Jozef gave him the universal ‘hurry up’ signal, which Havel didn’t need to translate.
“Right, right, of course,” Vasiliy said hurriedly. “You’ll be in a rush to leave.” He didn’t sound at all like a man who was facing death. Where was the begging? The bribery? Jozef wondered if he was less frightening than he thought. He glanced at Havel. Nope, the fatigue-clad crew, loaded with weaponry, would look scary as fuck coming through a door, weapons drawn.
“I didn’t order my people to pick up your uncle.” Vasiliy spoke earnestly, the words sounding planned, as though he knew what he wanted to say once Jozef arrived and had been practicing. “I’ve been retired for three years, living in this peaceful section of Poland. I had no idea Krystoff had been abducted until my son called to tell me.”
Jozef frowned his disbelief. Yet… some of what Vasiliy was saying rang true. The older man hadn’t been seen in public in years. Rumours had abounded through the Underworld circles that he was in hiding, embarrassed after being pushed out of the game by the other Vory. The fact was, Vasiliy had never been an effective mobster. He was weak.
Or that was the rumour. Jozef was beginning to wonder if it was something else. Maybe Vasiliy had too much heart for the mob. His cabin was filled with warmth: quilts, books, music. His workshop showed a love of manual labour and fine carpentry.
Jozef had been told his entire life that this man was dangerous but stupid. He’d never questioned it before, just like he didn’t question orders coming from his uncle.
Did you send those men to my club to negotiate with us? Jozef demanded, while Havel translated. Did you get my message?
Vasiliy looked confused. “I did not. What message did you send?”
Several fingers, one head. Jozef didn’t need to expound, anyone in the mob would understand he was being quite literal.
Vasiliy nodded thoughtfully, his face reflecting some surprise, but not shock. As though he was hearing about the club incident for the first time, but he wasn’t completely blindsided by the news.
“I hope you didn’t kill anyone I like,” Vasiliy mused.
Jozef was done messing around. You know why I’m here; I won’t leave without completing my mission. Tell me what you wanted to talk about, or we’re finished here.
Havel translated.
“You can protect her,” Vasiliy said, his voice going from calm to anxious. “She’s young and impetuous, but very, very smart; an incredibly talented genius. With every job she learns more, perfects her routine. She’s striking out on her own, but she is still too inexperienced to be allowed to run around unsupervised. She’s filled with anger and I worry that she will become reckless.”
Who? Jozef was getting angry. He hated when people talked in circles; it made communicating so much more difficult. He wanted to tell the man to hurry up and fucking spill so Jozef could kill him already.
“My daughter,” Vasiliy admitted.
Jozef and Havel looked at each other. A daughter? Vasiliy only had a son. The families had been close enough at one time that Jozef would know if there was a daughter. Yet, he didn’t think Vasiliy was lying.
Who is your daughter? Jozef demanded.
“She calls herself the Phantom.”
In the car, when they’d been bringing Krystoff home from Ukraine, his uncle had said something about a person calling themselves the Phantom. And again, in the club, Krystoff had tried to get more information from Vasiliy’s men. Jozef had looked into it but had unearthed no leads on a so-called Phantom. So, the Phantom was a woman. Not a common thing in the mafia, where women typically didn’t hold positions of power.
Who is the Phantom? Jozef asked, taking a few steps closer to Vasiliy. What is her name?
Vasiliy shook his head. “That I will not give you.” When Jozef lifted his gun threateningly, Vasiliy didn’t flinch. He smiled sadly. “Until I can be assured that she will be safe from harm, I will not give you her name.”
Jozef frowned. You stayed here, knowing we would hunt you down and kill you, just so you could tell me about your daughter, but then you refuse to give me her name. Will you tell me where to find her?
“No,” Vasiliy said grimly. “Not until I know for certain she will come to no harm.” When Jozef gave him an annoyed look, he hurried to add. “She means more to me than my own life. She is brilliant and must be given a chance to live and thrive, to rule her slice of this world.”
Jozef thought for a moment, then asked, what will it take to convince you she will come to no harm?
Vasiliy looked at him quizzically. “Will you promise not to hurt my daughter?”
Jozef thought about lying, but decided the truth was better in this instance. Vasiliy was being unexpectedly honest, Jozef could give him the same. I can’t make that promise.
Vasiliy smiled broadly. “I knew I could trust you. It’s why I’ve been waiting years for you to come find me.”
Jozef was deeply confused. Years? Vasiliy hadn’t even been on Jozef’s radar until Krystoff’s abduction.
As if reading him, Vasiliy clarified. “I knew eventually she would do something to bring your attention down on my family. I wish it hadn’t taken maiming your uncle to get you here, but I’m not sorry to finally be speaking with you. I have heard many good things about your loyalty and determination.”
Jozef had so many questions, he didn’t know where to start, but was interrupted by several sharp taps on his headset. Terek was telling him that Krystoff wanted a mission update. It was time to finish this and go home.
Vasiliy’s sharp eyes followed Jozef’s movements. “You have to leave.” He sounded almost disappointed, like he wanted to hang out a little longer with his soon-to-be murderer. Jozef didn’t know who this guy’s daughter was, but she was probably just as crazy.
Jozef lifted his gun.
“May I give you a gift first?” Vasiliy asked quietly.
Jozef tensed as Vasiliy reached for the work bench he’d been painting at when they arrived, but he only picked up a doll. It was about the length of Jozef’s forearm, with a chubby body that would fit other dolls inside. It was female, with long dark brown hair painted over the head and shoulders, a red and white patterned dress and a face that was both sweet and haunting.
Jozef held the doll in one arm and lifted his gun in the other, setting it against Vasiliy’s head.
“When you meet her, give her the doll. I made it in her likeness.” Vasiliy closed his eyes and whispered a prayer.
Chapter Forty
“Dr. Patterson, if you’ll just hold your head still for me.”
Shaun wanted to growl her annoyance as the person doing her hair straightened her head by pushing her chin forward. The man was fingers deep in Shaun’s tight curls, trying his best to straighten them. She could tell he wasn’t used to working with hair like hers. Her tight curls were usually pulled back in a ponytail or left in an afro that framed her head. Sometimes when she was travelling, depending on the country and her access to clean hygiene, she would have her hair braided into tight rows to keep maintenance down.
Shaun was being, poked, prodded, measured, plucked and made-up for the engagement party due to start in just over two hours. Dasha had sent her beauty team to Jozef’s suite to help Shaun prepare. She felt like an expensive, very useless doll.