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“Yes, boss,” Karol answers.
“Is everything all set up in Abby’s room? Have her things from the boat been brought?”
He nods almost like a bow. He’s strangely formal that way.
“Yes, Bogdan, Miss Abby’s room is ready. And I have to say, it’s very nice. I think she’ll be very comfortable.”
We all stand when Abby does, and watch her numbingly follow Karol out of the room.
“We’ll need to lock her in. For her own safety,” Fedor says.
We nod in agreement.
“Well, that was fucking brutal,” I say. “I suggest we take turns checking up on her.”
Bogdan rises and pours himself another scotch. He gazes out the window toward the sea, which is getting choppy.
Daylight is mostly gone, and the lack of stars indicates it’s overcast. The mounting wind suggests a storm is coming. Perfect for the mood permeating the house.
“I’m glad we’ve gotten to the bottom of why that bastard isn’t responding to our demands. Who would have thoughthewas settingusup to kill his daughter? What kind of father does that?” I ask.
“Let’s make sure Abby’s asleep. Then we’ll call him.”
We reconvene a few minutes later in the living room. I check on Abby, who’s nearly catatonic, and give her a light sleeping pill to help her further relax.
We make our call to Miami.
“Hello,” Abby’s father booms with fake-ass friendliness. “If it isn’t my Russian friends.”
“Madden, hello. We had an interesting experience tonight,” Bogdan says.
Silence.
“It looks like there was a hitman after your daughter. Don’t worry, though, we saved her. The guy is probably at the bottom of the ocean by now, tied to a concrete block or something.”
Madden clears his throat. “What do you want from me, gentlemen?”
Christ. The fuckery just doesn’t stop.
“You know what we want. And we know why you’re not delivering,” Bogdan says patiently.
Madden laughs. “Okay. If you’re so smart, then why don’t you tell me?”
God I wish I could reach through the phone and strangle this man.
“You’re trying to either get your daughter murdered by us, or have your daughter murdered by someone you hire. We’re pretty sure either one works for you, just as long as the job gets done,” Fedor says, his voice tight.
Yeah, he is pissed. We all are.
I get closer to the speaker. I want to make sure the fucker hears everything I have to say. “That’s why you sent her to Europe this summer, Madden. Here she thinks you’ve set her up on this great trip for her twenty-first birthday, when you were really setting her up to be killed. What kind of father does that?” I ask.
Madden laughs. “And you think you’re so much better? You’re the criminals, not me. Look, the longer you guys keep her, the sooner I can have her declared dead. Do what you want with her. You won’t see any interference from me. From here on out, she’s yours. All yours. I’ll just say she got into some trouble on vacation, trusted the wrong people, andpoof!disappeared. Happens to naïve young women traveling abroad all the time.”
There’s no getting through to this evil dirtbag.
“So that’s it, Madden? You’re done with your own daughter? Your own flesh and blood?”
The next thing he says causes a rage in me so great I can’t see straight, and at that moment, I know I’ll get vengeance on this man if it’s the last thing I do.
