‘And . . .?’ Nick jeered, his sour breath settling over her face when he leaned down and placed his hands on either side of her. ‘He might have the hots for you right now, darlin’, but I guarantee that won’t last, so don’t be thinking you’re something special, ’cos you ain’t. He’ll fuck you till he’s bored, and then he’ll ship you out to earn your keep with your mates.’

‘He say he is want to keep me for only him,’ Viktorya argued, refusing to be swayed. ‘And he has promise to make me number one girl.’

‘I wouldn’t let our Reeny hear you saying that, if I was you,’ Nick snorted. ‘She ain’t gonna give him up without a fight, and she’d make mincemeat of you. So how’s about you and me make a little pact, eh? I won’t tell Reeny you’re after her man, and you can give me a bit of what you’ve been giving Karel. Yeah?’

Revolted by the idea of this animal putting his filthy hands on her, Viktorya drew her head back and spat in his face. Then, opening her mouth wide, she screamed out the name she hadn’t known until that moment: ‘KAARRREEEELLL . . .!’

Jolted into action, Nick threw his hand over her mouth to silence her, and let out a strangled cry of pain when she sank her teeth into his flesh. Raising his fist to punch her, he hesitated when the door opened and light filtered in from the landing.

‘What the fuck are you doing?’ Gaz hissed, staring in at him.

At the sound of his voice, Viktorya released her grip on Nick’s hand and scrambled off the bed.

‘Help me!’ she cried, running to Gaz. ‘He was try to rape me!’

‘Was I fuck,’ Nick countered, wiping the spit off his face with his sleeve and stuffing his injured hand under his armpit. ‘I was trying to shut you up, you stupid bitch.’

‘Why are you even in here?’ Gaz asked. ‘You were only supposed to be locking them in.’

‘You what?’ Nick glared at him. ‘I don’t answer to you, you little prick.’

‘No, you answer to Karel,’ Gaz reminded him. ‘And he specifically told you to leave this one alone, so, if I was you, I’d get out of here before he wakes up and catches you.’

‘Catches him doing what?’ Karel asked, walking in at that exact moment and looking from Gaz to Nick.

‘Nothing,’ Nick muttered, flashing a hooded look of warning at Gaz. ‘I was only getting the tarts’ underwear off ’em for the wash, and this crazy bitch started mouthing off.’

‘I ask speak to you,’ Viktorya said, rushing to Karel’s side and clinging to his arm. ‘He say no, and then he hit me and try to rape me.’