Page 69 of Sin of Silence

“My daughter,” Vasiliy admitted.

Jozef and Havel looked at each other. A daughter? Vasiliy only had a son. The families had been close enough at one time that Jozef would know if there was a daughter. Yet, he didn’t think Vasiliy was lying.

Who is your daughter?Jozef demanded.

“She calls herself the Phantom.”

In the car, when they’d been bringing Krystoff home from Ukraine, his uncle had said something about a person calling themselves the Phantom. And again, in the club, Krystoff had tried to get more information from Vasiliy’s men. Jozef had looked into it but had unearthed no leads on a so-called Phantom. So, the Phantom was a woman. Not a common thing in the mafia, where women typically didn’t hold positions of power.

Who is the Phantom?Jozef asked, taking a few steps closer to Vasiliy.What is her name?

Vasiliy shook his head. “That I will not give you.” When Jozef lifted his gun threateningly, Vasiliy didn’t flinch. He smiled sadly. “Until I can be assured that she will be safe from harm, I will not give you her name.”

Jozef frowned.You stayed here, knowing we would hunt you down and kill you, just so you could tell me about your daughter, but then you refuse to give me her name. Will you tell me where to find her?

“No,” Vasiliy said grimly. “Not until I know for certain she will come to no harm.” When Jozef gave him an annoyed look, he hurried to add. “She means more to me than my own life. She is brilliant and must be given a chance to live and thrive, to rule her slice of this world.”

Jozef thought for a moment, then asked,what will it take to convince you she will come to no harm?

Vasiliy looked at him quizzically. “Will you promise not to hurt my daughter?”

Jozef thought about lying, but decided the truth was better in this instance. Vasiliy was being unexpectedly honest, Jozef could give him the same.I can’t make that promise.

Vasiliy smiled broadly. “I knew I could trust you. It’s why I’ve been waiting years for you to come find me.”

Jozef was deeply confused. Years? Vasiliy hadn’t even been on Jozef’s radar until Krystoff’s abduction.

As if reading him, Vasiliy clarified. “I knew eventually she would do something to bring your attention down on my family. I wish it hadn’t taken maiming your uncle to get you here, but I’m not sorry to finally be speaking with you. I have heard many good things about your loyalty and determination.”

Jozef had so many questions, he didn’t know where to start, but was interrupted by several sharp taps on his headset. Terek was telling him that Krystoff wanted a mission update. It was time to finish this and go home.

Vasiliy’s sharp eyes followed Jozef’s movements. “You have to leave.” He sounded almost disappointed, like he wanted to hang out a little longer with his soon-to-be murderer. Jozef didn’t know who this guy’s daughter was, but she was probably just as crazy.

Jozef lifted his gun.

“May I give you a gift first?” Vasiliy asked quietly.

Jozef tensed as Vasiliy reached for the work bench he’d been painting at when they arrived, but he only picked up a doll. It was about the length of Jozef’s forearm, with a chubby body that would fit other dolls inside. It was female, with long dark brown hair painted over the head and shoulders, a red and white patterned dress and a face that was both sweet and haunting.

Jozef held the doll in one arm and lifted his gun in the other, setting it against Vasiliy’s head.

“When you meet her, give her the doll. I made it in her likeness.” Vasiliy closed his eyes and whispered a prayer.

Chapter Forty

“Dr. Patterson, if you’ll just hold your head still for me.”

Shaun wanted to growl her annoyance as the person doing her hair straightened her head by pushing her chin forward. The man was fingers deep in Shaun’s tight curls, trying his best to straighten them. She could tell he wasn’t used to working with hair like hers. Her tight curls were usually pulled back in a ponytail or left in an afro that framed her head. Sometimes when she was travelling, depending on the country and her access to clean hygiene, she would have her hair braided into tight rows to keep maintenance down.

Shaun was being, poked, prodded, measured, plucked and made-up for the engagement party due to start in just over two hours. Dasha had sent her beauty team to Jozef’s suite to help Shaun prepare. She felt like an expensive, very useless doll.

Shaun hadn’t noticed Jozef enter the room until he stepped up to the man who was working on Shaun’s hair, giving him a glare that had the man’s hands freezing on Shaun’s head. She smiled at Jozef in the mirror, her eyes meeting his.

He’d arrived back at the house in the very early morning and, after kissing her awake, made exquisite, leisurely love to her warm, sleepy body. He’d told her he missed her while he was gone. He hadn’t given Shaun any details and she hadn’t asked, but she’d spent half the night awake and worrying about him.

Jozef’s gaze met Shaun’s in the mirror.What is he doing to your hair?

I don’t know, Shaun signed back, much to the bewilderment of her hair stylist.I think he’s trying to straighten it. She snickered and shook her head. Straightening her hair would absolutely not happen unless the man had some very specific products.

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