Page 65 of A Silent Reckoning

Your brother decided it was time for you to relocate somewhere safer, Jozef signed while Havel translated.

“Yes.” She nodded her agreement. “I will reside with my caretakers in France until my brother has found and dispatched Chinaka. Once it is safe for me to return, I will rejoin my brother in his fight for fair government for the people of central Africa.”

Jozef was impressed by Ayaan. She had far more depth than he’d given her credit for upon first meeting.

Thank you for telling us your story.

“I didn’t want you to judge my brother unfairly.”

She’d been honest with Jozef, he could do the same for her.

I don’t blame your brother for wanting to keep you safe. I am unhappy that he lied to me during negotiations. I work on a strict policy of trust. Any who breach that trust or attempt to double-cross me must pay a price. If they don’t then word will get out that I am weak.

She blanched and reached for Jozef’s hand, squeezing it between her own hands. “Please don’t hurt my brother. He’ll do anything to protect me, including misleading the best mercenary in the business to ensure my safety. Isn’t there anyone in your life you would do the same for?”

Jozef swallowed a laugh. Manipulative girl, trying to get him to think of her as someone he loved. Of course he would do the same. He had a heart, even if it was black as sin.

I will not kill your brother. Havel raised an eyebrow at Jozef, surprised they wouldn’t retaliate for Radik’s lies. Jozef signed for Havel alone,I doubt we could get at him anyway. I have no desire to get into armed conflict with the man while he’s buried deep in his own territory. If he comes to ours then we’ll cut off his hands and castrate him, thus keeping our promise not to kill him.

Havel nodded his understanding and didn’t translate the last part.

Ayaan looked at them suspiciously. “What did he say?”

“He won’t kill your brother,” Havel told her.

“Oh thank you!” she threw her arms around Jozef, who froze, leaving his arms loose until she pulled away from him.

“I have something else to ask you….” her voice trailed off and she looked at the floor shyly.

Jozef waited for her to finish. He couldn’t ask her verbally to continue and she’d turned her back on Havel, blocking his view of Jozef’s hands.

Finally, she looked up at him with a grin plastered across her face. In a rush, she said, “I was wondering if you wanted to have dinner with me? You know, when we land in Nice. You’re probably hungry.”

Jozef was not hungry. Like everyone else he’d eaten a hearty meal in Mogadishu before they flew out. Perhaps he would be hungry by the time they landed, but he didn’t intend to linger in France. He was going to hand Ayaan over to her caretakers and continue on to Prague.

Jozef shook his head, but she persisted, reaching out to take his hand.

“I really think we have a lot in common. You should get to know me better; I think you’ll like what you find. I know I like what I’ve seen so far. I’m really into guys with tattoos.”

Jozef’s mouth fell open as he realized she was hitting on him and asking him out for a date. He pulled his hand from hers and quickly switched seats, placing his laptop between them. Even if Shaun wasn’t in the picture there was no chance in hell that he would’ve messed around with Radik’s younger sister. That would be like signing his own death warrant.

Havel didn’t even pretend he wasn’t listening. He laughed uproariously until Ayaan stood and stomped past Havel, rejoining the men at the back of the plane.

They handed Ayaan off to her caretakers at the Nice airport, completing their mission. Jozef’s men were jovial and asked to spend the night before heading back to eastern Europe.

Jozef refused, eager to get back to Shaun. He signed to Havel,Get the jet fueled. We’re going home.

Chapter Thirty-Two

It was 4 AM by the time Jozef arrived back at his apartment. He’d told his men to get some sleep and report back to work at 2 PM for debrief and mission report. They wouldn’t have a lot of time to sleep, but in Jozef’s experience, debrief needed to happen very shortly after each mission so there were no forgotten details.

The smallest of inconsistencies could lead to a failure in communication, which could lead to a death in the field. Jozef’s men were the best for a reason. They were quick, sharp and mission-ready at all times. This included the intelligence that followed each mission.

Along with the rest of his men, Jozef dropped his gear in the storage room of their offices. They checked in all tech and weapons then left to get some rest. Jozef made his way up to his floor on the elevator, saying goodbye to the men who piled out on the fourth floor. His elite team had apartments in the building, on the same floor as Shaun’s mother, while the rest resided offsite.

As they walked away from the elevator, Jozef could hear Havel admonishing Halil and Nikolay. “Mrs. Patterson will be asleep so fucking keep the noise to a minimum.”

Jozef nodded at the night security guard on his floor as he let himself into his apartment. He closed the door softly and started to make his way across the floor toward his bedroom.

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