The Power Trip

destined for great things. If they expect any future favours, they should be aware of who they’re dealing with.’

The man or the monster? she wanted to say, however, she controlled herself.

‘Hammond,’ she said evenly.

‘Sierra,’ he said, mocking her tone as he threw off his sweat-stained T-shirt.

‘I need to ask you a question.’

‘Do you now?’ he said, pulling down his shorts and underwear, showing not a shred of modesty.

‘Seeing Flynn reminded me of those photos.’

‘What photos?’ he snapped, absent-mindedly stroking his balls as he headed towards the bathroom.

‘The ones you faked in college,’ she said bravely. ‘The ones you sent to me and Flynn.’

‘What?’ Stopping at the bathroom door, he turned around and faced her.

‘I was wondering how you managed such a clever job,’ Sierra continued. ‘I mean, it was before Photoshop and all the technology we have today. Did you hire a professional to help you?’

Hammond stared her down, his eyes menacing slits of anger. ‘Have you been talking to that son of a bitch?’ he demanded.

‘What son of a bitch would that be?’ she answered, remaining calm.

‘Do not get smart with me, woman,’ he said angrily. ‘I warned you not to speak to him.’

‘You warn me about a lot of things,’ she said, keeping her tone even. ‘However, we are on a yacht in the middle of an ocean, and I think I can do whatever I like.’

Hammond could not believe the change in her. What the hell was going on? She seemed sober and together, not foggy and compliant. This was unlike the woman he’d grown used to. The woman who never dared to argue. The woman he’d managed to control with his constant threats of harm to her family.

‘You think you can do whatever you like, do you?’ he said, his voice harsh and unforgiving. ‘Perhaps you’re forgetting who you are. You are my wife, and as my wife you do what I tell you to do, or…’ he paused momentarily, his eyes narrowing even more — ‘… you know the consequences.’

‘For God’s sake, Hammond. How long are you going to keep this up?’

‘What’s come over you, Sierra? Suddenly all brave because you had words with an old boyfriend? Do you think he can save you? Your family? And even more important, can Flynn save himself? Think about that for a moment.’ He paused and glared at her threateningly. ‘One phone call and I can make his life a nightmare. I can make sure he never works again. I can have his legs broken, his pretty face smashed in. You know I can.’

‘It’s over, Hammond,’ she said, her voice steady. ‘The moment we get off this boat, I’m leaving you. And I will make sure everyone hears about your threats, so that if anything happens to me or my family — the finger will be pointed at you.’

‘So brave, all of a sudden,’ Hammond jeered. ‘Keep it up, dear, and we will see what happens.’

With those words he stalked into the bathroom and slammed the door shut.

* * *

‘How was it?’ Cliff asked when Lori returned to their stateroom.

‘Oh my God, you were so right about the Senator,’ she replied, flopping down on the bed. ‘He’s a piece of work.’

‘Told you so,’ Cliff said. ‘I can spot ’em a mile off.’

‘But Cliff, the island was fantastic. I wish you could’ve seen it. So beautiful, like something out of a movie. And deserted. No houses. No people. Nothing except wildlife, greenery, and these amazing waterfalls. Oh, and giant turtles,’ she continued excitedly. ‘You would’ve loved it. I wish you’d come with.’

Cliff was pleased to see Lori so animated, like a little kid who’d just experienced her first trip to Disneyland. Sometimes he forgot how young she was. Twenty-four. A mere child. Young enough to be his daughter. Yet old enough to be his lover.

And why exactly did he think it was time to trade her in for a younger, fresher face? Because he was Cliff Baxter? Because he was a star who had to maintain a certain image? To impress his male friends and acquaintances? For his adoring public?

It was all bullshit. He liked Lori, he was comfortable with her. No need for a trade-in at this time.

* * *

‘Listen, toots, have I told you lately how much I love you?’ Taye said, raising his head from between his wife’s thighs to take a deep breath.

‘Oh, for God’s sake — don’t stop now!’ Ashley intoned, lying spreadeagled on the bed in their stateroom, luxuriating in the expertise of her husband’s talented tongue.

‘But I do love you so much,’ Taye insisted. ‘You’re it for me. No other woman. Ever.’

‘Okay, okay — then how about you get on with the job at hand,’ Ashley implored. ‘I’m almost there, don’t stop now.’

‘I won’t let you down,’ Taye answered, grinning.

This trip was doing their marriage nothing but good.

* * *

‘About time you got back,’ Jeromy said, his tone quite snippy.

Luca threw himself down on the bed.

‘Please!’ Jeromy said, curling his lip. ‘You’re all sweaty and nasty. Can you at least take a shower before you mess up our bed?’

Luca placed his hands behind his head and stretched; he had no intention of moving. ‘You made a mistake not coming,’ he remarked, wishing he was still on the magical island.

‘I think not,’ Jeromy replied. ‘Staying on board was very advantageous for me. I had quite a long chat with Cliff Baxter. He might be on the verge of hiring me to design the interior of his next house.’

‘Is he buying a new house?’ Luca said. ‘Lori never mentioned it.’

‘Since when are you so tight with that Lori person?’ Jeromy enquired, feeling quite envious that Luca was busy making friends while he languished on the yacht.

‘I saved her from the hands of the horny Senator,’ Luca said. ‘And you know what? Don’t call her “that Lori person”. If you took the time to get to know her, you’d realize she’s a very sweet girl.’

‘Changing tracks, are we?’ Jeromy said contemptuously. ‘Dying to sneak your way into her dirty little knickers?’

‘Try not to turn into a bitchy queen,’ Luca sighed.

‘I beg your pardon?’ Jeromy huffed. ‘A bitchy queen indeed!’

‘You know what I mean.’

‘How dare you!’

‘How dare I what?’ Luca said flatly.

‘Call me names.’

‘Jeromy,’ Luca said, giving him a long cool look. ‘We really need to talk.’

The dreaded words — we really need to talk. Jeromy had heard them before, and more than once. First from his father, a stern civil servant, who’d beaten him unmercifully when he’d first come out. Then the don at Oxford with whom he’d been desperately in love. Next the septuagenarian Marquis who’d kept him as his pet for several years. And finally the ‘in the closet’ businessman who’d financed his design firm until the man’s wife had found out what was really going on between them and called a halt to all financial dealings.

Now Luca.

No. This couldn’t be happening. Luca was his future. They would grow old together. They would enjoy Luca’s fame and money together. This couldn’t happen. He would not allow it.

One way or the other, Jeromy was determined to stop the inevitable.