Semua Bab Sinner's Empire Series: Sin of Silence, A Silent Reckoning, Goodnight Sinners: Bab 131 - Bab 140

Shaun stared down at the stick in her hand, waiting and watching, trying not to shake it. She sighed heavily and forced herself to set the stick on the edge of the sink. She stood, pulled up her leggings and washed her hands, splashing water everywhere because she was too busy staring at the pregnancy test. She'd never taken one before, but the instructions were easy to follow. It was the wait that was difficult. Two minutes felt like an eternity and every second that ticked by was torture. Her period wasn't late, though it had been a little wonky lately, so she'd bought one of those early pregnancy tests. She and Jozef had been having unprotected sex since they met, and Shaun assumed she kept getting lucky by not getting pregnant. Damn it. How long had it been? One minute, two, three? Why hadn't she brought her phone in with her so she could time it? She paced the length of her washroom, back and forth, trying not to look at the stick. It was a sizeable

Shaun had never really been one of those girls who pictured her wedding day. No poufy white dress, no church filled with guests, no reception with speeches and clinking glasses. All of her fantasies had been directed at her career path. Even as a little girl, in her mind, she wore the white doctor's lab coat, a stethoscope and held a clipboard. Her teddy bear patients would get a diagnosis and then they would take the medicine she administered. As she hit her teen years, she began dissecting her teddy bears, carefully pulling the fluff out, examining their insides, then putting them back together. Her father had taught her how to make stitches, so she'd meticulously suture each of her teddy bear victims, giving them horrific scars in the process. Her mother had been concerned by her preoccupation with cutting into her toys, but her father had stood by watching proudly, declaring he had a future surgeon on his hands. Now, as Shaun stood at the head of the church, next to

6 Months Later Shaun flung the door of her car open and climbed out. She handed her keys to Cooper who gave her a grim look. He'd pulled up behind her with the rest of her bodyguards. "I know!" she said desperately, clutching her purse and racing up the stairs to the mansion. She cringed when she saw Jozef standing at the top waiting for her. His arms were crossed over his chest and his eyes were narrowed on her. She tried to concentrate but he was wearing faded blue jeans with a black T-shirt stretched taut over his chest, a thick leather belt and work boots. She wanted to lick him all over, but if his frown was anything to go by, she was more likely in for a spanking and not the fun kind. "I know, I know," she mumbled as he opened the door for her, and she slid past. "I can be ready in ten minutes. Promise!" She raced up the stairs to her suite. "Where have you been?" Saskia appeared at the top of the stairs. "You're supposed to be halfway

Havel's steps were muffled as he navigated the path from the mansion to Leeza's cottage. Leeza and Adam's cottage, he corrected himself. The home that they'd built together. The place where they'd created a family. After Adam's discovery in the closet safe room, six months earlier, it had been decided that he wasn't a threat. He was allowed to return to his cottage, allowed to resume his work. Or so Adam believed. In reality, Jozef and Havel had decided that no decisions would be made about the other man's fate until Leeza was found and brought home. Jozef thought perhaps she would try to contact her husband and they could trace her. Havel knew better. Leeza wouldn't contact Adam. She hated the man. No, that wasn't true. She used to hate him. Now, she didn't think enough of him to hate him. She wouldn't contact Adam because she wouldn't think of it. As far as she was concerned, the man she married all those years ago was useless to her. Havel kne

Shaun slipped from the bed, pulling on a fluffy bathrobe provided by their hosts as she hurried to the door. She didn't want the knocking to wake Jozef, though he was sleeping heavily, snoring loud enough to wake the recently departed. With a hand at the top of her robe, she opened the door. "Yes?" she asked sleepily. "Your morning repast, Mrs. Koba." A servant spoke in halting English, waving toward a cart with covered trays. Shaun stepped back so he could wheel the cart inside. He placed the covered trays, a pot of coffee, cream and sugar on the small table next to windows with panoramic views of the rear mansion park. Shaun could definitely get used to this kind of service. "This is for you, ma'am." The servant held a card out to Shaun. Shaun sat at the table, opening the envelope, her curiosity peaked. It was an invitation, quite fancy, considering the contents. It was written in English, in sprawling calligraphy.