by Bill Ward
“Hello Afina,” Victor said. “Don’t move, this is a gun you can feel not my cock.”
Afina turned towards the voice she recognised and hated. “What do you want?”
“You’re coming with me. Get rid of the friend and let’s go.” He dug the gun into her side. “No messing or I’ll just shoot you here.”
“Adriana, run down the road and find the others. I’m going to wait here for Powell.” She was so pleased Victor didn’t know Adriana was her sister. Afina doubted he would let her go if he knew of their relationship. Sensing reluctance on Adriana’s part, Afina raised her voice, “Go now,” she commanded.
As Adriana ran down the road, Victor gripped Afina’s arm and led her in the opposite direction. All the time he had the gun hidden beneath the coat over his arm sticking into Afina’s side. He led her up some steps and along a busy walkway fronting the sea.
“It looks like Powell has more lives than a cat,” Victor said. “But he won’t keep getting lucky.”
“Where are we going?” Afina asked.
“Back home, of course,” he answered. “I’ve missed you.”
“Afina was surprised they were heading for the house and took a crumb of comfort from the fact she knew where she was going. Surely it would be the first place Powell would look for her. Perhaps that was even what Victor wanted, to lure him to the house. Perhaps she was the bait in the trap. At least everyone else was safe and in particular Adriana.
There were restaurants to her right and after just a couple of minutes they were in the Marina car park. Victor led the way up two floors and strode to an old Volvo. He opened the passenger door and pushed her inside.
“Don’t cause me any trouble,” he threatened. “I will shoot you and anyone else who gets in my way.”
Afina sat obediently in the seat while Victor hurried around to the driver’s side and sat beside her. He turned the key and reversed out the space. Within five minutes they were driving into the centre of Brighton. He turned right after about a mile and parked in a further underground car park bearing the name Regency Square.
He pulled her from the car and they ascended some steps to emerge only a couple of streets from the house where she had hoped and expected never to return.
When armed police arrived at the restaurant, Powell was instructed to lie on the floor with his hands behind his back and he did as asked. It took only a few minutes for the explanations which led to the police being satisfied he was an innocent victim not a perpetrator of any crime. He was keen to find the girls but wasn’t unduly worried as there had been no casualties and they had all done the sensible thing by running away.
When the officer in charge understood he was Bella’s father he had many questions about why he was being targeted by two killers. Powell gave him a very brief explanation of recent events but pointed him to Chief Inspector Brown for corroboration.
After ten minutes and realising the questions were going to go on for quite a bit longer he called Afina’s number but there was no answer. He had been talking to the police for almost thirty minutes when he saw Adriana, Emma and Rebecca at the entrance to the restaurant. They seemed anxious but a broad shouldered police officer was stopping them from entering. Powell walked across to join them.
“These are my friends,” Powell explained to the police officer. “They were sat with me so are all witnesses and I’m sure the man in charge will want to interview them.”
“Powell, we can’t find Afina,” Emma shouted to him in a worried voice and barged past the police officer. The others followed suit and the officer gave into the unequal struggle and let them enter.
Adriana added, “She led me outside to safety but then she sent me to find the others while she stayed behind.”
“Maybe she is somewhere looking for you guys right now,” Powell said far calmer than he was feeling inside.
“She’s not answering her phone,” Becky said.
“Where’s Mara?” Powell asked. “Could they be together?”
Emma answered, “Mara took a taxi home before we walked back to the restaurant. We all thought Afina would be waiting here for us.”
“Could you girls do me a huge favour and take Adriana back to the bar and I’ll continue looking for Afina. I’m sure she’ll turn up shortly.”
“Wouldn’t it be better if we all looked for her?” Becky asked.
There was a certain logic to Becky’s suggestion but Powell wanted them all as far away as possible, in case of further trouble. He couldn’t properly look for Afina while at the same time having to babysit three other girls. “The police are going to want to interview you all. You are key witnesses as you were sat with me. When they’ve finished they might offer a lift back to Brighton but if not then grab a taxi. Keep phoning Afina and let me know if you hear anything.”
“So you are worried something’s happened to her?” Becky pressed.
“It’s unlikely but there could have been more men waiting outside the restaurant. Please just do as I ask and we’ll speak a bit later. I’ll introduce you to the police officer in charge and explain about Afina, then I’ll go looking for her.”
“Make sure you call us as soon as you know anything,” Emma stressed.
“Will do.” Powell promised.
CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN
Mara was disappointed how the evening had turned out. There had been no dinner, followed by a near death experience and then the girls had said they didn’t feel like partying so Mara had taken a taxi home alone. She couldn’t be certain but was wondering if Victor was responsible for the attack at the restaurant. Powell didn’t seem like the type of guy to collect more than one enemy wanting him dead.
She opened her front door and as she entered, shouted up the stairs, “Victor, you at home?”
“I’m up here,” came the reply.
Mara marched up the stairs in a determined mood. She was fed up with Victor and he was putting the whole business at risk with his thirst for revenge.
She entered Stefan’s living room and Victor was waiting for her with a huge smile on his face. “So glad you could join us,” he said.
It took a second for what he had said to sink in. “Aren’t you alone?”
“No I’m not. An old friend of yours has come to pay us a visit.”
Mara wondered if Stefan or Dimitry had somehow escaped from prison. “Where is this friend?” she asked.
“Come and see,” Victor replied and led the way to the bedroom.
Mara was shocked to see a naked Afina lying face down on the bed, her wrists and ankles shackled to the four corners of the bed. She turned her head in the direction of Mara when she heard her enter the room but couldn’t speak as she had tape across her mouth. Mara hurried to the side of the bed and was relieved to see Afina looked alive and well. She stroked Afina’s forehead and gave a smile of encouragement.
“Just like old times,” Victor quipped but no one laughed.
“Are you alright,” Mara asked Afina, who nodded affirmatively as a reply.
“Of course she’s alright, we haven’t started yet. I wasn’t expecting you back, Mara, but now you’re here I might as well let you expend all your energy while I play Director.”
“Director?”
“Did I not say? I’m planning to make a short film. Not for the mass market but something her friend Powell will appreciate.”
Mara was wishing she hadn’t come home. “I don’t want to be part of any film,” Mara stated firmly. “I suppose it was you organised for those gunmen to try and kill Powell at the restaurant?”
“Yes and I haven’t said thank you for leading us to the restaurant. We couldn’t have done it without you.”
Mara didn’t like hearing of her part in the evening’s events. So Victor had followed her, which meant he knew she was somehow implicated with Afina and Powell. She had to be very careful what she said and did. “What are you going to do?”
“As I said, it’s just like old times.” He undid the belt t
o his trousers and pulled it free. It was made of leather and had a large metal buckle. “We don’t need any fancy toys today, this will do fine.”
“I don’t want any fucking part of this,” Mara swore. “You’re a bloody fool. It won’t take long for Powell to realise Afina is missing and you’re responsible. This house will be flooded with police within the hour.”
“Then we better get a move on.”
“Mara’s phone rang with a number she didn’t recognise. “Hello,” she answered tentatively.
“Mara, this is Powell. Have you seen Afina?”
“Not since the restaurant.”
“Did you see her outside after the shooting? Which direction she went?”
“No I didn’t. I’m afraid I just ran for my life. Have you asked Emma and Becky?”
“They haven’t seen her. I’m wondering if Victor has snatched her.”
“I doubt it. Listen, I’m just about to jump in the shower. Can we talk later? I’ll let you know if I hear from her,” Mara promised.
“Thanks. You haven’t heard anything further about Victor’s whereabouts, I suppose?”
“Sorry, nothing.”
Powell said thanks and ended the call.
“Who was that?” Victor asked suspiciously.
“A friend telling me Afina is missing.”
“So we better get started.” He handed the belt to Mara. “This bitch needs to be taught a proper lesson. She and Powell are responsible for Dimitry and Stefan being in jail.”
“I’m not doing this,” Mara said defiantly. “In fact, I’m leaving before the police arrive and if you have any bloody sense you will do the same.”
“You’re going nowhere,” Victor said menacingly, taking a gun from his trouser belt. He pointed the weapon at Mara. “I saw you two together in that bar,” he said distastefully. “I think you like this little bitch.”
“Rubbish” Mara exclaimed. “I’ve just been doing what Stefan told me to do. Remember, you and her disappeared together. He told me to become her friend and keep an eye on her. Stefan thought she might be working for you.”
“Working for me! Doing what exactly?”
“Going into competition.”
“I’ve heard enough of this bollocks! Ever since this damned girl arrived in the country everything we do has turned to shit. This is your chance to prove she doesn’t mean anything to you.” He thrust the belt into Mara’s hands.
Mara was torn between her feelings for Afina and her fear of Victor. She gripped the buckle in her hand and glanced at Afina. Despite her mouth being sealed, Afina’s eyes were pleading with her to help. Mara moved to the bottom of the bed to avoid Afina’s accusing look. If she tried to refuse to use the belt, Victor simply wasn’t going to accept no for an answer. He would probably belt Afina twice as hard and may even decide Mara deserved a similar punishment.
“Damn,” Mara swore, as she delivered a half-hearted blow with the belt.
“That was pathetic,” Victor said.
Mara struck a little harder with the belt but she knew it was still well below Victor’s expectations.
Victor grabbed the belt from Mara’s hand and belted Afina with all his force. Her bottom desperately wriggled on the bed trying to avoid further blows.
“That is what I want to see. Do it properly or else…” Victor left the threat unfinished.
Mara realised she was stuck between the proverbial rock and a hard place. She had real feelings for Afina but if she didn’t beat her with sufficient force then Victor was capable of getting really nasty.
If only the police or Powell would turn up. She needed to buy some time. “I need to take a piss,” she said and started towards the door of the room. Victor quickly blocked her path. “I can’t concentrate on doing this properly when I’m desperate for a pee.”
“Don’t be long,” Victor warned.
Mara went straight to the bathroom, the very one which she knew Afina had originally used to escape. She could think of nothing which would deflect Victor from his intention to severely beat Afina. He was a sadist at heart and she had seen the pleasure he took from hurting many girls over the last couple of years. It was time for her to make a decision. If she left the bathroom and beat Afina as Victor wanted, then there would never be a chance for them to be friends in the future let alone lovers. She took her phone from her pocket and texted Powell.
“How long are you going to be in there,” Victor shouted from outside.
“Just a minute,” Mara replied after reading the immediate response from Powell. He was on his way but she knew it would take ten minutes from the Marina.
“Get out here now or I’ll break the door down,” Victor threatened.
Mara flushed the toilet and went to the sink. She turned the tap on and pretended to wash her hands for a minute. Then she opened the door to the bathroom.
“Let’s get on with it,” Victor demanded. He led the way back to the bedroom and picked up the belt from where Mara had left it on the bottom of the bed. “As you seem to lack strength, hold the belt like this and then hit her with the buckle. He demonstrated with a swing of his arm and this time Afina’s whole body fought with the restraints to get free.
Mara observed the red trickle of blood where the point of the buckle had drawn a line across Afina’s bottom. She took the belt from Victor and knew what she had to do. She walked to the other side of the bed as if about to start the beating. She laid the belt on the bed and quickly pulled her top over her head, revealing a lacy white bra.
“What the hell are you doing?” Victor asked.
“I’m getting comfortable,” she replied, undoing her jeans and pulling them down her legs. I know from previous experience it’s hot work beating someone and anyway don’t you like it more this way?”
Victor seemed momentarily nonplussed and said nothing but looked appreciatively at her body. He smiled lasciviously. “You have a great body.”
“Wouldn’t you enjoy beating this body for the first time?”
“It has crossed my mind.”
“Stefan’s not around anymore and I’ve always wondered what it would be like receiving not giving… And you don’t need to tie me down. I’ll take it willingly from you. Wouldn’t that make a nice change? I can bend over that chair and you can punish me for being a naughty girl.”
Mara could sense the change in atmosphere in the room. Victor was now more focused on her than Afina. She threw the belt across the bed to Victor. “You can always deal with Afina once you’ve finished with me.”
“You’ve been a very naughty girl,” Victor agreed. “I shall have to teach you a lesson.” He moved the chair to the side of the bed in such a position Afina could see everything. “Bend over,” he instructed, indicating the chair.
Mara slowly removed her knickers and moved towards the chair but stopped in front of Victor with her eyes cast down to the ground. “I’ve been a very bad girl.” She removed her bra directly in front of Victor. “I’m ready for my punishment. Unless you would like me to pleasure you first?”
“First you have the pain then you can have the pleasure.”
Mara could think of nothing further she could do to buy time. She moved to the chair and leaned over the back. She wasn’t quite tall enough and had to stand on her tip toes. She stretched her arms and held on to the seat of the chair. She had beaten dozens of girls over the previous couple of years but despite Victor asking more than once to beat her, she had always said no and fortunately Stefan had confirmed she was off limits. She waited for the first blow, praying he would not be using the buckle. She had quite happily indulged in some smacking in her private life but never been hit by any implement before.
“Make sure you count the strokes,” Victor said. “You know the rules. Don’t count properly and we start again.”
Mara prepared herself and cast a glance to the side where she could see Afina, and forced a smile. When the first blow landed she was surprised that it wasn’t quite as bad as she had expe
cted. It hurt like hell but she was relieved to find he wasn’t using the buckle. He delivered four more fast blows and suddenly the combination of the blows made it impossible for her not to squirm and move her bottom from side to side.
“Keep still,” Victor ordered or we will begin again.
Mara took three more blows before she cried out, “Shit that hurts!”
That seemed to invigorate Victor and the next two blows were even harder. Mara knew she couldn’t voluntarily take much more. She stood up and turned to face Victor. “I can’t do it like this,” she explained. “You need to tie me up like the others.”
Victor seemed undecided for a second. “Okay,” he agreed. “But for interrupting me we will start at the beginning again.”
It must have been ten minutes. Where the hell is Powell? She was scared of the idea of being tied to the bed. It would give Victor carte blanche to beat her as much and as hard as he wanted.
Victor moved to the bed and undid Afina’s leg ties. Then he withdrew the gun from his pocket and pointed it at Afina while he undid the wrist restraints.
“No messing, Afina. Just tie Mara to the bed, then go sit in the chair and watch the fun. It’ll be your turn again soon enough.”
CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT
Powell and two police cars full of armed officers arrived outside the house. Powell had convinced the officer in charge he needed to go along as he knew the layout of the house. A quick call to Chief Inspector Brown also confirmed he wasn’t just your average civilian and could more than take care of himself. Powell explained who was in the house and a little of the background history.
They didn’t announce their arrival with any sirens and as the seven officers joined him at the front door, Powell explained about the stairs leading to the different rooms and that the three people he knew to be in the house were in Stefan’s rooms. That meant they had the disadvantage of having to scale three floors of stairs quietly to get to Victor, an almost impossible task.
“Listen Inspector, if you knock down the door and announce our arrival, Victor is likely to shoot the girls and some of us. I think I know him a little and neither do I think he will just come quietly.”