from her eyes when a child came running into the ballroom as though his pants were on fire, fat tears rolling down his cheeks. Shaun was startled for a moment until he flung himself at Leeza, climbing onto her lap and wrapping his chubby arms around her neck. Still smiling, Leeza hugged him back, holding him against her chest.

She tipped him back in her arms, smoothed the hair on his forehead and kissed him. He squirmed but didn’t try to leave. Leeza’s eyes met Shaun’s and she said proudly, “This is my son, Kristoph.”

Shaun reached out a hand to the little boy. “Pleased to meet you.”

He straightened on his mother’s lap and reached out to take Shaun’s hand, squeezing it in a surprisingly grownup handshake. His eyes slid past her, focusing on something behind her. Shaun remembered that he was autistic. He had a head full of shaggy hair, the same shade as his mother's. His face was heartbreakingly beautiful, with large golden eyes and round cheeks flushed with colour.

Leeza hugged the child protectively against her chest. “He’s mostly non-verbal, like Jozef. He speaks sometimes, but never to strangers.”

“It’s fine,” Shaun assured her. “Is he alright?”

Leeza held him away from her chest and spoke to the child in Czech. It almost seemed jarring to hear the language, despite that they lived in the Czech Republic. Since coming to the mansion, Shaun had only heard English spoken.

Shaun enjoyed watching mother and son together. Though they both lived in what could be described as a completely dysfunctional household, considering it existed solely based on mafia affiliations, Leeza and her son clearly had a bond that transcended their surroundings.

Kristoph frowned and clutched his arm against his chest. He started signing with one hand as though born to the language. His movements were so fast and over so quick Shaun didn’t catch what he was saying.

Leeza looked concerned as she gently took his arm, pulling it away from his chest. “I don’t see anything.”

“What did he say?” Shaun asked.

“He says he hurt his arm.”

Shaun noticed a slight mottling of the skin. “Can I have a look?”

Leeza looked surprised for a moment, then relieved as she remembered Shaun was a doctor. “Please.” Leeza set Kristoph on the ground and gave him a small push toward Shaun.

Shaun gently took both of Kristoph’s arms and pulled them out straight in front of his body. When he didn’t seem distressed, she leaned over for a closer look, running her hand over the skin. He winced and jerked in her hold. One arm was definitely more swollen than the other. “Can you tell me what happened, sweetheart?” she asked him in her professionally calm voice.

He glanced guiltily up at his mother before answering in sign language. This time Shaun was expecting it and was able to understand him.I fell out of a tree I’m not supposed to climb.

Leeza kissed the back of his head. “I’ll let it go this time, especially since it looks like karma got your arm anyway.”

What’s karma?He looked curiously at his mother while Shaun continued to examine him.

“Fate,” Leeza said laughing. “Something that is meant to be.”

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