“Jozef will be in touch about payment for your last shipment,” Krystoff drawled.
Saty’s eyes landed on Jozef and he visibly shuddered. He owed the Kobas a significant amount of money. He liked to pretend he was playing the mafia game, but he was as ineffectual as he was weak. The Kobas were happy to take his money, but otherwise wanted nothing to do with him. Saty saw them as a way into higher society. He was wrong.
Jozef merely sat, watching the comings and goings of the club with a bored expression. It was a facade. Jozef was always alert when it came to business, especially in the club, which was a cauldron of people moving and mixing. The club was where they did most of their business. It was public, it belonged to the Koba family and it was considered neutral territory for all the local crime families, of which the Kobas were royalty.
Meeting in the club made their associates feel safe, though it was a false sense of security. Jozef could cut off a man’s head in the middle of the club on a Friday night without repercussions. They owned everything and everyone in the club as well as a good portion of the Prague police force.
Jozef’s job consisted of many parts. He was Krystoff’s second-in-command and the Koba enforcer. He led a group of men who made sure all missions went smoothly, payments were collected, and no one overreached in their territory. He had to be alert and ready for anything. Attempts on both Krystoff's and his lives were not unheard of. Jozef had lost his voice in one such attack that killed his parents when he was a boy. The killer hadn’t managed to finish him before Jozef was able to kill the man with the knife he’d left sticking out of Jozef’s throat. Or so he’d been told; Jozef had no memory of the incident.
It was that spunk he’d shown as a child that’d elevated him in the eyes of Krystoff Koba, eldest brother of the Koba siblings. Krystoff had adopted him and raised him as his own son. Jozef had spent his life making sure Krystoff would never have a moment’s regret. He was vicious and bloodthirsty so his uncle could be congenial and respectful with his allies. Jozef was the guard dog for the family; the vztekl´y pes.
“It is good that you are seen,” Havel announced to Krystoff once Saty had retreated from their table. Havel had rejoined the family after making sure the fallout from Krystoff’s kidnapping was minimized.
Krystoff grunted. “My hand fucking hurts.”
Havel smirked. “Get the pretty doctor to look at it again. She looks like she has a soft touch.”
Jozef let out a growl and narrowed his eyes at his second-in-command. His stiff posture indicated he would like nothing more than to tear Havel’s heart out, despite their many years of friendship. Havel’s expression immediately shifted to contrition and he uttered a quick apology.
Jozef ignored him, picked up his glass of ice water and drained it.
Krystoff’s sharp gaze was on his nephew. “Don’t get attached, son.”
Jozef lifted cold eyes to his uncle and set his glass down before signing, are you threatening my woman, uncle?
Krystoff looked suddenly weary. “You know as well as I do that some people aren’t meant for this life. She’s a doctor, a decent person, not one to condone our lifestyle. If I’m any judge of character, I can tell you right now, she won’t settle into this life.”
I’m keeping her, Jozef insisted.
Krystoff bobbed his head in a nod. “By all means, son. Keep the woman, enjoy her. God knows you’ve earned a little fun. But don’t get attached. She may have to be put down eventually.”
Jozef let out a ferocious growl and glared at his uncle, not something he’d done before. He showed Krystoff respect on all occasions, especially in front of witnesses. It was part of the reason the Koba family was able to operate as effectively as they did in Prague. Krystoff was the patriarch, the face and personality of the business. Jozef was in charge of operations. The shadowy presence who ensured Krystoff’s will in all things. Jozef’s men supported the two, and the family gave them a place to go home to.
You will not harm Shaun under any circumstance, Jozef hands flew, his signing faster than normal, giving away his anger. You agreed to the marriage.
Rather than take offence at Jozef’s attitude, Krystoff sipped his drink thoughtfully, taking a few moments before he answered. “This woman has come to mean something to you already. I wasn’t sure marriage would be the best way to go, but if you truly want to make her part of the family, then we will welcome her.” Krystoff’s dark gaze searched Jozef’s granite face. “You have my word that she will not be harmed. She’s yours, no interference.”
Jozef continued to stare, but his posture gradually eased.
“You’ll have to keep her contained. Find a way to keep your woman without crushing her spirit.”
Jozef ignored the comment, nodding his head toward the front of the club where three men piled in, looking around nervously. Krystoff straightened in his seat, his expression growing hard. Jozef and Havel followed suit.
Jozef recognized the lead man. They belonged to Vasiliy. Jozef lifted an eyebrow in surprise as the men approached the table. It took balls to not only walk into the enemy’s territory, but to walk right up to him as if embarking on a friendly chat session. They were seriously underestimating Jozef if they thought a public venue would keep them alive. Jozef stood as they approached, crossing his arms and making his biceps bulge. Havel did the same and they took position on either side of Krystoff.
The leader of the trio urged them forward, his cool gaze on Krystoff, who set his injured hand on the table. It was a calculated move. The loss of the finger could be seen as a weakness. The enemy had managed to grab him and make him suffer, but he’d been rescued and was now resuming his place. By showing his hand, he was saying that his injury was insignificant, and he hadn’t forgotten what they’d done to him.
“I recognize you,” Krystoff said bluntly, his gaze landing on the leader. “You were running point when I was grabbed. You held me while another cut my finger off.”
The man dipped his head in acknowledgment. “I hope you know I was only following orders. It was nothing personal.”
Krystoff stared at the man, his gaze glacial. “Life is personal, and you took several days of mine.” He let that sink in before continuing, “What are you doing here?”
The man shuffled his feet and glanced sideways at Jozef, who was the most intimidating of the Koba syndicate. Everyone had heard of the Koba guard dog. “Mr. Stanovich is deeply regretful over your recent misunderstanding. He would like to make amends by opening discussions with you regarding a truce and perhaps some trade options.”
Krystoff laughed, his voice a deep boom throughout the club. Anyone who knew him, knew they should retreat rapidly from that sound. It usually preceded violence. Krystoff moved his gaze to Jozef and nodded. Jozef strode past the three men, who watched him warily as he dragged a velvet curtain around the VIP area they were sitting in, closing them off from view of the club. It was the Koba family private club with an extremely limited and vetted guest list. Anyone who entered knew the price if they repeated anything that went down at the club. Still, they didn’t need to be direct witnesses to what was about to happen.
“So… Vasiliy wants to do business with me after attempting to use me as leverage,” Krystoff mused. “He thinks to force my hand by mutilating my hand.” His cold gaze rose to the men lined up in front of him. “He has underestimated me.”