staring into the eyes of the most frightening-looking man she had ever seen.
She wanted to scream. But when she opened her mouth to do so, nothing came out.
Cashoo caught Mercedes on the top stairs. She was hovering there, waiting to run down to the guest suites when Amiin got Kasianenko out. She had jewelry on her mind. And clothes. And cash, plenty of it.
Cashoo shot her a jaunty grin and a quick hug. His raggedy facial hair scratched her cheek. She didn’t mind; she’d always liked Cashoo, ever since they’d worked together a few times. He was young and handsome with his high cheekbones, piercing eyes and smooth mocha skin, and although they didn’t speak a word of each other’s language, they’d always managed to communicate.
Once she’d given him a quick blow-job, which had progressed to them almost having sex, until Amiin had interrupted them and screamed at his nephew to never touch her again.
Right now, Cashoo was determined not to waste time. He leaned in and kissed her, his slithery tongue darting in and out of her mouth like a fast-moving snake.
Mercedes responded with equal enthusiasm. She was as horny as he was, having been on the yacht with no one to play with except herself, which wasn’t easy with Renee sleeping in the bunk above her.
Cashoo touched her breasts, before hurriedly pulling her shorts down, then plunging his hand between her legs.
Mercedes responded accordingly, unzipping his jeans and releasing his pulsating hard-on.
Cashoo was a big boy with plenty to offer.
Mercedes was into the distraction. She knew it would be fast and furious, like the raid on the yacht. And that’s exactly the way she wanted it, for she had things to get on with.
After kicking her shorts away from her ankles, she wrapped her legs tightly around Cashoo’s waist, feeling him slide inside her, whereupon they proceeded to take a wild ride, both of them enjoying the ride equally.
The sound of gunfire rang out just as they were reaching the peak.
‘
Cashoo did the same.
Then without exchanging a word, they grabbed their clothes and both took off in different directions.
‘This isn’t exactly turning out to be the trip we’d planned,’ Bianca said, deciding that if she was going to be stuck in confined quarters with the other women, she may as well try to make light of it. ‘Beverage, anyone?’ she offered, gesturing towards a shelf stocked with cans of Coca Cola and 7-Up.
‘Thanks,’ Lori said, determined not to show fear. ‘I’ll take a Coke.’
‘How’s everyone holding up?’ Sierra asked.
‘Not so good,’ Ashley muttered, a slight tremor in her voice. ‘I get claustrophobic. This is freaking me out.’
‘You must breathe deeply,’ Xuan advised. ‘Imagine something you take pleasure in doing. Can you meditate?’
‘Never done that,’ Ashley said, clutching her pink velour Victoria’s Secret hoodie around her.
‘
‘What if something happens to us?’ Ashley wailed, beginning to panic. ‘Who’ll take care of my babies then?’
‘We’re going to be fine,’ Sierra assured her. ‘Flynn knows what he’s doing. He’ll get us out of this.’
‘You must know him pretty well then,’ Bianca said, giving her a piercing look.
‘We both do,’ Xuan interjected. ‘If anyone can figure a way out of this, it’ll be Flynn.’
‘Then I guess all we gotta do is stay calm and trust him,’ Bianca said brightly, the perfect hostess. ‘Right, girls?’
‘We can but try,’ Xuan said.
Then they were all silent as the sound of gunfire took over.
Taken by surprise, thinking
Before he could even think of using his gun against them, they’d wrestled it away from him, and pinned him to the floor. One of them sat astride him, while the others tied his ankles and wrists together with strips of sheets.
‘How many of you are there?’ Flynn demanded. ‘And don’t pretend you can’t understand me, ’cause I know you can.’
Amiin was mortified. Cruz would blame him, although it wasn’t his fault. There was only supposed to be one couple in this room and no weapons. Mercedes had given the information to Cruz. She’d made a serious mistake, and her mistake could ruin everything.
Amiin glared at his captors with bloodshot eyes. ‘No Engleesh,’ he muttered.
‘No English, my black arse,’ Taye threatened. ‘Spit it out, moron, or you’ll end up wearin’ your teeth around your neck.’
Basra grimaced at the naked girl.
She shrank away from him in horror and opened her mouth as if to scream.
But she didn’t. Couldn’t.
Basra appreciated her silence, for he was so very tired. He’d done his duty, got rid of a straggler who should’ve been in the mess-hall with the others, and now he deserved to rest.
Second later he was snoring as loud as a snorting pig.
Cruz took stock. Where the fuck was Mercedes? He had to send her to find out why Amiin was taking so long. He’d heard the shots — surely Amiin had gotten Kasianenko by now and was bringing him up to the bridge?
It was time to alert Kasianenko’s people to start getting the ransom money together. He was giving them twenty-four hours only. After that, if his demands were not met, he would put Basra to work. Basra would have no compunction about knocking off the hostages one by one. If Kasianenko could not get his people to pay the ransom, then the fuckers deserved it.
Cruz dragged on his cigarette while giving the Captain the evil eye. He didn’t like the man and wanted him out of his sight. After a moment or two he jumped to his feet and yelled,
She came running onto the bridge looking flustered.
‘What the fuck’s takin’ so much time?’ he demanded. ‘Go find Amiin, an’ tell him to shift his lazy ass. I want Kasianenko
Chapter Ninety
With Amiin firmly secured, and the information Taye had persuaded the pirate to give up, they’d found out that there were at least seven more men aboard. Seven armed pirates floating around, men to whom killing meant nothing.
Flynn tried to force Amiin to reveal what locations they were at, but Amiin was done — he spat a bloody tooth at him and refused to divulge more.
At least they had two weapons now. Flynn kept Aleksandr’s gun, and Cliff took Amiin’s. It turned out that
