Page 28 of Warlord’s Empire

She gave him points for honesty. “If we’re all so safe then open the gates, let the flow of people come through here again.” When it looked like he would argue, she stepped closer to him, turning her back on Nuani and lowering her voice. “You know me, Muhammed.” She gave him a significant look, silently reminding him of their six-year flirtation. “I will never be happy locked up inside a prison and no matter how you spin it, as long as people can’t come and go from this place, it’s a prison.”

He looked at her for a long time, his dark eyes gleaming in the harsh fluorescent lighting. Finally, he said, “I don’t like the idea of strangers having access to you.”

“Yet I’m surrounded by strangers almost all of the time. When I go to work, when I shop, when I travel. Why is it different now?”

His expression was guarded.

“Did you have people following me?” she guessed. “Protecting me?”

He dipped his head in a quick nod. “Not immediately, but within the first year of our meeting. The more attached I grew the less I could bear the thought of anything happening to you.”

She stared at him, impressed, not even angry. She’d spent her entire life under some form of surveillance or other. First her father, then Jozef, but she’d always known. With Radik’s people, she’d never once suspected. Oh, she knew he had people checking up on her, following her sometimes, but she hadn’t realized he’d had bodyguards tailing her every move.

It explained a lot. Like why her dating life dried up so abruptly and with such finality. She thought maybe it was her lack of finesse with hair and makeup.

Going back to the issue at hand, Saskia said, “I’m probably… no, I’m certain, that I am much safer here in this village than I ever have been. If you insist on having bodyguards tail my every move, then so be it. I would rather that than have the people here suffer because of my presence.”

Radik smiled, his lips pulling back to reveal his teeth. Saskia had seen it before. It was the grin of a predator.

“So be it,” Radik said decisively. “I will have Shola accompany you when you leave the house. The town gates will be opened tomorrow.”

Saskia had been so neatly maneuvered, it wasn’t until later, when she was laying on her bed, staring at her canopy that she realized exactly how much he had played her like a chess piece. It was a multi-pronged attack. He got her to accept heightened personal security for the sake of the comfort of the compound, and he was getting her to care about his people.

She rolled onto her side, contemplating her new reality. Was it time to accept that she wasn’t going anywhere? Mostly because Radik wasn’t going to allow it, but also partly because… she didn’t want to leave. Not yet anyway.

But she wasn’t going to be happy until she could speak with her family. Severing relations with them was the one rule she refused to accept. She had to get him to see them as more than mafia, and she thought she could. Radik had a huge soft spot for her, to the point where Saskia really thought it hurt him to deny her anything.

She was confident that he would eventually allow her access to the Kobas, but it wasn’t going to be soon enough for her satisfaction. She wouldn’t be able to relax until she could assure her sister she was safe. Leeza would be frantic by now.

While drifting through the minefield of her thoughts, Saskia’s gaze sharpened on a familiar bag that hadn’t been in her room before. Sitting up, she rolled off the bed and rushed toward the desk.

“My stuff!” She picked up her laptop bag, unzipping it. Inside was her laptop, daytimer, translation, and passport. “Is he crazy?” Why would Radik give her back her passport?

He would only do it if she had no real way to leave with it.

Sitting on the desk chair, she pulled her laptop out of the bag, opening it and turning it on. The first thing that popped up on her screen was the translation Aurelia had given her the night she was killed.

It probably went without saying that Radik would no longer allow her to work for the Prime Minister’s office. There wasn’t any point in translating the text… yet maybe she should read through it. Find out if there were any clues to what happened to Aurelia.

She tried loading her emails, but she had no access to the internet. It was like her phone, no opportunity for contact with the outside world.

A shuffling sound at the door caught her attention and she frowned when it was followed by a thump, then a sharp, “Ouch! Fuck!”

Saskia giggled at the profanity and went to the door, opening it.

Nikka was rubbing her head while kneeling on the floor next to a tray with a tea pot and a plate of snacks.

“You okay?” Saskia asked, trying to stifle her laughter. “What are you doing down there?”

“I was trying to open the door and nearly dropped my tray, so I went to put it on the floor to free my hands and I banged my head.”

“You know, if you’d have knocked, I could’ve opened the door and all this could’ve been prevented.” Her gaze dropped to the floor. “What’s with the tray? It’s not suppertime yet.”

Nikka picked it up and stood, walking past Saskia. “Nonna asked me to bring you a tea service. Said you’d be expecting one.” Her tone suggested Saskia should learn to mitigate her expectations. “Where do you want it?”

Saskia followed her and opened the balcony door. “Out here.” She watched Nikka place everything from the tray on the table. “I don’t usually do afternoon tea, but I appreciate the kind gesture. Thanks to both you and Nonna.”

“You’re welcome,” she said in a slightly warmer tone. “I’ll come back for the dishes later.”