‘No,’ Sophie cried. ‘Leave me alone! Please! Leave me alone.’

Karene stood to protect Sophie, her shoulders squared in defiance.

George hit her across the face so hard that she fell to the floor, smacking her head on the wall of the deck and landing hard on her left shoulder.

‘If anyone else moves, shoot them,’ George said to his colleague.

Bloom could feel Jake’s arm shaking.

‘Now.’ George pointed to the floor at his feet and reached into his pocket to remove a pair of latex gloves.

Bloom checked the syringe in her pocket with her elbow. Could she get to it with her hands tied? If so, would she be able to remove the cap and inject the contents without getting hit or shot? It was unlikely. George had put his gun down behind him, but it was still within easy reach and the foot soldier had his weapon raised and pointed at Karene, who was slowly returning to her seat.

‘Use me instead,’ Karene said. ‘I’m older. Please.’

George paused but then shouted again at Sophie to get on the floor.

This time, she did as he asked. She was still sobbing and pleading for the man not to hurt her, but George just held the phone closer to her mouth.

Bloom’s fury with Seraphine reached a new level. How could she put Harry and his kids in this position?

When Sophie was kneeling on the floor, George took a long strap out of his other pocket and tied a tourniquet around her upper left arm.

Bloom realized what was coming.

‘Come here, boy,’ George said to Jake.

Karene had realized too. ‘No!’ she said. ‘Stop. Why are you doing this? What do you want? I’ll help you get whatever you want from Harry.’ She looked at Bloom. ‘We both will. We’re influential women. We know a lot of people. Please don’t hurt these children.’

‘Boy. Here.’

Jake stood as the foot soldier came closer with his gun.

‘You need to hold her hand down,’ said George. ‘Come this side of me. Hold it down or we’ll make it much worse for your sister. Do you understand?’ He took the knife and placed it under the cable tie around Jake’s wrists.

‘Let me do that,’ said Bloom.

George looked across at her.

‘Don’t make the boy do it. He won’t be able to hold her still; she’s his sister.’

‘If he doesn’t hold her still, it will be his hand next.’

Sophie began to buck against George.

‘Stop it or I’ll cut them both off,’ he hissed.

Sophie continued to writhe.

‘She’s panicking,’ said Bloom. ‘She can’t stop and Jake won’t be able to hold her. I will. I’m not a relative. I’ve only just met the girl and I understand that a cleaner cut will be better.’

‘I will not hesitate to cut your limbs off.’