Page 7 of Goodnight, Sinners

It helped to have him near. It was like having Karl again. She felt less lonely, less lost in a world she didn’t understand. A world that swallowed people up and either turned them into killers or captives.

Which was she now? Killer or captive?

The air seemed to go out of the room and Shaun searched desperately for Jozef. He was standing with the two Bratva men Havel had pointed out to her. He was nodding his head, but his face was unreadable. She couldn’t tell if he was happy, sad, angry.

She hated when Jozef became blank to her.

A cold sweat broke out across her body. She shivered and wrapped her arms around herself. It didn’t help. The squeezing in her chest continued, suffocating her until she thought she would scream.

A warm hand touched her back, causing her to jump. She looked at Havel, unable to hide her vulnerability. She hated him seeing her this way. He’d been the one who’d wanted her to die all those months ago when they first met. He had rightfully pointed out that she didn’t belong in their world, and now here she was, proving his point.

“Breathe,” he told her.

She nodded, unable to speak, and turned her mind to her breathing exercises. As she sucked in air through her nose, releasing it through her mouth, she practiced her therapist’s mental exercises. She pictured a filing cabinet in her mind. Reaching in, she opened a file and carefully placed her fear and all the terrible memories inside. She closed the file and replaced it in the cabinet. She closed the drawer and locked it, sealing her fear away. It wouldn’t stay there forever. She would pull it out and examine it when she was ready to deal with the trauma surrounding the emotion, but for now, anxiety and fear wouldn’t serve her well.

When Jozef approached, the two Bratva men following him, Shaun was breathing normally again and able to give him a tight smile. Havel’s hand fell away from her back before Jozef could see him touching her. It was an innocent touch. Shaun knew Havel had no designs on her, but Jozef didn’t like any of his men touching her unless there was a good reason.

Jozef took her hand and lifted it to his lips, kissing her fingers, before letting go.

Come with me, he signed, then added,both of you, looking at Havel.We have a meeting to attend.

“I’ll say goodbye to my mother first.” Shaun held her breath as she realized she should have made it a question instead of a comment. Havel and Jozef had warned her she needed to play submissive around the men of the Bratva.

Of course, Jozef signed.I’ll go with you.

They left the two men with Havel and made their way toward Fatima, who was sitting on the couch with a woman who was sobbing. Shaun didn’t recognize the woman, but she seemed genuinely distraught by Krystoff’s death. Judging by the size of the reception, Krystoff had been a well-liked, well-respected man.

Fatima was handing the woman a tissue, looking up as Jozef and Shaun arrived by her side.

“Shaun, Jozef, this is Cece Mountbatten. She had gone to school with Krystoff and kept in touch with him over the years.”

“I’m so sorry for your loss,” Shaun said, reaching a hand out to the woman.

Cece narrowed her eyes and slid along the couch, further away from Shaun. “You,” she said scathingly. “This is all your fault. I talked to Dasha a few months ago. I know everything.”

Jozef was quick to tuck Shaun against his side and drop his hand beneath his jacket where his holster lay. He narrowed his eyes at the woman, silently telling her to back off.

“Where is your aunt?” she asked Jozef. “Did you have her killed too?”

Jozef’s body tightened, but Shaun was quicker. She took a step in front of Jozef.

“You’ll want to control yourself, Ms. Mountbatten.” Shaun’s voice was chilly. “If you knew Dasha and Krystoff the way you say, then you know that this is the wrong room and the wrong group of people to throw accusations around.”

Shaun lifted her gaze to the two Bratva men and the woman followed her line of sight. It was clear she either knew who they were or understood the implication behind Shaun’s words.

Fatima pushed herself off the couch and stood to Jozef’s other side. “You are welcome to mourn, but you won’t be insulting this family while you’re enjoying their hospitality.”

“I…” she stared at the trio in front of her. “My apologies, I’m simply distraught over what happened. If you’ll excuse me.”

The woman stood and quickly left the room.

Once she was gone, Shaun deflated. Defending Jozef had come easily to her, but the energy it took after so many sleepless nights was almost more than she could handle.

“Do you think she’s going to be a problem?” Fatima asked anxiously. “I saw her crying and thought no one should have to cry alone. I shouldn’t have spoken to her.”

Jozef shook his head.You should speak with whoever you want. C-E-C-E won’t be a problem. She knew my aunt and uncle a long time ago, but she has no power to make a nuisance of herself now.

“We’re going to a meeting,” Shaun told her mother, remembering the reason they’d come over. “Will you be alright alone?”

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