Page 55 of Goodnight, Sinners

They looked at each other and one finally left to do her bidding.

Saskia raised an eyebrow at Shaun before turning back to Adam.

“Tell me why my sister hated you.”

“Saskia,” Shaun said sharply. “He’s injured. Now is not the time.”

When Saskia looked at Shaun, her eyes were glacial, as if she were in some kind of private zone, rather than talking to a woman she’d befriended. “Now is the perfect time. Why do you think he was brought to the shed? He’s here for interrogation. It’s why the men don’t care if you get your med kit or not. You can patch him up, but he’ll probably be bleeding again in a few hours.”

Both Shaun and Adam flinched, and Shaun’s fingers froze over Adam’s prone body. “But he was part of the family. Why would Jozef want to hurt him?”

“Don’t be so naïve,” Saskia said scornfully, then looked down at Adam, who was eyeing her as though she were a viper. “And you, answer the question.”

For the first time since they'd discovered Adam hiding in the panic room of his wife’s bedroom, he spoke. His voice was surprisingly cool considering he was being threatened.

“I don’t know why your sister hated me.”

“But you don’t deny it?” Saskia hissed, pacing closer.

He shrugged, then winced as his wound stretched.

Shaun pushed harder against the shirt she was holding to his side. She’d snatched it from Leeza’s closet, thinking the other woman wouldn’t mind. Now she wasn’t so sure. Leeza hated her husband? It was clear the two hadn’t been in love, but hate?

“I think you do know why she hated you,” Saskia pushed. “And you know what?”

Adam stared steadily back at her.

“As soon as I find out, I’m coming back here and cutting your nuts off with a pair of rusty shears.”

Oddly, Adam’s expression didn’t grow fearful or contemptuous. Instead, he looked at Saskia with a new kind of interest. As though she’d gone from someone who didn’t register as existing in his world to suddenly worth his notice. Shaun didn’t like that look.

“Saskia, please stop talking.”

Saskia glared at Shaun. “This man made my sister’s life a misery and I want to find out why.”

“It doesn’t matter right now.”

“Yes, it does!” Saskia insisted. “He’s the reason…” She trailed off without finishing the sentence.

Adam was still staring at Saskia fixedly.

“Saskia, it’s time for you to leave,” Shaun said calmly. When Saskia didn’t move, Shaun looked over her shoulder at the men. “Please escort her out.” When Saskia protested, Shaun added, “You aren’t needed here. I’ll come find you later.”

Saskia sputtered something that Shaun knew she didn’t mean. Still, it bothered Shaun that Saskia was now angry with her. It also bothered Shaun that she had so easily switched gears to take charge of what was clearly a mafia situation. It struck her that she’d gone from being unsure in this shadowy underworld to gradually finding her footing.

Probably not that surprising, considering how many life and death situations she’d faced since meeting Jozef. She was learning to think on her feet in these situations.

Still, she was relieved to see Jozef when he walked in the door. The air in the room changed dramatically as his dark-suited figure moved to stand next to her. He placed a tattooed hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently.

Suddenly, despite her hand pressing against a bloody wound and the four extra men in the room, it was just the two of them. Shaun looked up at him, drowning in his velvet blue eyes. He allowed the shutters to fall, allowed her to see his intense love for her.

He lifted his hand from her shoulder and she felt instantly bereft.You wish to treat his wound?Jozef signed.

Shaun nodded. “He’s injured. He’ll need sutures and some antibiotics. I asked for them, but I don’t know if they’re coming.”

A medical kit landed on the floor next to her. Shaun glanced up at Cooper, who’d brought it for her. “I’ve sent someone for the antibiotics.”

Shaun smiled at him and then looked back at Jozef. She licked her lips and hesitated before speaking what was on her mind, switching to sign language so her patient wouldn’t be upset.Do you intend to hurt him?

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