Page 17 of Gangster's Empire: Leeza & Havel

Saskia, clutching Kris’s hand, backed up to a safe distance and Simion followed. The small group stood on the end of the driveway and watched as the house went up.

Leeza laughed when the top floor windows burst, the flames eradicating Adam’s bedroom and all the demons within it. A weight lifted off her and she felt like she could breathe. Really breathe. She had her son and she was home. Things might look different for them, but they were going to be okay.

“Your cousin’s going to be pissed when he finds out you renovated without his permission,” Havel said as a smile played on his lips.

They looked at each other and for the first time in a long time, she felt like they were in perfect sync. Neither of them wanted a reminder of Adam in their lives.

CHAPTER EIGHT

The wind shifted suddenly and blew the smoke of the fire in their direction. Inexplicably, Havel went from light to dark just as quickly. His eyes narrowed into a glare as he gripped her arm.

"Take care of Kris," he said to Saskia over his shoulder as he as hauled Leeza to his vehicle, which was parked at the head of the driveway.

As he wrenched the door open, Saskia yelled out, “Where are you taking her?”

He ignored her and shoved Leeza into the Humvee, slamming the door shut behind her. She watched with apprehension as he rounded the hood, his face settling into grim lines making him look older than his thirty-eight years.

Once inside, he fired the engine, and glanced at her. “Jesus,” he swore as he yanked her seatbelt across her chest and buckled her in.

He didn’t bother with his own seatbelt.

“Where are you taking me?” She tried to sound belligerent, but it wasn’t easy. He was a large man and, as skilled as she was in hand-to-hand combat, she wouldn’t stand a chance if he decided she wasn’t worth the effort.

Leeza eyed him. In the past, she admired his strength, loved watching him work out. But his strength was also a powerful weapon. She thought back to the night before, how he'd raised his hand as if to strike her. If he lost control, one blow from him could kill her.

“The Shed,” Havel growled, his eyes fixed on the road.

The breath froze in her throat and her heart stuttered. The Shed was where the Koba crime family took their prisoners. Those who entered the building didn’t usually leave.

“So, you’ve decided I’m more trouble than I’m worth.” She tried to sound tough, but her voice was trembling.

Havel glanced at her impatiently as he took the estate roads too fast. “If I wanted you dead, then you’d be dead already.”

His words calmed her heartrate a little, but not entirely. “What about my cousin? What does he want?”

“You talked to him yourself. He’s giving you the chance to prove your loyalty, though burning down a building on his property isn’t going to please him.”

“If you’re not going to kill me, then why the Shed?” she demanded. “That’s where you take prisoners.”

“Exactly,” he replied, his tone chilling her.

When they arrived, he yanked her seatbelt off her and dragged her across the console and out his door.

“Goddamit, Havel!” She stumbled from the vehicle, gripping the doorframe so as not to fall over.

He slammed the Humvee’s door shut and dragged her into the Shed. The Shed was a long, rectangular building with narrow windows high on the walls that did little to add light to the area. The low wattage flat panel lights that lined the ceilings created shadows on the grey walls and added an air of menace to the terrifying surroundings.

Leeza had been inside twice in her life. Once as a pre-teen when Saskia tricked her into going inside one of the cells and then the brat locked the door on her older sister and ran off. Despite her terror at the time, Leeza managed to get through the first hour without full out panicking, but the more time that passed, the more terrified she became. She screamed and shouted until she was hoarse but no one came to rescue her. As darkness descended, all her fears came to life, demons in the dark corners, ghosts brushing against her skin. She ended up sitting in the centre of the cell, her arms wrapped around her knees as she sobbed. This was how Havel found her.

The second time she’d entered had been to exorcise the demons that haunted her from the traumatic first time. It had helped to a degree, but she still hated the building and what it represented.

God, how had she ever thought she could hack it as a mafia queen? Taking over her birth father’s organization as the Phantom to prove that she could play with the men had been colossally stupid. She was nothing but a mafia trophy and these days, she couldn’t even claim that title.

The shed seemed to be deserted when they entered, a small mercy that she didn’t have to share space with other prisoners. Havel pulled her to a cell on the far end, gripping her as if she would bolt if he let go of her arm. Given the chance, she would.

The cell had a toilet, sink, and a thin mattress on a cot.

Havel let go of her arm once they were alone in the cell.

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