Page 25 of Warlord’s Empire

“I’m coming with you.”

They proceeded to spend the next twenty minutes arguing it out in front of Leeza and Havel, their teams of mercenaries, and the mansion’s staff. The entire conversation was silent as they both used sign language to get their points across. Jozef refused to allow her to come. Shaun listed all the reasons she shouldn’t be left behind, and they talked themselves in circles until Shaun played her trump card.

Turning her back on their audience, she signed so only he could see. I need to do this, Jozef. I need a distraction from the weeks of misery I’ve had since losing the baby. Please, let me help you find Saskia. She’s become like a younger sister to me and I would be devastated if anything happened to her. Please don’t leave me behind.

When he closed his eyes and released a heavy sigh, she knew she had him. Gripping her shoulders, he kissed her hard and signed, you have five minutes to pack a bag.

It wasn’t until she on the jet, in the air, that she had misgivings. In her desire to go with him, she withheld the news about the pregnancy.

She glanced at Jozef, who was leaning forward in his seat conversing in sign language with Havel and Leeza who were seated across from them. He wasn’t paying attention to Shaun.

She needed to tell him about the baby, but she couldn’t do it until they were done in South Africa and back safe in Prague. If he knew, he’d turn the plane around and lock her down harder than all the gold in Fort Knox. No, she would wait, then bear the brunt of his anger when he realized she delayed in telling him.

She hated when he gave her the cold shoulder, but she’d survive.

A secret smile curved her lips as she gazed at the clouds outside the window. She had to survive so she could meet her baby.

Chapter Twelve

Saskia woke to the fragrant scent of flowers. She wrinkled her nose, resisting the urge to sneeze as she opened her eyes, smiling as she was greeted by a colourful display of flowers in a vase on her bedside table. Her smile melted as her gaze drifted beyond the flowers to the rest of the room and she remembered where she was.

She sat up, arching her back and thrusting her arms in the air in a lengthy stretch. The bed was incredible. Downright decadent with a mattress that embraced her perfectly, carrying her swiftly into sleep.

She made her way to the washroom where she indulged in a leisurely shower, soaping herself with the brand-new luffa set out for her. Was she a kidnap victim? Yes, she was. Should she enjoy the facilities provided for her while also resisting her kidnap status? Yes, she absolutely should. Was it her fault her kidnapper provided only the best?

When she reentered the bedroom, she discovered the balcony doors had been opened, allowing a warm humid breeze through. “Nikka?” she called, but there was no response. Saskia was beginning to think the other woman was a cat-human hybrid.

The smell of coffee teased her and she drifted through the French doors onto the balcony patio where a small round table contained a spread of coffee with cream and sugar dishes, a fruit platter, and a pastry platter.

“Okay, another point to the stalking kidnapper on the details,” Saskia murmured, pouring herself a coffee, bypassing the cream and sugar. “Hmm, maybe not. He should know I take my coffee black.”

“He does know.” The deep rumble came from behind her and she looked up to find Radik striding toward her, the patio door to his room open behind him. “I take my coffee white with three sugars. Sweet, the way I prefer my pastries.” He picked up a jam tart and ate half in one bite, crumbs dusting the front of his blue polo shirt.

“Seems decadent for a man of your background.”

He shoved the rest of the tart in his mouth, chewing and swallowing before asking, “What do you know of my background?”

She waited until he fixed his coffee, then said, “I know you’re 45 and most likely susceptible to diabetes if you keep ingesting sugar with such disregard to your health.”

He laughed, the sound beginning as a deep rumble in his chest before spilling out in warm chuckles. “So you’re aware of my sugar addiction and my age. What else do you know about me?”

“Not much.” She joined him at the balcony railing where they looked out across the compound, which was buzzing with people talking and laughing, and children playing. The sight made her want to join in. She continued, “You’ve done your due diligence, scrubbing yourself from the internet. I tried to pump your sister for information, but she isn’t very forthcoming.”

He grinned, his teeth flashing. “Like me, she was raised with the understanding that holding your tongue can save your life.”

“Maybe, but it was frustrating when I wanted to know more about you.” She pouted. “It wasn’t fair. You knew everything about me and I couldn’t find out anything about you. There was no sense of fair pay.”

“Was?” he queried. “You have since learned more about me?”

She grinned at him. “I’m nothing if not an advocate for fair play, so when my searches kept coming up with nothing, I turned to a hacker I met through a friend. She has access to parts of the internet no one else can get to.” She interpreted the look he gave her and shook her head. “Trust me, she’s better than anyone you have. Jozef too.”

“And what did she find?” He sounded only mildly curious.

“You were born in a small village in the Northeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo to a single mother, Mariam. Regional warring drove her across the border into South Sudan. Though you did what you could to help her, survival was difficult. At nine years old, you drew the attention of a group of militants recruiting in your area. Your large size at such a young age made you an asset to them and you were taken against your mother’s wishes. You used the opportunity to earn money, which you sent home to Mariam.” Saskia paused, taking in Radik’s stillness. Though he gave no outward sign, she was certain he was surprised by her revelations. Not the information itself. He knew all of it, of course, but that it was available for others to discover. “I told you, my hacker friend is good.”

Radik nodded, his eyes moving to the walls of his compound. “What else did she tell you?”

“When you were twelve you left the militia group to join another, this one intent on overthrowing a corrupt government.” Which told her he cared about his home from a young age. He had ideals, ones he was willing to fight for. “The militia lost the war and you were imprisoned in an adult prison. Luckily you were well on your way to achieving your full size and you were mostly left alone. While you were incarcerated, you were recruited once again, but this time by a mercenary group.