acquaintances had been caught in a storm on a sailing boat. He could still remember the nausea that had overcome him, and now it was back, that ghastly seasick sensation.
He leaned his head against the cold porcelain of the toilet, and prayed for morning.
‘It’s okay,’ Cliff assured Lori when she nudged up against him. ‘This yacht is built to withstand anything.’
‘It is?’ she asked tentatively. ‘It feels awfully rough.’
‘Think of it as turbulence when you’re on a plane,’ Cliff said. ‘Nothing to worry about.’
‘You’re sure?’ Lori said, shivering.
Cliff held her close. ‘Positive.’
Flynn never made it to bed. After churning fifty or so lengths in the lap pool, he’d gone to the gym and worked out with weights.
He’d made up his mind that he was leaving tomorrow. Leaving Sierra and everything she’d once meant to him. He’d finally realized there was nothing he could do about the situation. She was married to Hammond, and that’s the way it was. No going back. After a vigorous workout he made his way up to the front of the top deck, grabbed the railing and leaned out, gazing at the turbulent black sea, getting drenched, but liking the feel of the driving rain hitting him in his face.
Lightning flashed. Thunder roared. Nature was doing her thing.
Too bad he didn’t have anyone to share it with.
Xuan pulled the covers over her head. Lightning terrified her. Reminded her of when she was escaping from Communist China and running, running, running.
She’d gotten raped in the middle of a raging storm. Five men. Five pigs. Five penises drilling into her until she’d passed out.
Somehow she’d survived that horrific night, but the bad memories still lingered, especially when she saw lightning and heard the roar of thunder.
Where was Flynn when she needed him?
Bianca suddenly shot up in bed. ‘It’s a storm,’ she announced, as if she was only just making such a startling discovery.
Aleksandr was already up, sitting in a chair smoking a cigar. ‘I was hoping you’d sleep through it,’ he said.
‘Don’t you know?’ Bianca retorted, green eyes flashing. ‘Storms are my thing.’
‘They are?’ Aleksandr said. Bianca never failed to surprise him.
‘Yes, ever since I was a little kid,’ she said, leaping out of bed. ‘Storms are
‘What are you doing?’ Aleksandr asked.
‘Getting my storm on,’ Bianca replied, a wicked smile playing around her lips as she wrenched open the terrace doors and raced outside.
‘Are you crazy?’ Aleksandr bellowed as the wind blew a deluge of rain into the room. ‘It’s dangerous out there.’
‘No, it’s not,’ Bianca yelled back at him. ‘It’s a major trip.’
‘You’re naked,’ he shouted. ‘Put some clothes on.’
‘Why? There’s no one to see me,’ she said, jumping into the churning Jacuzzi. ‘Come, my big bad Russian. I wanna make love. Get your ass out here an’ join me.’
The one person Mercedes didn’t want to run into was Guy. Yet there he was, in sweatpants, rumpled T-shirt and a rain slicker, checking things out on the middle deck.
Before she could dodge out of sight, he spotted her.
‘What are
This was not good. What if he noticed Kyril slumped in a drugged-out stupour on the job? What if he figured out something was about to go down?
She managed a concerned expression. ‘I was worried about the guests,’ she said. ‘Wonderin’ how they’re coping.’
‘Well, well, well,’ Guy said, a look of surprise on his face. ‘Little Miss Lazy Pants actually cares.’
‘You never know,’ Mercedes said, putting on her all wide-eyed innocence expression. ‘Some people get quite seasick. It’s not a great feeling.’
‘You seen anyone around?’ Guy asked. ‘Any of the passengers?’
Mercedes shook her head.
‘You’re sure?’ Guy said, thinking it was quite possible that he’d misjudged this girl.
‘Quite sure,’ she said firmly.
‘Then I expect we can both go back to bed,’ he said, stifling a yawn.
‘Yes,’ Mercedes said, realizing that at any moment Cruz and his team would be making their play. Two boats. One on each side of the yacht. Pirates boarding. Fast and furious.
‘Good night,’ she said, and quickly hurried out of Guy’s sight.
Chapter Eighty-One
The band of pirates were wet through and through, freezing cold, pissed off and ready for action. They all knew what they had to do — secure the yacht — which meant herding the crew into the downstairs area so that they could be controlled, securing the guests, then keeping everyone in place until the ransom was paid and they could be on their merry way.
Amiin had supplied each of them with a crude map of the interior of the yacht. Their job was to get all of the crew into the mess-hall next to the kitchen in the bowels of the boat, while Cruz took care of whoever was on the bridge — or at least in the control room, since the yacht was at anchor for the night.
The storm had held them up, but fortunately, as they got nearer to
Everyone had a job to do, and since the two boats were approaching from both sides of the yacht, it all had to happen at top speed. The element of surprise was crucial, which was why Cruz had decided to stage the raid in the middle of the night when most of the crew and guests would be sleeping.
As they approached
Within seconds the pirates were clambering aboard.
‘Don’t move,’ Hammond instructed, his voice thick with lust. ‘Stay perfectly still.’
Renee did as she was told, spread-eagled on Mercedes’ lower bunk bed, completely naked and a tad fearful, but mostly excited as she watched Hammond strip off his clothes. She noticed that he had a small paunch — she hadn’t expected that — and his manhood was not exactly impressive. But he was a UNITED STATES SENATOR, and she was a simple girl from Brisbane. This was the most thrilling thing that had ever happened to her, and if it meant giving up her virginity, so be it.
Hammond approached the bed. He was in no rush as he savoured every moment.
‘Relax,’ he said soothingly. ‘It might hurt for a moment or two, but trust me, dear, when I’m finished with you, you’ll be
