Page 85 of Goodnight, Sinners

Though he was proud of her, he was also jealous of her time and paced like a caged tiger when she was even a minute late getting home, let alone the hours of overtime she’d put in today. They were taking Jozef’s private jet to Russia, so she didn’t feel too guilty about making them late.

Still…

“Jozef…” she whispered, then repeated herself louder when he refused to stop kissing her neck and ear. “We have to go.”

Jozef sighed deeply and backed up enough to give her a look that promised a good fucking later when they settled at the Bratva palace.

Shaun grinned back and signed,that better be a promise. You said this would be like a vacation and people get to have sex on vacations. I feel like it’s been days…

Jozef growled and shoved the closet door open, escorting her into the bedroom.

It had been a sore point to both of them that their busy schedules made it difficult for them to get any alone time. When Jozef had first announced this trip, Shaun had been leery. She wasn’t sure she wanted to get any deeper in with the Russian mafia. It was a ridiculous concern though, since she was married to the underworld boss of the Czech Republic. The Russian mafia knew exactly who she was and how she got there.

She was still nervous, but Jozef had assured her nothing would happen.

“What if they don’t like me?” she’d asked, “I feel certain these are the type of people that get rid of someone they don’t like.”

They will love you as much as I do. Be yourself and they won’t be able to resist falling in love.

She snorted her skepticism. He made the Bratva sound like a bunch of easily won puppies. Still, his confidence bolstered her. Jozef wouldn’t take her into a pit of vipers if he thought she might get hurt. It was simply not within his DNA makeup. He was the family protector.

An hour later they boarded Jozef’s private jet and settled in for the three-hour flight to Ivanov’s palace.

Shaun twisted in her seat to see who would be accompanying them. Cooper was the first one to catch her eye. She wasn’t surprised to see her personal bodyguard; she rarely went anywhere without him. Only once in the past six months had Jozef recalled him to fill out his team for an out-of-country mission. Cooper had come home in high spirits and ready to resume his work with Shaun.

She appreciated having a bodyguard who was also a friend. It had taken a few months, but finally Jozef was able to set aside his jealousy and forge a friendship with the other man.

Shaun suspected it helped his ego that she had eyes for no one but her husband. Marriage suited both of them. She’d never put much stock in the piece of paper and vows that bound people, but there was something about having Jozef as her husband that just did it for her. He was handsome, driven, intelligent, creative and special.

Next to Cooper was Ayaan.

It had taken Shaun some time to warm up to the girl, especially when Jozef’s men had jokingly told her that the younger woman had once asked Jozef out. The two women had warily stayed out of each other’s way until a nasty cold had taken Cooper away from his bodyguard duties for a few days. Ayaan had been chosen to replace him.

Shaun had thought the two women could continue their awkward avoidance dance. Ayaan had different plans. She’d insisted on having eyes on her principal at all times, except when Shaun needed to use the washroom.

Shaun had been watching Grey’s Anatomy with a bowl of popcorn, crying her eyes out, when Ayaan had plopped onto the couch beside her, taken a handful of popcorn and proceeded to ask Shaun every medical question that popped into her head as the two women plowed through season six together.

It helped that Saskia and Ayaan had become fast friends, shopping together and hanging out when Ayaan wasn’t working and Saskia wasn’t in class. It made sense. The two women were the same age and they had plenty in common. Shaun had felt a little left out but had gotten over it quickly.

Once Shaun was past her jealousy, she was open to a friendship with the other women. It made life at the mansion easier to have friends.

Fatima visited as often as she could, but she’d discovered a true joy in spending Jozef’s money and flying all over the world on his private jet. Once she’d agreed to a security detail, Jozef was more than happy to indulge his mother-in-law to her heart’s content.

In short, life couldn’t be better.

Shaun could never have imagined being in the position where she could have it all, but here she was, wife, doctor, daughter and friend. The only thing she was missing was a baby.

She touched her fingertips to her stomach but quickly dropped them away when Jozef turned to hand her a cup of tea he’d requested from the flight attendant. She smiled her thanks, swallowing the lump in her throat. He always took care of her.

She knew he was worried by their lack of pregnancy too, but he never gave a single indication. He was constantly supportive and reassuring. When she’d gone to the fertility clinic, after being referred by Elisa, who had become a great friend to her, Jozef had attended every appointment. He’d held her hand while Shaun went through a series of procedures.

Jozef had gone through a few himself. As of yet, they had no answers. The specialist had told them to be patient. Had told them eight months wasn’t really long enough to tell if they could pregnant or not.

Shaun couldn’t help but worry. She did her best to keep it from Jozef, who had enough on his plate without adding one more problem.

Perhaps her lack of pregnancy was fate’s way of telling her they shouldn’t bring a child into the dangerous world of the Bratva. But no matter what she told herself, Shaun couldn’t seem to get her heart to agree. It felt like she carried a tiny hole in the organ, and it grew larger with each passing month, each period, each disappointment.

She rolled her head to the side to watch Jozef. He was sitting with his ankle crossed at the knee, his laptop balancing on his legs, his gaze steady on whatever he was reading. He wore his glasses, which she thought were sexy as hell. She hadn’t known about them until one night, a few months ago, when he’d come to bed and settled against the covers, opening one of his Russian language books. He’d pulled a pair of glasses from his nightstand and put them on as if he’d done it every night since they met. Only he hadn’t.

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