Extreme Danger (McClouds & Friends #5)(28)

He hadn’t found out anything about Sveti. And he had to swallow that down and let it go. Think purely in terms of salvage.

Becca wasn’t going to last out the night in this snakepit. They would eat her alive.

If you don’t have the guts to do what Zhoglo asks of you, you are dead. If you do have the guts, you are damned.

Tam’s words echoed in his head. He’d thought he was dead enough inside to go all the way, get killed. A guy could get used to anything, even being doomed. But now—

He heard voices in the bathroom…what the f*ck?

He was on his feet, bathroom door slapped open in a nanosecond.

Becca cowered against the wall. The bidet swirled and bubbled. Zhoglo’s bulky body filled the doorway that opened onto the corridor. Soapy water streamed down her legs and puddled onto the shiny floor around her feet.

She regarded Zhoglo as if he were a gigantic scorpion.

Nick stared from one to the other, like a f*cking idiot. Yeah, and what now? Come to her rescue? He wanted to wipe that vicious piece of shit off the face of the earth for the bulge in his pants. For that smile on his swollen, self-satisfied face.

But there was a vid cam in the bathroom and four big guys armed to the teeth downstairs. He could kill Zhoglo with his bare hands, but even if they did manage to jump from the upstairs deck without breaking any bones, Becca was barefoot. They’d be mowed down at twenty meters.

“Magnificent performance.” Zhoglo’s voice was oily. “Her orgasm, in particular, was extremely realistic. Continue washing, please. A beautiful girl with her hand between her legs, ah. I could watch forever. Go on, finish.”

Becca flipped off the water. “Thanks, but I’m all done.” Her voice was cool. “I just need to dry off. If you two gentlemen would excuse me?”

Nick was stupefied at her nerve and Zhoglo was startled, too. He stared at her blankly for a few seconds. Then he pulled a hand towel off the rack and held it out to her. “No, I will not excuse you.”

Bright color flared in Becca’s pale cheeks, but she heard the menace in his voice and kept her mouth shut. She reached out to the towel rack where she had tucked her underwear and jeans.

Zhoglo snatched them out of her reach. He examined the plain cotton panties, sniffed them, and tucked them into his pocket. “No, my dear,” he said. “You look charming just as you are.” He slung her jeans over his arm.

Becca stared at the man and suddenly her face changed. She gave him a bright, professional smile.

“Well, then. I was meaning to ask you, sir…would you prefer coffee or tea for your afternoon refreshment?” she asked. “And would you like Rum Caramel Swirl cake, or Lemon Cloud?”

Wow. Good thought, bait and switch. Nick wanted to cheer.

Zhoglo rubbed his chin. “Coffee,” he replied. “With cream. Both cakes.”

“Thank you,” she said demurely. “I’d better run then. There’s a lot of prep work for dinner. Excuse me.” She shoved past Nick, into the bedroom. He listened to her soft, quick footfalls retreating out of the room. He hoped she wouldn’t make a break for it. Act like prey, and predators snapped right into action.

Nick and Zhoglo stared at each other. “You are breaking her in nicely,” Zhoglo said, switching back to Ukrainian.

For what, f*ckhead? Nick’s jaw ached from staying silent.

“Fiery, hm?” Zhoglo’s eyes narrowed as he observed the blood and scratches on Nick’s face. “I marvel at your restraint. Any woman who did that to my face would not long be recognizable as human.”

You never have been recognizable as human, shithead.

He swallowed the words back, and smiled thinly. “I barely noticed,” he said, turning to the sink. He splashed some water on his face. “I wanted you to eat well. I can’t cook.”

“Your concern for my comfort moves me. But then again, a man can be generous with the world when he has just f*cked a beautiful woman, no?”

“On your orders,” Nick said.

“An onerous task, was it? You seemed enthusiastic.”

Anything Nick said could get his guts ripped out. He kept his mouth shut.

“You are soft, Arkady,” Zhoglo said.

Nick jerked his chin towards the bedroom. “That looked soft?”

The guy stared at him, as if he were a bug on a pin. “I shall ponder that question when I watch the playback,” Zhoglo said. “I asked Kristoff to film it. Of course. Would you care to watch it with me?”

The back of his neck crawled. “Ah, no thanks. I can remember it.”

“You know why I insist upon electronic eyes and ears in every room, no?”

He shook his head. “No, Vor.”

“It takes away the element of uncertainty,” he said. “I do not have to wonder whether or not I am being spied on. No lapses. It keeps my employees discreet. And there is the entertainment aspect.” Nick nodded.

“It’s time we had a conversation,” Zhoglo said. “Join me for the coffee and cake, no? I wish to know all about you, Arkady Solokov. Every last detail.”

Two hours later, Nick felt like his brain had been hammered flat. The * was one hell of a relentless interrogator. No surprise, that.

“Have another piece.” Zhoglo shoved the plate across the table towards Nick. “Tell me again about those years with Uncle Dmitri in Debaltseve.”