Page 3 of A Silent Reckoning

Jozef felt numb. Not at the news that he was getting out. He’d been expecting that, but not from his uncle. Havel was close to reaching an agreement with the justice department as well. It would have been a matter of weeks before he was freed.

He’d been numb for a year, since losing Shaun. Since taking the fall for Krystoff’s rescue and joining the ranks of the men who filled Czechia’s crowded prisons. Somehow, he knew he wouldn’t feel a damn thing again until he could touch her. Look at her face, feel the heat of her sunshine as she smiled at him.

“You don’t seem pleased by my news.” Krystoff’s tone indicated disgruntlement. He expected gratitude from his nephew.

His uncle could go to hell. There had to be trust before there could be gratitude. Jozef was short on both.

He leveled a narrow-eyed glare at his uncle and clenched his fists beneath the table. Perhaps his uncle hadn’t directly tried to kill Shaun, but he was responsible for keeping his house in order and he’d failed. Someone had tried to kill Jozef’s woman under Krystoff’s roof, while she was under his protection.

I won’t be coming home, Jozef signed.When I’m released, I’ll be moving to the club.

Jozef referred to the building he owned in Prague where the club was located. An old five-story brick and concrete structure in the heart of the downtown sector. Prior to his imprisonment he’d used the non-club floors for meetings and storage. After his imprisonment, knowing he couldn’t go back to the Koba estate, he’d ordered Havel to overhaul the top floors as both work and living space. As far as he knew, he had an apartment ready and waiting for him in Prague.

Jozef pushed away from the table and stood.Let Havel know how much you spent greasing the authorities. The money will be transferred back to you tomorrow. Don’t bother sending a car. I’ll find my own way.

Jozef turned to leave.

“Jozef Koba!” Krystoff snapped, also rising from the table, his chair clattering as he shoved it back. “This is ridiculous. You’re imagining this vendetta. Not a single member of our family would have betrayed you. Please come home, your aunt has been distraught.”

Jozef turned back to face his uncle.Find the person who poisoned my woman and we’ll talk. Until then, I’m removing myself from your organization. You can keep your business in the city, I will take the international contracts.

“Generous of you,” Krystoff couldn’t keep the sarcasm from his voice.

I don’t wish to go to war.

“Then don’t,” Krystoff growled. “Don’t splinter everything we’ve worked for.”

Jozef wanted to point out that most of what the Kobas had came from the work of Jozef and his team. Instead, he said,I will have to maintain a few legitimate businesses in Prague for appearances. Other than those, you can keep Prague.

“You can’t walk away from us, Jozef,” Krystoff growled, frustrated with Jozef’s refusal to compromise. “We’re family. You don’t leave family for a piece of ass.”

Jozef tensed, the breath freezing in his lungs. He forced every muscle in his body to lock so he wouldn’t end his uncle’s life in a fit of rage. He was closer to the edge than he’d ever been. Jozef was the picture of control in every situation, but when it came to Shaun, he was on the razor’s edge of slaughtering every single person in between him and her.

He turned to face his uncle.

You don’t speak of her again, understand?His blazing eyes must’ve alerted Krystoff that the feral dog was about to go offleash.A threat to her is a threat to me.

Krystoff nodded and reassured Jozef, “I care about the girl too, son. She helped my grandson when he was injured and was kind to every member of our family while residing with us. This isn’t about her, it’s about your position in my organization. You can’t give it up.”

Jozef didn’t bother speaking. His silentwhyechoed through the room louder than a clap of thunder.

“You’ll lose everything.” Krystoff spoke quickly, desperately. “Not just the family, but the money, the prestige, the power.”

Jozef laughed, the sound cool and unpleasant. His face quickly straightened.The difference between us, is that I never cared about the prestige and power. I only cared about my family. I would have given my life for any member of the Koba family, but you tried to take someone I love more than any amount of money.

“So that’s it,” Krystoff demanded. “You go your own way now, to hell with the people who took you in and raised you?”

Jozef stalked back to the table, pointing at his uncle, then at his throat, touching his finger to the scar marring his flesh.Whoever did this was trying to steal my voice without killing me. Who would want to do such a thing, Uncle? Who would want to kill the parents and leave the child, voiceless but alive? I can think of only one person.

Krystoff drew his eyebrows downward in a thunderous frown. “Now you go too far. I grieved for my brother, for both of your parents. I took you into my home and raised you as my own.”

Despite Krystoff’s protests, Jozef noticed his uncle didn’t deny the charge.

Then tell me what happened the night my parents died. You’ve only ever told me an enemy killed them and somehow you managed to rescue me before I could be killed too, but not before I was disfigured. What happened?

“I’ve told you what happened. An enemy of your father’s killed your parents and tried to kill you too.” Krystoff shook his head. “I don’t know why you’re rehashing history. This has nothing to do with us. We took you in, we raised you into the man you’ve become, a strong and powerful enforcer. Don’t throw it all away, son.”

Jozef thought over what he was doing, what he was giving up. As the Koba’s enforcer he had unlimited resources and power. What his uncle didn’t know was that, while still loyal to the Kobas, Jozef had been quietly building his own empire. He’d never been quite sure why but had chalked up his desire to become financially and emotionally independent after the loss of his parents. Now he wondered if it had more to do with a subconscious mistrust of the family who had taken him in.

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