Page 37 of Gangster's Empire: Leeza & Havel

Oliver, who’d dropped to one knee to better read his pupil’s words, grinned at Kris’s excitement and signed back, Of course, I would very much like to see your room.

Kris gripped Oliver’s hand and tried to drag him toward his bedroom.

Leeza smiled indulgently and pulled Kris away from Oliver so the man could stand up. “No need to rush. Oliver is going to stay with you for…” she glanced at Havel, wondering what arrangement he’d made with Oliver. She really wished he’d consulted her first before springing the tutor on her. They would need to sort out Kris’s lesson plans and schedule. She’d only been in Prague a few days, and she wasn’t prepared to have such an important discussion.

“Oliver will be here for the week,” Havel filled in, taking Leeza’s hand and pulling her to his side. To Oliver, he said, “Hilda will be here soon to stock up the fridge and prepare lunch for you both. You know how to reach us.”

Havel led Leeza toward the door, clearly intending to leave.

“Wait!” she squeaked. “I’m not ready…”

“You are.”

He pushed her into the hallway and closed the door, using the keypad on the wall to lock it. Ayaan and Cooper were waiting for them.

“Stop!” Leeza yanked her arm from his grip and stepped away from him. “What’s wrong with you? I wasn’t ready to leave. Kris needs time to settle down with his tutor.”

“Kris has known the man for years,” Havel countered. “He’s perfectly comfortable.”

“You didn’t even let me say goodbye!”

“You’ve spent every minute of every day with your son for the past four months. Before that, you smothered him with attention. Spending time with another person who isn’t his mother will do him good.”

She was so furious she couldn’t speak. Did he say smother? Her hand curled into a fist, and she was in the process of lifting it when Ayaan gripped her by the elbow.

“Shaun is in the building and has requested your presence if you have a moment.” The words were spoken without inflection, but Ayaan’s grasp was tight enough to stop Leeza from attacking Havel.

Havel stared at the two women, then nodded. “Come down to Guard Dog when you’re done.” He signaled for Cooper to remain in the hall before getting on the elevator and disappearing.

“I hate that man,” Leeza hissed.

“Too bad he doesn’t hate you.” Ayaan let Leeza’s arm go. “C’mon, let’s take the stairs.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“Leeza!” Shaun greeted with warm enthusiasm.

Leeza felt emotional as Shaun hugged her tightly, at first standing stiffly in the embrace before unfreezing enough to hug the other woman back. She didn’t know when they’d become friends, or if it even happened, but she was grateful for the warmth and support being offered to her.

It was a fucked-up situation the two women found themselves in and it could easily have gone the other way, with Shaun hating Leeza for being an accessory to her kidnapping. Though Leeza supposed she had reason hate Shaun, too. When it came to mafia, vendetta was everything and Shaun had thrown a chaos bomb into the Koba family when Jozef had dragged her home. She was indirectly responsible for the death of Leeza’s mother, though Dasha had attacked Shaun first.

Leeza was a fair enough person to not hold it against Shaun.

Breaking the hug, Shaun stepped back and motioned toward Fatima. “You remember my mother?”

“Of course.” Leeza smiled shyly wondering what the other woman thought of her. Did she despise Leeza for her part in Shaun’s suffering? Probably not. If she accepted Jozef, the man who’d caused her daughter immeasurable pain, as a son-in-law, then Leeza would be nothing in comparison.

Fatima smiled pleasantly. “How is your son? I’m glad to see you looking well after your trip. Shaun and Jozef were very worried about you.”

“Kris is great, happy to be home. He’s upstairs with his tutor now or I’d bring him down for a visit.”

“I would like that very much. Perhaps tomorrow? I can show you both the garden I’m building on the roof.”

“We’d like that.”

Shaun checked her watch. “I have to be at the hospital in fifteen.” She looked at Leeza. “Want to walk me out?”

After saying goodbye to Fatima, Shaun, Ayaan and Leeza made their way to the elevator where they travelled down to the club floor.

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