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“Okay?”
“Okay, I’ll marry you.” The words were out before she could call them back. In a matter of days, Havel had shown her hints of the life she could’ve had if she hadn’t married Adam. She felt safe and protected. He cared about her son and was loving and gentle with him.
Havel touched her face, turning it so she was looking at him. “I love you, sweetheart.”
Her heart felt like it was both breaking and healing at the same time. “I know.”
He kissed her forehead, then stood, towering over her before scooping her off the couch and into his arms. She settled against him, leaning her head on his chest and inhaling his masculine scent as he carried her to the bedroom.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
“Why the fuck haven’t we found him yet?” Havel growled his frustration at his gathered team members, which included tech chief, Ali, as well as Cooper, Ayaan, and Pavel. He pointed at Ayaan and Cooper. “You two remain on your principals but keep your eyes open. Adam Horácek is out there somewhere and his obsession will drive him to come after Leeza.”
“Do you think maybe you’re projecting your own feelings onto the man?” said the only person in the room who wouldn’t catch a bullet for challenging their leader. Ayaan continued, “Maybe the guy just fucked off to Russia and back into the Bratva’s inner circle.”
Havel stared at her coldly. “Are you proposing we take that kind of risk with the woman you’ve been charged with guarding? You’ve read Adam Horácek’s file; you know what he’s capable of. Do you need to see the images again, so you’re reminded what’s at stake?”
Ayaan sat up straighter and shook her head.
He glared around the room. “You are to assume Adam can and will strike at any moment.” He pinned Ayaan with a look. “He won’t stop until we stop him. Now go do your jobs and bring me his head.”
Havel indicated Ali should stay as the rest of the staff left the room. Dropping into a chair, he said, “There is no priority higher than this. We’re going to pull in every resource until we know where Horácek is, then we’ll plan an attack strategy. For now, I want you to track someone down for me. A woman named Hannah Holloway. She’s a therapist based in the United States. Find her notes and send me anything related to Leeza and Dasha Koba. They will have used aliases, so make sure you’re thorough.”
“Yes, boss.” Ali picked up his laptop and notes and left the conference room.
Havel had a couple seconds of peace before his phone vibrated in his pocket. Pulling it out, he checked his messages. It was from Jozef.
On my way to Guard Dog for some sparring. Meet me in ten.
Havel scrubbed a hand over his head. He didn’t have time for a break, and ‘sparring’ usually meant Jozef was in a mood and wanted to kick Havel’s ass in the ring because he couldn’t beat up his real problem. Which meant Shaun had done something to annoy him.
Havel growled his annoyance and pushed away from the table. Jozef could try to take him down, but Havel was having a shitty day. After his discussion with Leeza the night before, guilt was eating at him for not helping her years ago. He’d allowed hurt pride to keep him from seeing what her marriage was really like.
He left the Guard Dog offices, taking the stairs two at a time until he reached the top floor. Entering his apartment, he nodded at the housekeeper, who informed him that Leeza, Kris and the tutor were on the roof helping Fatima with her garden.
Good, he wasn’t in the mood for another confrontation with Leeza. As much as he loved the woman, she was twisting him in knots. “Thanks, Hilda.”
Havel changed into his workout shorts and T-shirt and headed to the gym in the building which he frequented it daily. It sported floor to ceiling windows on two sides, mirroring the condo, but the gym was open concept with a boxing ring in the center, surrounded by free weights and machines.
Jozef was sitting on a bench next to the ring and appeared to be lost in thought when Havel approached.
“Hey man, what’s up?” Havel dropped down next to him.
Jozef signed, S-H-A-U-N’s having lunch with the Prime Minister’s wife.
Havel wasn't surprised. Shaun, a world renowned neurosurgeon, had removed a brain tumor from the Prime Minister several months earlier and as a result, had been developing a friendship with the politician’s wife. Every time she met Irena Makovsky, Havel was tasked with sending extra security.
She thinks she’s protecting me from going to prison again, Jozef continued. She plans on contributing to his re-election campaign. B-R-A-N-I-S-L-A-V only has a few years before the tumor comes back but she thinks Irena will run for office and that she’ll get the sympathy votes she needs after he passes.
“Jesus,” Havel said, shaking his head. “That wife of yours is on a different level. Fucking genius.”
Jozef smiled tightly at the compliment. She’s a brain surgeon, so yes, quite intelligent. Problem is, she’s playing a dangerous game that could backfire, putting her as much at risk of criminal exposure as me. She needs to stay out of it before she implicates herself.
“Why don’t you tell her to stop seeing Irena?” Havel suggested. “Problem solved.”
Jozef shook his head. Saying no to my wife causes more problems than it solves. It’s better that she gets her way.
Havel laughed but turned it into a cough when Jozef gave him the famous Guard Dog stare, reminding him of who the company was named after. Standing, Havel muttered, “Let’s get this beating over with.”
