Page 10 of A Silent Reckoning

She sighed and tilted her head into his hand. The feel of him combined with his scent was too much for her to ignore. She closed her eyes for a few seconds and enjoyed the touch of the man she thought she would never see again.

She breathed in deeply and allowed the first moment of peace she’d felt in more than a year wash over her. When she opened her eyes again, he was staring back at her, his gaze mirroring hers.

Shaun had never believed in fate or soul mates before. Yet, she couldn’t explain the feeling she had when she was with Jozef, other than to say her soul called out to his.

One year ago, during an impossible situation, they’d found each other. But they’d been on borrowed time. Now it seemed Jozef was determined to steal more time for them.

Shaun shook her head and whispered. “We can’t.”

Jozef’s gaze changed, becoming closed off. He pushed her back into the seat next to him and ignored her pleas as they closed in on the airport. When the tower came into focus, Shaun’s panic ratcheted up again. They were really doing this. They were planning on taking a Canadian citizen off Canadian soil.

Shaun stared in desperation as they drove past the airport around to the private section. Her heart pounded frantically as they approached the security gate.

What should she do? She had to try to get someone’s attention, but she didn’t want to be the reason Jozef was arrested again. She wasn’t sure how he got out of prison after being handed two life sentences, but she suspected if he were arrested in Canada, he would have a much more difficult time securing his release.

She was happy to see him, her heart sang with joy at knowing he was alive and well, but her responsibility lay elsewhere. She had an obligation to herself, her mother and her profession to fight tooth and nail against whatever Jozef was planning. She’d committed her life to fighting the evils in the world. Yet wouldn’t she become the evil she despised if she quietly went with Jozef simply because her heart wanted him?

She had to do something.

As they approached the security gates, a guard stepped out of the booth. The SUV slowed and Shaun frantically tried to plan what she would say, how she would get the guard’s attention.

Jozef must’ve anticipated her intention because he grabbed her by the head and kissed her, a lightning fast, intense kiss that took her by surprise. As soon as his lips touched hers, sparks shot through her. Precious seconds passed.

Dimly she heard Havel speaking to the guard, laughing and exchanging a joke. Shaun pushed against Jozef’s chest, trying to break contact so she could shout at the guard.

Jozef twisted on the seat, using his broad leather-clad shoulders to block her view of the guard. He gripped her head, cupping her ears and holding her still.

They stared at each other though Jozef continued to kiss her. His eyes spoke as eloquently as his lips. He wanted her and nothing was going to stop him from taking her. Passion clashed with anger as the sparks flew between them.

Havel’s conversation with the guard ended and they were driving again. Once they’d cleared the barrier and Havel rolled up his window, Jozef released her.

Without considering the consequences, Shaun slapped Jozef, her palm striking his cheek in a sharp crack. Her hand stung, which meant his face must’ve felt worse. She cringed as Jozef swung his gaze back to hers. She could see the beginnings of anger stirring in the lake-blue depths.

Shaun was shocked. She’d never been a violent person, had never in her life hit another human being. She’d pushed Jozef, refused to do his bidding and kicked and fought when he grabbed her, but she’d never deliberately hit anyone. She hated the feeling and regretted it immediately. Yes, she was in an extreme circumstance, but it was no excuse to lash out. Especially in a way that wouldn’t improve her situation.

I’m sorry, she mouthed.

Jozef’s expression softened and he reached out, wrapping a big hand around her neck and dragging her into his chest, holding her as they drove across the tarmac toward the plane that would take her back to Eastern Europe and the new life she suspected Jozef was going to force her into.

Chapter Six

Shaun thought she might have another opportunity to call for help during the confusion of getting out of the vehicle and onto the airplane. She should have realized, with a man like Jozef and his well-trained team, there would be no confusion.

As soon as the car came to a halt, Jozef’s side facing the plane, his door opened and Shaun was pulled from the vehicle. She took in a lungful of air, ready to scream, but Jozef held her tight against his chest, dropping a hand over her mouth. He hoisted her off the ground and climbed the steps up to the plane, Havel covering their backs, his hand on the butt of his gun.

Once they were on the airplane, Jozef dropped into a seat, Shaun’s squirming body on top of his. He didn’t remove his hand from her mouth until the door was closed and sealed.

Jozef’s men took their seats and Jozef set Shaun on the seat next to his. He reached across her to buckle the belt.

Shaun’s heart felt like it was bursting from her chest, her breaths were rushing in and out of her lungs and she felt on the verge of another anxiety attack.

The airplane vibrated as the engines were started.

Shaun looked around her in panic. None of Jozef’s men would look at her, their eyes on the floor, their faces grim. There was one flight attendant, who was speaking rapid Czech into a phone. The door to the cockpit was firmly shut, closing them off from the pilots.

Shaun was trapped.

She tipped forward, pressing her forehead to her knees and trying to force herself to breathe properly. She clutched her head as the plane taxied down the runway.

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