The Power Trip

  ‘’Cause then you an’ I could fuck all our cares away,’ Bianca said with a flippant laugh. ‘Wouldn’t that be fun?’

  ‘Spoken like a true princess,’ Luca said dryly.

  Bianca frowned. ‘Do you think I’m being petty?’ she asked.

  ‘I dunno what you’re supposed to be being petty about,’ Luca said, getting a tad impatient, because as far as he could tell, Bianca had everything she could ever want – including a magnificent yacht named after her.

  ‘Aleksandr and Miss China Doll or whatever the hell she is,’ Bianca snapped. ‘She’s getting on my tits.’

  ‘Whoa!’ Luca objected, rolling his eyes. ‘Let’s not get racist here.’

  ‘Are you calling me a racist?’ Bianca objected. ‘I’m black, remember? I’ve been called more names—’

  ‘Okay, okay,’ Luca said, holding up his hand. ‘Tell me the problem.’

  ‘Only if you promise to dump Jeromy the moment we hit dry land,’ Bianca said. ‘Your boyfriend is a pompous prick and I hate seeing him bring you down.’

  ‘How’d we get onto the subject of Jeromy?’

  ‘Promise you’ll sayonara him?’

  ‘I already decided. It’s a done deal. Your turn.’

  And so Bianca began to voice her complaints about Xuan and all the various projects she was trying to involve Aleksandr in.

  Luca sat back and listened. It was good for Bianca to spill.

  * * *

  When the tenders returned to the yacht, Mercedes managed to stay out of Guy’s way. If he saw her she wouldn’t put it past him to expect her to help unload the dishes and all the other crap from the boats. Let Renee and Den deal with it. She’d accomplished everything she needed to, and now it was time to lie on her bunk bed and contemplate the adventure ahead.

  She’d had a busy night making sure everything was set for Cruz’s takeover the following night. She knew exactly what she had to do, and number one was making sure Kyril was out of action. He was the only real threat, and his usual mug of hot chocolate loaded with horse tranquillizers should definitely take care of him.

  She wondered what men Cruz would bring with him. Amiin for sure, he was always by Cruz’s side, and maybe Cashoo. She had a bit of a soft spot for Cashoo. He was young, although sexy as hell with his permanent boner which she enjoyed teasing him about, but that’s as far as it went. Cruz had taught her at an early age – never fuck where you do business.

  Thanks, Poppa. Good advice.

  Mercedes wasn’t nervous, she never got scared. In fact, she was looking forward to the ‘takeover’, which was always a tense and invigorating time. She’d seen people get shot or knifed for not doing what they were told, and although bloodshed wasn’t her favourite thing, if it happened it was because people didn’t listen.

  Dumb people didn’t listen. If only they’d follow orders, everything would be okay and nobody would get hurt.

  Who’s dumb on this trip?

  All of them.

  Eventually Mercedes drifted off into a semi-sleep, and did not awake until Renee came in. The Australian girl was making too much noise, which pissed Mercedes off.

  ‘What th’fuck –’ she mumbled. ‘I’m tryin’ t’sleep here.’

  ‘Sorry,’ Renee said, clambering into the top bunk. ‘It’s just that . . .’

  ‘What?’ Mercedes grumbled. ‘Spit it out!’

  ‘Well, uh . . .’

  ‘Did Guy tear you a new asshole? ’Cause if he did, you gotta learn to ignore it. I do.’

  ‘One of the passengers wants to sleep with me,’ Renee blurted out.

  ‘Whaaat?’ Mercedes sat up and burst out laughing. ‘You’re shittin’ me. Who?’

  ‘Oh gosh!’ Renee said, blushing crimson. ‘I don’t know if I should say anything.’

  ‘You just did,’ Mercedes pointed out. ‘Who’s the cabron with the hard dick? Gimme a name.’

  ‘I think he really likes me,’ Renee moaned. ‘And here’s the thing – he’s so sweet and nice and . . . and he’s very important.’

  ‘If you don’t tell me who it is, I’m going back to sleep,’ Mercedes threatened.

  ‘The Senator,’ Renee whispered. ‘And I think I like him back.’

  Chapter Seventy

  ‘Are you Skylar?’

  ‘Huh?’ Skylar Byrne took a step back from the girl with the crazy green streaks in her short black hair, and the most uncomfortable-looking piercings in her nose and eyebrows. ‘Who’re you?’

  ‘Name’s Radical, an’ I get it, ’cause I’m like just as pissed as you.’

  Skylar took another step back. Was this a case of mistaken identity? Who was this girl and what did she want?

  The two of them were standing at the Fifth Avenue entrance to Central Park, Skylar dressed for jogging in yellow shorts and a pale blue T-shirt emblazoned with I vote for puppies, Radical in ripped jeans and a grey hoodie over a red T-shirt with hate splashed across the front.

  ‘Do I know you?’ Skylar asked, hopping from foot to foot.

  ‘You don’t hav’ta know me,’ Radical replied, squinting. ‘’Cause I know you.’

  ‘You do, huh?’ Skylar said, standing up a little straighter.

  Radical reached into the back pocket of her jeans and pulled out a crumpled pack of cigarettes. She extracted one and offered it to Skylar.

  Skylar shook her head.

  ‘Suit yourself,’ Radical said, rummaging for a book of matches and lighting up with a defiant flourish. ‘Sooner have a joint,’ she remarked. ‘Only like not in public. You smoke grass?’

  ‘Who are you?’ Skylar repeated. ‘What do you want?’

  ‘I want for us to make money. Big bucks,’ Radical stated matter-of-factly. ‘An’ if you’re down with it, I know exactly how we can do it.’

  Skylar couldn’t help herself. Commonsense informed her that she should be walking away, but curiosity got the better of her. ‘What are you talking about?’ she asked.

  And Radical began to explain.

  Chapter Seventy-One

  Flynn, Taye and Cliff spent the morning working out in the gym. Flynn, because he needed to purge all the angst he was feeling. Taye, because he loved keeping his ripped body in fantastic shape. And Cliff, because he hadn’t been in such a good mood in years. Besides, he was heading towards fifty and had to keep everything in working order, especially since he had a much younger girlfriend – a girlfriend he planned to hang onto.

  Taye chose the music – Tinie Tempah, Jay-Z and Wiz Khalifa. The sounds were fast and furious blasting out – full of pounding energy.

  Flynn would’ve preferred the Stones or a laid-back Dave Matthews. Cliff was more into old-school classics such as Sinatra or Tony Bennett. However, they both went along with Taye’s choice since he seemed so into it.

  The three of them had a competitive time sweating it out. Three guys with nothing else to do except work on their bodies. It was a bonding experience.

  * * *

  Meanwhile, Bianca, Luca, Ashley and Lori lolled by the pool, soaking up the sun and sipping on ice-cold frozen margaritas. It was one of those lazy days, and everyone felt very relaxed. Everyone except Jeromy, who was sulking in his room, for he was acutely aware of Luca’s withdrawal and yet helpless to stop the inevitable. He knew it was coming. He knew the signs.

  He decided to leave his room and find Guy. He had a need to release his pent-up frustration, and Guy was the only one capable of helping him out.

  Too bad if he didn’t want to. Guy was the entertainment director. Let him entertain.

  * * *

  Aleksandr was engrossed in making plans with Xuan about the orphanage he’d decided to build outside Moscow. Xuan had many innovative and intelligent ideas, and he was interested in hearing them.

  It wasn’t long before he found himself revealing details of his own miserable childhood, things that he’d never told anyone. It was a cathartic experience to expose so much of himself, and he found it to be most comforting. He was more and more
drawn towards her as he shared memories of an horrific childhood – a childhood he’d not even revealed to Bianca, since she’d never shown any interest in hearing about his roots.

  Now that he was talking about it, he felt a burden lifting, freeing him from his past.

  In return Xuan started telling him some of her early stories. He soon realized that they were even more harrowing than his. Watching her as she spoke, he was starting to feel true compassion for her. She was so different from any woman he’d ever known. She was nurturing and clever, also very sensual in a low-key kind of way. There was nothing overt about Xuan; her sexuality was a private thing.

  Aleksandr started wondering about her and Flynn, and exactly how strong their relationship was.

  Not that he was thinking of doing anything about it . . . or was he?

  Xuan was the first woman who’d stirred his sexual interest since being with Bianca.

  Why was it happening now?

  Was it because Bianca was acting like such a spoiled bitch? Over nothing?

  Aleksandr was angry. At Bianca. And at himself.

  He was planning on asking Bianca to marry him. Surely he shouldn’t be thinking about another woman at such a special time?

  * * *

  ‘You stay here,’ Hammond ordered his wife. ‘I’m going to call Eddie, see what’s so goddamn important that it couldn’t wait until I get back.’

  ‘I should come with you,’ Sierra suggested, not wanting to be by herself and face the temptation of popping Xanax again.

  ‘Why?’ Hammond said harshly. ‘So you can make eyes at your boyfriend?’

  Sierra sighed and shook her head. ‘For the last time, Flynn is not my boyfriend. I have no feelings for him whatsoever. Please believe me.’

  ‘Just remember what I told you I can arrange to have done to him,’ Hammond taunted. ‘I am not joking.’

  ‘I know you’re not,’ she said dully. ‘What happened between Flynn and me was a long time ago. You have no need to worry.’

  ‘Me? Worry?’ Hammond scoffed. ‘Believe me, dear, it would take a better man than Flynn Hudson for me to worry about.’

  Sierra hoped she’d made it clear to Hammond that she cared nothing for Flynn. If he thought she cared even one little bit, who knew what he was capable of? She had to tread carefully, maybe even warn Flynn if that was possible.

  ‘As I said – you stay here until I get back. Then we will go to lunch and present a united front,’ Hammond said, opening the door and stepping out. ‘Perhaps you can be charming for once. Wouldn’t that make a pleasant change?’

  Sierra watched him go with hate in her heart. He’d trapped her once again with his vile threats.

  Would she ever be free?

  Deep down she knew it was up to her.

  * * *

  Bianca could not believe that Aleksandr was taking their stupid fight all the way – even though it was ruining what should have been a perfect trip. She was determined not to be the first to give in.

  After all, she was right and he was wrong.

  An apology better be forthcoming soon.

  Luca was the only one who was fully aware of what was going on, although Bianca supposed the others must have noticed that their host and hostess were not talking.

  She couldn’t care less; it had now become a matter of principle.

  * * *

  Jeromy accosted Guy on the stairs shortly before lunch. ‘Where’s your cabin?’ he demanded, holding tightly onto Guy’s upper arm, his nails digging into Guy’s flesh.

  Guy attempted to shake off the man’s grip, to no avail. Jeromy was determined.

  ‘I . . . I’ll be serving lunch shortly,’ Guy stammered.

  ‘You’ll be serving nothing if I complain to Mr Kasianenko,’ Jeromy cautioned. ‘So I suggest that you take me to your godforsaken cabin, and do it now. I’ll only use a minute or two of your precious time.’

  A thousand thoughts crashed through Guy’s head. Did he have to do this? Would Kasianenko really fire him if Jeromy Milton-Gold complained? Was it worth making a drama out of one forced blow-job?

  Then he decided – do it and forget it. Piss in the wanker’s soup for the rest of the trip.

  ‘Your choice?’ Jeromy growled.

  ‘Follow me,’ Guy said, compliant, for if he wanted to keep his job, what other way was there?

  * * *

  Making polite conversation with the Captain while waiting for his satellite call to go through, Hammond enquired if there were any more island trips planned.

  Captain Dickson was cagey; he didn’t want to reveal to the Senator that the final island trip was to take place the following night, since he wasn’t sure how much Mr Kasianenko had told everyone. It was to be a spectacular night with fireworks, famous surprise performers, food flown in from three of Bianca’s favourite L.A. restaurants. It was to be a love-fest for Bianca, and Captain Dickson had a strong suspicion that the billionaire Russian was planning on proposing to his mercurial ladylove.

  Hammond gazed out at the calm blue sea and thought about the long-legged stewardess – Jenni or Renee or whatever her name was. He would definitely be partaking of a piece of that. Maybe later when everyone had gone to bed.

  Yes. She would know of somewhere they could be alone together. Why deprive himself?

  He fantasized about her long legs locked behind his neck. Brushing his cock against those big horse teeth. Young and not too experienced, exactly the way he liked them.

  ‘Here’s your call, Senator,’ Captain Dickson said, handing him the phone.

  ‘Eddie,’ Hammond barked. ‘What the hell do you want?’

  * * *

  Lunch was tense. Bianca and Aleksandr were still at odds. After a not so satisfying dalliance with Guy, Jeromy was desperately trying to ingratiate himself with whomever he could. Hammond was in a foul mood, while Flynn was still trying to come up with a ‘get out of paradise’ excuse.

  Only Luca, Lori, Cliff, Taye and Ashley seemed in the holiday spirit as they discussed their afternoon of more water-sports. Fun and games was the order of the day. Diving, snorkelling, racing the WaveRunners. It was all on.

  Bianca sat beside Aleksandr picking at her lobster and crab salad, drinking a healthy amount of red wine, and stewing about Xuan.

  ‘After lunch all the girls are going topless,’ she suddenly announced, shooting Xuan a spiteful look. ‘Are you on?’

  ‘No,’ Xuan answered quite simply ‘I do not believe in mass nudity.’

  ‘Mass nudity!’ Bianca shrieked. ‘It’s hardly mass nudity when you’re amongst friends.’

  ‘I prefer not to,’ Xuan said, remaining polite.

  ‘Why not?’ Bianca insisted. ‘You got something to hide?’

  Aleksandr shot her a piercing look. ‘Enough,’ he said sternly.

  Bianca took another gulp of red wine. ‘Oh please!’ she slurred. ‘You know you’re dying to see her tiny little Chinese titties.’

  Aleksandr stood up and reached for Bianca’s arm to pull her to her feet. She resisted, and her wine glass toppled over, spilling red wine in a little river heading straight for Xuan’s lap.

  ‘Sorry!’ Bianca mumbled, dissolving into a fit of giggles. ‘Accident, I swear.’

  ‘Come with me,’ Aleksandr said, this time getting a firm grip on her arm.

  ‘Ooh!’ Bianca mocked in a singsong fashion. ‘Have I been a naughty girl? I thought you liked naughty girls, Alek, or have your tastes changed?’

  Tight-lipped, Aleksandr did not answer as he manoeuvred Bianca away from the table.

  An embarrassed silence ensued, broken by Ashley. ‘Are we really going topless?’ she asked, quite excited at the thought of displaying her bought and paid for assets to Cliff.

  Taye threw her a grim look. ‘Not on my watch, toots.’ he told her. ‘Those titties are strictly all mine.’

  Chapter Seventy-Two

  ‘Once you get goin’, how long before you reach the yacht?’ Sergei enquired, the nerve in his left che
ek twitching as he attempted to ferret out answers.

  Cruz, a perennial cigarette dangling from his lower lip, shrugged. ‘Coupla hours,’ he said casually. ‘The fuckin’ boat’s not that far out. They’re stayin’ around an’ cruisin’ the islands.’

  ‘Then after you take off, I can expect my men back with Kasianenko in four hours?’

  ‘Don’t ’spect nothin’,’ Cruz said, ash falling from his cigarette onto the ground. ‘Nobody knows how it’s gonna go down. We gotta secure the yacht before we go lookin’ for Kasianenko. It takes time. We hav’ta plan for the unexpected.’

  Sergei kept a tight rein on his temper. All along Cruz had assured him that taking over The Bianca was an easy hit, and now he was voicing doubts?

  Sergei scowled impatiently. It was happening tonight, and for Cruz’s sake it had better go fast and smooth.

  For the last twenty-four hours his own personal security had been putting together a safe room where he planned on keeping Kasianenko. The room was in the basement of the villa, a cold dank place generally used for storage. Sergei had arranged for the door to be reinforced, special locks fitted, and solid handcuffs to be attached to the stone wall.

  It was designed to be Kasianenko’s new home, and Sergei couldn’t wait for his sworn enemy to take up residence.

  * * *

  Boredom drove Ina to do things she knew she shouldn’t. However, what Cruz didn’t know . . .

  She found a way to get out of the villa without her brother noticing. Once out, she attracted Cashoo’s attention, directing him via hand signals to meet her on the beach beyond a large formation of rocks.

  Cashoo was hot to do whatever the boss’s woman wanted him to do. He had no scruples or guilt, he was simply a young man with a raging libido.

  Ina had no intention of going all the way with Cashoo. She merely wanted to play with him for her own amusement.

  They did not speak a word of each other’s language. But who needed words when unbridled lust was a suitable form of communication?

  Cashoo circled her like a wary coyote.