Page 80 of Warlord’s Empire

Leeza flinched. “I just… I guess I assumed it would have happened to all of us at some point. You’re young, maybe that’s why….”

“Yeah, I’m only 24, there’s still plenty of time for me to become a murderer and join the family business,” Saskia said sarcastically.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” Leeza said quickly. “I just meant, you were so young and we all tried to protect you. Still, I think it’s dumb luck that you haven’t had to kill anyone.” She stopped, shaking her head as if to banish the thought. “God, when I say it like that, it sounds so terrible. As if it’s inevitable.”

“I really hope not,” Saskia replied, but her tone wasn’t confident. She’d jumped from one mafia family to another.

“I don’t think you should stay there,” Leeza said suddenly. “I want you to come home where we can protect you.”

Saskia laughed. “You saw Radik’s security when you were here, right? It would take a nuclear bomb for anyone to get near me. And I wouldn’t be surprised if the saferoom is actually nuclear rated.”

“Yeah, but according to you, the threat isn’t coming from outside Marifiya, it’s coming from Radik. How is he going to protect you from himself?”

“He has a plan.” Saskia told her sister how he intended to sleep in the saferoom at night.

“And he never naps or anything? Like maybe you two go in for some afternoon delight, then fall asleep in each other’s arms. Then BAM, he wakes up, but doesn’t really, and tries to kill you. How can you guarantee it won’t happen again?”

Saskia blushed at how close her sister came to guessing the circumstances surrounding Radik’s attack. “He’s getting therapy,” Saskia reminded her sister. “It’s going to be a long road to recovery, but he’s willing to do it. How can I abandon him…”

“When he’s doing it for you?” Leeza finished the sentence. “I love you, brat, but you aren’t a good enough reason for him to get better. He has to do it for himself, regardless of what you choose to do.”

“You sound like his therapist,” Saskia muttered.

“Maybe I missed my calling. Should’ve gone into psychology instead of the gun-for-hire business.”

They both pictured Leeza as a therapist and burst into laughter. It felt good laughing with her sister, and getting her worries off her chest, even if she didn’t agree with everything Leeza said. That’s what sisters were for. The unconditional love, not the good advice.

“I’m not coming back to Prague,” Saskia finally said. “At least not right now. I want to come for a visit, but I think I need to stay with him until we can find some kind of… I don’t know… normal. Does that make sense?”

“Yes,” Leeza said on a sigh. “It makes perfect sense and it’s what I’d do too, in your position.” Leeza looked at Saskia with so much love and hope, she nearly had Saskia in tears again. “Don’t hesitate to call. No matter what, no matter when. If you ever need me, just call.”

“Thank you,” Saskia whispered, blinking back the tears. “Same. You always have me, no matter what, no matter how far away I am.”

Leeza choked up too. “I know. Goodbye for now, brat.”

“Goodbye for now, big sister.”

Chapter Thirty-Six

Nonna handed Saskia a short, sharp knife. “Use this to cut into the flesh. It’s soft so you won’t need to push hard. Pull out the fibrous center… yes, just like that.”

Saskia followed Nonna’s instructions, turning her head as the pungent odour hit her.

They were preparing fermented cassava root, which had been soaking in a tub of water for a week. Nonna had walked Saskia through every step of preserving the vegetable and now they were on the final one, but the smell was really getting to her. Which was weird because normally she loved all things fermented. Sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha.

“I might need to take a break…” she said faintly, nausea rising fast. “Oh no. Shit, shit, shit!” She looked around desperately, but the sink was full of cassava waiting to be pressed and jarred.

Rushing to the door leading outside, she flung it open, stumbled outside, and fell to her knees. She heaved into a flower bed until her stomach was empty.

Belatedly, she realized Nonna was bending over her rubbing circles on Saskia’s upper back. “Sorry,” Saskia said shakily, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

She dimly registered Shola talking on her phone and realized she was about to be smothered by a giant, overbearing, well-meaning but not particularly delicate boyfriend.

“Damn it, Shola, you couldn’t give me a single minute to get myself together?” She waved her hand at the puddle of vomit. Who wanted their significant other seeing something like that?

“How are you feeling now?” Nonna asked gently.

“Better, thank you.” Saskia used Nonna’s proffered arm to stand. Her legs shook but she didn’t fall. “I don’t know what happened. One minute I was fine, and the next…” She glanced toward the vomit and, seeing it, the nausea began to rise. “Shit.” She turned away, trying to steady her breathing.