Every fibre of Frank’s being screamed in frustration and rage as he watched Karel force the plastic tube into Irena’s mouth and depress the plunger. He’d never hated anyone as much as he hated these two men right now, but he’d be putting Evan’s life in jeopardy if he tried to fight them, so he had to back down.

Sinking onto a chair, he dropped his face into his hands, unable to watch as Irena spluttered and choked on the liquid. Still holding her hair, Karel held her head back until she had no choice but to swallow.

‘There we go,’ he said, releasing her when she gulped. ‘Now you won’t feel a thing, and it’ll all be over before you know it.’

‘I’ll go and top up Abdul’s glass while we wait for that to kick in,’ Nick said, reaching for a bottle of wine.

‘Nah, we’ve wasted enough time,’ Karel said. ‘Just give him some gear and take him up to the bedroom. The farmer’s, not mine.’

Nick put the bottle down and, taking a plastic bag out of a cupboard, extracted a wrap of white powder from it before leaving the room. Frank heard him talking to someone, then, seconds later, a huge shadow passed by the crack in the door, followed by heavy footsteps on the stairs. As the thudding steps moved along the landing above, Frank looked at Irena out of the corner of his eye. The fight had drained from her eyes, and he guessed the morphine was already taking effect when her shoulders sagged and her head began to loll forward.

Karel slipped his arm around her waist to hold her up, and then turned to Frank.

‘You’ll have to do the cooking tonight,’ he said. ‘My friend’s going to be hungry by the time he’s finished, so make sure there’s plenty. She’ll help you if you need a hand.’ He nodded at Viktorya.

‘I am not cook with him,’ she protested. ‘I am stay with you.’

‘Women, eh?’ Karel rolled his eyes at Frank. ‘Give ’em an inch, and they want the whole ten – with balls on top.’

Disgusted, his voice as cold as ice, Frank said, ‘I don’t need any help.’

‘Suit yourself.’ Karel shrugged. ‘But you’ll be tasting everything before any of us touch it, so think again if you were planning on adding any special ingredients.’

With that, he half-walked, half-carried Irena out of the room, and Frank released a shuddering breath and placed both hands on the tabletop when Viktorya tottered behind him. He’d never felt so powerless in his entire life, and the guilt and shame was burning like acid in his gut.

40