Page 51 of Sin of Silence

The host turned and weaved his way between tables to the back corner where a table was set aside. He pulled out the chair for Shaun as she sat down and reached to place a cloth napkin over her lap. Jozef caught the napkin, tugging it away from the man and waving him away. Jozef smoothed the napkin over Shaun’s lap while she blushed at the small intimacy.

“Do you come here often?” Shaun asked, taking a gulp of her water to chill her burning cheeks. What she really wanted to know was if he brought dates here often, but she wasn’t willing to ask that question.

Jozef frowned and tapped her arm impatiently.Speak to me in our language, he signed, then he answered her question.I’ve been here only a few times. My uncle owns the place and this table belongs to the family. He likes to bring Aunt Dasha here.

Shaun was happy that she had nothing to be jealous about, but then gave her head a small shake. She didn’t have any business being jealous about anything related to Jozef, let alone his past conquests. What was wrong with her? She never cared about this sort of thing. Never became possessive of a man, especially one she knew wasn’t good for her.

To distract from the moment, she asked,so your uncle owns both the restaurant and the club?

Jozef shook his head while signing,no, my uncle owns this restaurant and several other local businesses. I own the club.

Shaun was surprised. The Koba clan tended to think in terms of family, not individuals, so she assumed the club was family owned.Why do you own the club?

He shrugged.It was a good investment opportunity. There’s no point in having a fortune if you don’t spend it.

Shaun knew enough about the mob to understand that they often owned businesses to funnel dirty money through, making it legitimate. She didn’t suppose Jozef would explain the process to her.

Their waiter approached the table, beaming obsequiously at Jozef. “Sir, we have informed the chef of your presence and he respectfully requests that you allow him to prepare a menu for you and your…” His gaze slid to Shaun. She didn’t know what to say but was saved having to clarify her status in Jozef’s life when his second-in-command, Havel, appeared from out of the shadows.

“Dr. Patterson is Mr. Koba’s fiancé,” he said coolly, his gaze fixed somewhere past the waiter’s shoulder. “She must be treated with the same respect as any member of the Koba family.”

“Of course, sir,” the waiter agreed, his gaze falling to Shaun. “My apologies, Ms. Patterson.”

“Dr. Patterson,” she corrected. She’d learned long ago to take pride in the title she’d achieved. It was her opinion that women were told to be humble, and that it was bragging to lay claim to their achievements. Shaun thought it was bullshit. Women needed to embrace their achievements and tell the world about them.

“Dr. Patterson,” the waiter repeated. “Would you like something to drink?”

Shaun decided a chilled white wine would be perfect after a few hours of doing the tourist thing at Jozef’s side. The waiter suggested a New Zealand Chardonnay and Shaun agreed. He didn’t ask Jozef for his drink order and Shaun assumed he already knew it.

When the waiter left, Havel melted back into the shadows. It occurred to Shaun that she hadn’t noticed Jozef’s security team follow them into the restaurant. They fit seamlessly into the background, moving with the crowds and making themselves scarce unless needed. She glanced around, attempting to spot more of them, but saw no one she recognized.

Shaun signed to Jozef, using his preferred method of communication,your men are very good at their job, aren’t they? I know they were with us, but they’re almost impossible to spot.

Jozef nodded, his eyes glowing in warmth over her use of sign language.

Yes, they are always near. I will not take chances with your protection; you will be escorted at all times.

She shook her head.I’m not used to this kind of protection. I never needed it before.

His eyes bored into hers, his expression becoming deadly serious.Yes, you did. I was able to take you right out of a hospital that should have been safe for you.

A chill ran through Shaun as she was reminded once more that she was in the presence of a criminal. He refused to let her forget it yet seemed determined to show her another side to him. A more human side. The dichotomy confused her, made her want to put more distance between them.

“Excuse me,” she whispered, pushing herself back from the table. “I… I need to use the washroom.” It was the same tactic she’d used in the club, but if it worked, why mess with a good thing? She needed space and she needed it now.

Jozef captured her wrist before she could leave the table and gave her a penetrating look. She read what he wanted to know in his gaze. It amazed her how expressive he could be. Before she’d marvelled at how much he was able to hide for a man whose primary method of communication was signing. Now he was giving her the opposite, he was forcing his expressions to do the talking when sign language wasn’t enough.

“I’ll be okay,” she told him, unable to hide her vulnerability. “I just need a minute.”

He nodded, but held her hand for a moment longer, finally pressing a lingering kiss to the back before releasing her. Shaun pressed her hand against her thigh, savouring the burn of his kiss on her flesh.

She realized about halfway to the washroom that a man was trailing her. When she glanced over her shoulder, she recognized Halil. She nodded in acknowledgement and continued on her path. Jozef hadn’t been lying, his men were to follow her everywhere she went. On the surface she’d known this would happen, had seen other members of the family arrange their security when they left the house. But this wasn’t her world and she couldn’t imagine herself living it forever. She was still the ambitious doctor fighting for a residency in a busy Montréal hospital.

She shoved open the washroom door and reached for the counter, breathing as though she’d run a marathon when all she’d really done was cross a room. She stared at her face in the mirror, devoid of makeup but flushed with emotion.

“What are you doing?” she whispered to herself.

She knew what she was doing, and she knew why it was so terrifying. She was crossing over into their world, beginning to accept the things her kidnappers were telling her as her new reality. She did belong to their family now; she was engaged to Jozef Koba and the life she once knew and loved was over.

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