Page 51 of A Silent Reckoning

“I want to be with you too.”

Together they left the apartment, Jozef nodding at Karl while Shaun said a cheery hello to her big, gruff protector. He fell in step behind them, following them to the elevator. When he got on with them, Shaun sent him a questioning look.

“I’m paid to protect you, Dr. Patterson. Doesn’t matter where you go, what you do or who you’re with, I’m your shadow.”

Jozef grunted his approval while punching in the code to the third floor of the building. Each floor had a separate code, which Jozef had given her. She’d seen it as a sign of trust that he was giving her the passcode to get to the main floor, the club floor. She could take advantage of the potential escape route, but she wouldn’t.

For one, if she ran away, Jozef would find her, bring her back and lock her down tighter than a pearl in a clamshell. Second, she wanted to be with him, wanted to work on their issues, which seemed less insurmountable than they had a year ago.

They got off the elevator and it was like stepping into another world. Shaun thought her mouth probably fell open, but she didn’t care. There were big and muscular men everywhere, packing bags, checking weapons, laughing, talking, joking. It looked like an all-male gym, but with desks.

A hush fell over the men as Jozef led Shaun through the throng.

Havel stepped into their path, his gaze on Shaun, and for once his expression was welcoming. She was almost relieved to see him. A familiar face in a sea of testosterone.

“Welcome to Guard Dog Securities,” Havel said jovially, reaching out to take Jozef’s bag.

“Guard Dog Securities?” Shaun asked, looking around.

Havel grinned at her. “We do have some legitimate business interests.”

She laughed. “Such as?”

“We provide security details to businessmen, politicians, royalty. We provide security for our club as well as others. Bank security. You name it, we’re in on it.”

Shaun chewed on her lip, but finally said what was on her mind. “You aren’t casing the banks are you? For future heists?”

Havel laughed, along with a few others. He shook his big head. “No, Doc, we don’t rob our own clients. Sets a bad precedent. We save our robberies for the fuckers who deserve it.”

Jozef growled a warning, his arm tightening on Shaun’s waist, but Shaun was enjoying herself. The security floor, Jozef’s job, everything, it seemed… different from what she’d been expecting. Far less shady.

She supposed she was expecting a torture chamber on the third floor. Not a classy looking office, with desks, glass partitions and an entire section dedicated to technology. She drifted toward the tech department, Jozef tight against her side.

“Is that laser tech?” she asked excitedly as one of Jozef’s men was packing a laptop in a bag.

The guy nodded. “We use it to pinpoint locations, map the terrain and log it into the database. We don’t do jobs blind anymore. It’s made our lives much easier.”

“Hmm, similar to the tech I use to pinpoint a tumour and remove it from the brain.”

“Exactly.” The guy looked at her closer. “You’re the doctor, aren’t you?”

“Yes.” She held her hand out to him. “Dr. Shaun Patterson. I’m a surgeon.”

“My name is Ali.” He shook her hand with more enthusiasm than she was expecting. “I read some of your work after…” he glanced guiltily at Jozef, then focused on Shaun again. “Your experimentation with laser technology in the human brain will be revolutionary for both medicine and weapons systems. In fact, I’m attempting to use some of your techniques to better our guidance systems.”

“What?” Shaun asked, looking sharply at Jozef who stared steadily back, a shutter falling over his expression, telling her he knew she was going to be angry when she found out. “You guys are already weaponizing my stuff?”

The guy cleared his throat as though just realizing he was about to put his foot in his mouth.

Havel stepped forward to diffuse the situation. “Not sure I’d want someone digging around my brain with a laser.”

“You would if there was a tumour sitting on your brainstem and you had a week to live.” Shaun turned her focus on Jozef. “Weapons? Were you going to tell me? Is this why you were reading my stuff? To create better weapons? You didn’t say anything when we were talking about it.”

Jozef shook his head, took her arm and pulled her away from the group of men. Karl trailed behind at a respectful distance. When Jozef and Shaun were once more standing near the elevator, Jozef dropped his hand so he could sign.

I read your papers so I could feel close to you while I was in prison. I didn’t lie to you.

She shook her head and glared at him. “But you did use my knowledge and my technology to better your own weapons. You’re too smart and resourceful not to.” She glanced at the tech corner and added, “Probably your surveillance too.”

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