Page 9 of Gangster's Empire: Leeza & Havel

She didn’t blame herself entirely, but nor did she forgive herself either. And she couldn’t understand why or how Jozef would forgive her. After everything that had happened, she thought they were enemies.

“Jozef,” she finally said, pushing the words past a throat tight with anxiety. “It’s good to see you.” Now that her death wasn’t imminent, she realized the truth of her words. It was good to see her cousin again. They’d grown up as siblings in the same household. He was older, so he taught her as she grew. He’d shown her how to use a gun, taught her how to drive a car, he’d even vetted her first boyfriend, then knocked the kid’s teeth down his throat for touching her without permission.

And you, he signed, waving her toward the chair opposite his desk.

She switched to signing as she sat, using her non-verbal cousin’s preferred language. I thought you wanted me dead. There was no point in beating around the bush.

Apparently, he agreed, because his next words were, At the time, I didn’t think I’d have a choice, but you were wily enough to get yourself out of the line of fire until things settled down.

I’d planned on disappearing forever, she told him. Why did you bring me back? I’m not going to be a threat to you. I want nothing to do with the Koba organization.

He nodded thoughtfully. I’m not the one who wanted to bring you home, though I’m pleased to see you. You’re here at his request. Jozef nodded toward Havel who stood next to Leeza’s chair with his arms crossed over his chest. The bulging muscles of his biceps strained the seams of his leather coat, reminding her of the strength in those limbs.

You can’t be serious, she shot back. He has no claim on me.

Jozef’s gaze was steady on her face. He’s making a claim.

Not one I recognize!

He paused then signed, I choose to recognize his claim.

“Why?” she demanded. “I can just leave. I promise, I’m not a threat to you or the organization. I don’t want my stepfather’s money; I just want to be left alone with my son.”

No, Jozef signed, frowning at her. You won’t leave again. This house has had enough grief without losing another one of its most valuable members. You stay and you stay with him.

“I won’t do it.”

“You will,” Havel interjected.

“I can’t marry you!” she shouted, leaping to her feet and facing him. “I’m already married to Adam.”

Havel gripped her arms and lifted her up on her toes, shoving his face in hers. “You will not speak that man’s name again,” he growled, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

“But I’m still married to him!”

“No, you aren’t.”

“But I am.” Leeza looked at Jozef, seeking his support, but her cousin’s face was impassive as he held up an envelope.

Havel brought her attention back to him. “Divorce papers, signed by you, your scum fuck of an ex-husband and a judge.”

“I didn’t sign any divorce papers!”

“Sure you did,” Havel said with a twist of his lips.

She was shocked into silence for a moment, staring up at the man who was about to destroy everything she’d ever felt for him. “You seem to have solved the problem of what to do with me,” she said, turning her glare on her cousin.

Josef seemed to wrestle with his decision, then he signed, It’s for the best, cousin.

“For who?” Leeza said bitterly as she was catapulted to the past, to eight years ago. Nothing had changed. Once again, a male member of her family was marrying her to a man she didn’t want without her permission.

CHAPTER FOUR

“I won’t live there again,” Leeza said flatly, dragging her feet along the cobblestones leading to the cottage she’d shared with her husband. Her ex-husband according to Havel. Kris was hurrying along beside her, one of Saskia’s precious stuffed animals clutched in his arm.

He peered up at the house with as much apprehension as Leeza was feeling. She’d done her best to make the home a happy one for him, but she was sure he sensed the constant tension between his parents. Leeza loathed Adam and as much as she tried to hide it from Kris, she could never quite pretend she was content in the relationship.

She had no doubt he was also remembering the way he’d left the house a few months earlier, held tight in his mother’s arms as she shot her guard and broke through the garage doors with a range rover. Though he’d been drugged and mostly asleep through the ordeal, he definitely saw some of it.

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