Warlord’s Empire (Sinner’s Empire #5)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

I’m going! Saskia signed to her cousin, using Jozef’s preferred method of communication. An attack that killed his parents also stole his voice in childhood.

Saskia wanted something from him, so she was willing to do things his way.

You’re not, and that’s my final word on it, Jozef signed back, pacing behind his desk. It’s too far out of my territory and I have enemies. I can’t keep you safe.

You don’t need to keep me safe. I can take care of myself.

His lip curled in a sneer, pulling a glare from her. Damn it, he never took her seriously.

Like you took care of yourself in England? Need I remind you that you were drugged, kidnapped, and taken out of the country? His signs were as snarky as his expression, his hand movements excessively sharp.

“By you!” she shouted, slamming her hands down on his desk. “You were responsible for that lovely bit of trauma I experienced.”

“That’s unfair, Jozef, and you know it.” Shaun, who had been sitting quietly in an armchair next to the unlit fireplace, stood and crossed to stand beside Saskia.

You stay out of it. Jozef narrowed his eyes at his wife. You aren’t allowed to leave the country any more than she is. The women of this family stay here, under my protection and influence.

“You let Leeza leave when she’s on a job,” Saskia pointed out. Her older sister worked for Guard Dog Securities and often took jobs out of the country.

Leeza has Havel to watch over her. I don’t worry about your sister, Jozef signed, referring to Leeza’s husband who was also Jozef’s second-in-command. I worry about you. You’re headstrong, stubborn, naive, and you don’t take your security seriously.

Saskia felt her face reddening. She’d never in her life been so angry with her cousin. Occasionally fearful, yes. Exasperated, annoyed, admiring even. But right now, she could reach across his desk and strangle him. She didn’t have to though, because Shaun did it for her. Figuratively, anyway.

“You want me to test that theory?” Shaun asked him icily. “I will call Médecins Sans Frontiers right now and ask for an assignment. Then what? You’ll put me in lockdown? Are you willing to turn our marriage into a battlefield?”

Oh shit, she went there.

Sakia glanced at Jozef’s face, noting the look of death in his eyes and took a hasty step in front of her cousin-in-law.

“Okay, let’s all calm down. I didn’t mean for this to turn into a murdery thing.

” She looked at Jozef pleadingly. “It’s no big deal.

It’s just a quick and easy job. I’ll be acting as hostess for the Czech delegation while they negotiate with France.

The pay is good and I’ll be working for the Prime Minister’s office.

If I make a name for myself as a reliable translator, I could start picking up bigger jobs. ”

You don’t need any job! You have enough money to comfortably last you until you’re a few thousand years old, Jozef signed furiously. But if you insist on having some kind of employment, you will work for me, where I can keep an eye on you.

Saskia lapsed into sign language again, I will die a bitter broken woman if you force me to stay here for the rest of my life. And I can promise you, it won’t be a long life because I’d rather die than stay here forever.

Shaun, who had moved around Saskia to watch her and Jozef sign, gasped and reached for Saskia’s hand, stopping her from signing anything else.

Saskia stepped back and stared at Jozef who stared back at her. Neither dropped their gaze. Finally, Jozef signed, That’ll be all.

As much as it infuriated Saskia to be dismissed like a chastened child, she was ready to walk away. There was nothing left to say. She was going to France, with or without Jozef’s permission.

Saskia lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, her arms wrapped around a heart-shaped pillow. She was contemplating escape, but nothing was coming to her. Jozef was much more vigilant than Krystoff, her father, had been about estate security.

Despite her thoughts, she wasn’t serious about taking off. She was twenty-two, soon to be twenty-three, and ready to stop running away from her problems. But how could she get Jozef to listen to her when he didn’t listen to anyone? Well, he listened to one person. His wife.

A knock roused her from her bed and she made her way through her apartment to the door. She had a suite in the east wing of the sprawling two-story mansion. It had been hers since she was twelve.

Shaun stood on the other side. “Can I come in?”

Saskia nodded and left her to close the door, settling on the couch.

Shaun took the chair. “I’m sorry about Jozef.”

“I don’t know how you can stand being around him.” Saskia crossed her arms tightly and glared. “He’s so bloody stubborn and autocratic. He’s never willing to give even an inch.”

Shaun gave her one of those annoyingly knowing smiles. “You’re just as stubborn as your cousin. And if you recall, he was the one who encouraged your parents to let you go to university to get your degree.”

“Then why won’t he let me use it!” Saskia pushed off the couch and paced the room.

“I worked hard for four years. And through total chaos! My parents died during Jozef’s totally fucked-up takeover.

My sister disappeared without a word before she was dragged back by Havel only to be kidnapped by her freak of an ex-husband.

And through all that, I still graduated!

Now I want to use my degree to do something I love. ”

“I know,” Shaun said softly. “And you deserve every opportunity that comes your way.”

“Then why can’t I take the job that just landed in my lap?” Saskia cried, throwing her hands up. “All I’ve ever wanted is to pursue my own path, get out from under the shadow of the Kobas, but just when it seems freedom is at my fingertips, my damn cousin is yanking it away.”

Shaun looked at her with compassion. “Is that what you want? Your freedom?”

“Of course!” Saskia threw herself on the couch. “Why wouldn’t I? I’ve been a captive in this house since I was born. Forced to always toe the family line. No one cares what I want, they never have.”

“That’s not true,” Shaun countered gently. “Jozef was there at your graduation whistling and clapping louder than anyone.” She paused, searching Saskia’s face. “He wants you to succeed. He’s just afraid of what could happen to you when you leave the nest.”

Saskia’s sharp ears picked up on what Shaun was saying. “When I leave the nest?” She held her breath.

“I talked to him after you left,” Shaun admitted, a smile playing around her lips. “I got him to see that it would be a crime to keep you on the estate, to limit your job opportunities when you’ve worked so hard to get to where you are.”

Not that Jozef was afraid of committing crimes given he operated the largest mafia organization within the Czech Republic, but Saskia was beyond caring because it was beginning to sound like maybe Jozef had changed his mind.

“He agreed to let you take a temporary job abroad. If it goes well, he’ll consider allowing you to take longer contracts.”

Saskia hated that her cousin was in a position to “allow” her anything, but she would take what she could get.

She lunged at Shaun, hugging her tightly.

“I knew you would talk to him. You understand what it’s like to be forced into a life you don’t want.

” She realized she’d let her mouth run away without thought when Shaun gave her a sad smile, hugging her back.

“I’m sorry,” Saskia said. “That was thoughtless. I know you’re happy now and that you love my cousin. ”

“Most days,” Shaun replied with a forced laugh.

Shaun was one of the world’s leading neurosurgeons whose talent should not go to waste and it had been an ongoing months-long battle for Shaun to get Jozef to allow her to go back to work.

Now she worked at the Prague General Hospital, sharing the title of department head of Neurology with another colleague.

Saskia danced around the room. “I can’t believe it’s happening. I’m finally leaving!”

“Temporarily,” Shaun cautioned her. “Your cousin will burn down the Prime Minister’s office if you don’t return, so promise me this isn’t going to be one of your disappearing acts.”

Shaun was referring to how Saskia used to give her security detail the slip when she needed alone time. She hadn’t done it in years though, having recognized that she had to work with Jozef and his guards if she were to ever earn her freedom. And now it was happening! It was almost in reach!

“You don’t have to worry about me,” Saskia assured her. “I’ll work within the parameters of Jozef’s rules. I’ll show him he can trust me to take care of myself and that he doesn’t have to worry.”

Shaun captured her wrist as Saskia danced past, stopping her. “You don’t have to prove anything to him. You just have to stay safe and be happy and he’ll approve.”

“I hope you’re right.” Saskia flung her arms up and shouted at the ceiling, “I can’t wait to start living!”