Surprised by the man’s civility, because it was such a huge contrast to the violence and threats he’d received from Karel and Nick, Frank thanked him and passed the bags over. That tiny act of kindness had brought tears to his eyes, but he quickly blinked them away before hefting the boxes of wine inside.

The living room door opened as he entered the hallway, and Viktorya came out wearing a short, tight-fitting red dress, and a pair of high-heeled shoes. Her pretty young face was perfectly made-up, and the glossy curls in her long hair bounced around her shoulder as she tottered unsteadily into the kitchen. Frank guessed that the bag Karel had given her that morning must have been the one she’d arrived with, and that this outfit was one of the ones she had chosen for the glamorous life she’d been promised in England.

Irena was already in the kitchen, and she flashed the girl a dark look before hanging her coat behind the door and pushing up her sleeves to empty the shopping bags.

Viktorya caught it and, a mean light flaring in her eyes, she said, ‘What is problem, old woman? Are you jealous because Karel want me more than you?’

‘You are just doll he is play with,’ Irena retorted dismissively. ‘He will soon tire of you and put you back with others. But I will still be here.’

‘You are the one he will tire of,’ Viktorya countered, a sly smile on her glossy lips as she ran her hands over her breasts and down over her hips. ‘Why would he want you when he can have this?’

Irena’s brilliant-blue eyes sparked with rage, and she slammed down the plastic bottle she was holding so hard the lid popped off and milk exploded all over her. Sensing that she was about to lose it when Viktorya started laughing, Frank rushed over to her and thrust a tea towel into her hand, whispering, ‘Don’t rise to it; that’s what she wants.’

‘What’s the joke?’ Karel asked, appearing in the doorway.

Frank glanced round and saw that the man had changed into an expensive-looking suit. He’d also shaved, and his freshly washed hair was slicked neatly back. He looked good, and Frank could almost physically feel the confidence radiating from him. Whoever his guests were, Frank figured they had to be important for Karel to go to so much effort for them.

‘I spill milk, and she think is funny,’ Irena muttered, using the tea towel to wipe her top.

‘She slam bottle because I tell her she is finish,’ Viktorya said, linking a possessive arm through Karel’s. ‘She is ugly old woman, and you should make her work with other girls to punish her for disrespect me.’

‘You’re a smart-mouthed little bitch, aren’t you?’ Karel grinned, looping his arm around her waist.