Crossing the Line (22 page)

Katya stayed on the padded seat where Aleksei had pushed her. She pulled her knees to her chest and pressed her back against the bulkhead. Sylvie and Beth carried food on deck and handed it out. Katya felt too anxious to eat. Natasha draped her legs over Constantin’s thighs, giggling as she fed him. The two Colombians and Petrenko ate, drank and talked business—ground to air missiles now.
Oh God.
Katya needed to think before she spoke or did anything. It was a moment before she realized Petrenko was speaking to her.

“I’m sorry. What did you say?” she asked.

“I asked which occupation you prefer; killer or violinist?”

Katya tensed.

“She’s good at playing Miss Big-eyed Innocent.” Anna hiccupped. “She think—”

“Shut the fuck up.” Petrenko turned to Katya. “You were at the Moscow Conservatory?”

She nodded.

“Played for Putin?”

“Yes.”

“She didn’t answer the question,” Kirill said.

Petrenko smiled, his eyes warm for Kirill. “You’re right.”

“I need more practice at killing,” Katya said.
I’m an idiot.

Petrenko chuckled. “I went to a concert at the Conservatory last year in aid of an orphanage. I wonder if you were playing.”

Adrenaline surged. “Yes.” Did he know who she was? She hugged her legs harder to stop them shaking. He might have found out. Galya had kept her husband’s name but if Petrenko had discovered the family name, he might know everything. A surge of adrenaline dried her mouth and made it hard to swallow.

The bastard smiled. “What trouble could a young musician get into that might require her to murder her uncle?”

“It was an accident,” she said.

“I thought you used two knives?”

She glanced at Aleksei, then stared at Petrenko. She had to be bold. “Maybe not quite an accident. One to cut his throat, the other to stab him in the back.”

Petrenko laughed again. “What other criminal tendencies do you harbor, Katya? For instance, have you ever tried blackmail?”

She thought for a moment, wondering if this was a trick, then said, “Yes.”

He leaned forward. “Who?”

“My father, my mother, Aleksei.”

“How did you blackmail your father?”

“I said if he didn’t let me attend the Conservatory, I’d not only work for Minatom but I’d tell my mother where he went on Thursday nights.”

“Where did he go?” Petrenko asked.

“I promised not to tell and I never have.”

“What about Aleksei?”

Katya glanced at him. “I threatened to tell his wife he wanted to fuck me.”

“Were you successful?”

“No. Apart from not knowing where his wife lives, blackmail only works against those desperate to keep their secret intact. Aleksei didn’t care.”

“Because there are plenty more where you came from,” Petrenko said.

Katya made sure her face showed nothing.

“How about you, Natasha?” Petrenko asked.

“No.”

“Anna?”

“Never.”

“Sylvie?”

“No.”

“I won’t ask the rest of you. I’m afraid the answer would be yes.”

Katya felt a riptide tugging, a trap ready to be sprung. Maybe she’d said the wrong thing. Maybe it didn’t matter what she said. Anna sidled closer to Aleksei and kissed the tattoo on his knee before he jerked aside.

“Anna, stop slobbering over Aleksei,” Petrenko said. “Bring me champagne.”

Anna lurched across the deck to the cooler to pick up the open bottle. The boat rocked but her difficulty in staying upright had more to do with the amount she’d drunk and the coke she’d snorted. She ended up sprawled at Petrenko’s feet.

“I didn’t spill any.” She giggled and came up on her knees.

“That’s what I like to hear.”

He squeezed her breast hard, made her yelp and pulled her between his legs. She fumbled with his shorts and he lifted himself so she could pull them down. When she took Petrenko’s cock into her mouth, one of the Colombians unzipped his pants and moved behind her. He caught Petrenko’s nod of approval and ripped away Anna’s g-string, lifting her hips so he could push himself inside her. Katya pressed her face into Aleksei’s chest. She wouldn’t watch. Petrenko began grunting and after a few minutes groaned loudly. When she turned, she saw Petrenko press Anna’s lips together.

“Don’t spill any,” he said.

When the first Colombian had finished fucking Anna, the other took over. Constantin disappeared below with Natasha and Sylvie. Katya clung to Aleksei and he stroked her back.

“It’s okay,” he whispered. “I won’t let anyone touch you.”

“You’ll just find another leggy blonde.”

He kissed her forehead. “I don’t want anyone else.”

Anxiety made her heart pound.

“Aleksei, roll back this cover,” Petrenko said.

Katya slid off his lap and Aleksei stepped over Anna who lay sprawled on the deck half-asleep. Petrenko unclipped the hose and blasted her with cold water.

Shit,” she squealed.

“Pay attention,” Petrenko said, “because we have a problem.”

Aleksei dropped back to Katya and wrapped his arm around her. Her heart raced. She knew he must feel it.

“Bruno, get Constantin and the women up here. Leave Beth below. She’s drunk too much to stay upright. Aleksei get your brain out of Katya’s pussy.”

Constantin came on deck fastening his shorts. Natasha and Sylvie followed giggling.

“We’ve not had much luck with our fishing,” Petrenko said. “I’ve decided we need bigger bait.”

Goosebumps flashed down Katya’s arms.

Petrenko stared at her. “Have you been talking to Max?”

“Who’s Max?”

“You know,” Anna snapped. “Max Hastings.”

“I don’t know anyone called Max Hastings,” Katya said.

“Did you speak to him, Anna?” Petrenko asked.

“No,” she said.

“Natasha. Have you been meddling in things that don’t concern you?”

“No.” She pressed herself closer to Constantin.

“You, Sylvie? You saw a way to make a lot of money?”

“No. I haven’t said a word.”

Petrenko smiled. “No, you haven’t. I know it wasn’t you. You’re not bright enough to fake a Russian accent. But we have a problem because I have a guy who’s pissed off that I wanted to keep happy. Was Hastings too rough with you, Katya? You wanted revenge?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” But she could guess.

Tell him the truth,” Anna said.

The air seemed to grow heavier as though a storm was brewing but the sky was clear blue.

We have an interesting disk of you and Hastings having fun,” Petrenko said. “Well, he’s having fun. You thought it would make you a lot of money, but I’m not a man to be cheated.” He walked across the deck and put his face close to hers. Katya trembled against Aleksei, her body poised for flight, over the side if necessary. “No one fucks me over,” Petrenko whispered. “Not even Aleksei’s little whore.”

“I haven’t,” she said. “And I’m not Aleksei’s whore.”

“He’s fucking married. What are you then?” Petrenko sneered. “One of you three called Hastings from the apartment on Tuesday night using Katya’s phone but I’m willing to concede it might not be Katya. She’s not as stupid as others.” He turned to Natasha. “You?”

Her eyes were wide. “I was out on Tuesday.”

“You didn’t leave until after the call was made,” Aleksei said.

“You, Anna?” Petrenko grabbed her arm and twisted it.

Anna yelped. “I didn’t call him. Katya did.”

What the fuck?
“I didn’t,” Katya protested.

“How do you know it was Katya?” Aleksei asked.

She trembled. If Aleksei didn’t believe her, she was dead.

“She needs money and I heard her. Why would I do it? I have everything I want.”

Oh God.
Katya began to shake.

“Everything but me,” Aleksei said.

“Is that it, Anna? You want Katya out of the picture?” Petrenko asked and released her arm.

“It wasn’t me,” Anna gasped. “Katya told me what Max had done. She was angry with Aleksei for getting Nik to film it. She wanted to get even.”

“I didn’t know Nik had filmed anything,” Katya said, though she’d guessed. “Aleksei said he was there to take pictures of a development.”

“I won’t let him hurt you,” Aleksei whispered in her ear. “I swear it.” He grabbed her hand and put it behind him. She gulped when she felt the gun under his shirt and for a moment considered pulling it out and shooting Petrenko, except she’d never fired a gun in her life and the next person to die would be her.

“Katya didn’t know Max Hastings’s name,” Aleksei said. “Max wouldn’t have told her. I didn’t. I doubt Bruno did.”

When Bruno shook his head, Katya felt a sliver of hope.

“Nor would Katya have told Anna what Hastings did. She’d expect no sympathy from her.”

“I told Natasha,” Katya said.

“I didn’t tell anyone,” Natasha blurted.

“Nik could have shown the tape to either of you,” Aleksei said.

“Which little monkey should I believe?” Petrenko cast his gaze over them. “What will you do to persuade me you’re innocent?”

“Anything you like,” Anna said.

“I didn’t do anything.” Natasha was crying. “What do you want me to do?”

Petrenko looked at Katya. How could Galya have let scum like him touch her?

“I’ve told the truth,” Katya said. “What more is there to say?”

Petrenko stepped in front of her and caught her chin. “Why do I think you’re lying?”

Aleksei tightened his hold. “Leave her alone. She’s not lying. She’s the least avaricious woman I’ve ever met.”

Katya stared straight into Petrenko’s eyes, thought about Galya and wished she had a knife because at that moment she felt capable of sticking it straight into his cold, black heart. And twisting it.

There was silence for several seconds before Petrenko released her chin. He turned to Kirill and jerked his head toward Anna. She screamed as Kirill grabbed her.

“It wasn’t me. For God’s sake, Aleksei, don’t let them hurt me.”

“We don’t need to deal with this here,” Aleksei said.

“On the contrary, the high seas are exactly the place to deal with treachery. Take the wheel. Let me handle this. Sylvie go below to Beth. Natasha and Katya stay on deck.”

“Let her go,” Aleksei said.

Katya saw the way Petrenko’s expression darkened.

“Don’t you dare question my authority,” Petrenko snapped. “If you don’t want your little whore to join her, get her out of my fucking sight.”

Aleksei pushed Katya ahead of him up the ladder.

Anna struggled with the two Colombians. “Natasha, help me.”

Natasha kept her head down.

“Natasha, tell them truth,” Anna cried.

“I have,” Natasha said.

“For God’s sake, I try to protect you but I not take blame for this. It was you. You want money for business. Please, tell them.”

“You wanted to swim with the sharks and now you can.” Petrenko laughed.

“No.” Katya shouted.

“Suck Aleksei’s cock,” Petrenko called out. “It will keep your mouth shut and him busy.”

“Katya.” Aleksei took her hand. “There is nothing we can do.”

The two Colombians held Anna on her knees with her arms stretched out. Kirill raised a gaff hook and with one hard swing, sank it straight between her shoulders. Anna let out a piercing scream and Natasha fainted. Bile surged up Katya’s throat as Kirill pushed and twisted the hook through Anna’s body. Katya slumped at Aleksei’s feet, not wanting to look but unable to tear her gaze away. The deck was covered in blood. Anna was gurgling. Kirill tied a rope to the hook and the Colombians tossed Anna overboard. She went under and came up again as the boat surged forward.

“Cut your speed, Aleksei. You’ll drown her,” Petrenko shouted.

Aleksei swore and Katya guessed that’s what he’d been trying to do. She clung to the rail watching Anna’s body flail, leaving a trail of blood in her wake. Bruno hosed blood off the deck, pink water swirling over the stern. Petrenko pointed at a black fin on the left and laughed. Anna dropped below the foaming wake and the water turned red.

* * * * *

Aleksei asked Constantin to take a limp Natasha back to the apartment. He and Katya stayed on board to clean. The blood had been swilled off at sea but the boat had to be spotless and he could hardly get his usual cleaners in. One of the showers was still spattered where Kirill and the Colombians had washed.

Katya was in shock, pale and trembling. He hadn’t expected what happened, though he’d known Kirill was bad news. He couldn’t see how Viktor had been sure Anna had phoned Max. It could have been Natasha, but he’d been right that Viktor had been teaching everyone a lesson, particularly him. Katya was only still alive because Viktor had allowed it. Such a sickening level of violence was not acceptable.
Particularly on my fucking boat.
It was one thing to do work for men whose lives were insane, but he didn’t want
his
life contaminated. Until Viktor and Kirill had turned up on his doorstep, it hadn’t been.