Page 111 of Power's Fall
Sinaver rubbed his red cheek on his shoulder, staining his shirt with the blood welling from his freshly cut lip. “You will pay for that as well.”
Montana twisted slightly, glancing at Dahlia. “Do I want to know what he said?”
She lifted one shoulder. “He plans to make you watch while all his men rape me, blah, blah, blah. Why do assholes always lead with that? It’s like they can’t come up with anything new or original.”
Montana’s hands clenched the steering wheel of the boat tight enough that she suspected that was the only thing keeping him from backhanding Sinaver as well.
“Dahlia,” Vadisk said, in a steady voice. Only someone who knew him would recognize the tightness around his eyes and mouth that told her Sinaver’s threat had hit its mark.
“All I’m saying is, would it kill them to be a little creative from time to time?” she said, hoping to distract him with humor. “It’s hardly the first time I’ve been threatened with rape, and it probably won’t be the last.”
“Yes, it fucking is. No one is threatening you ever again,” Vadisk snarled.
“What he said,” Montana added.
Sinaver watched their exchange curiously, his expression just blank enough that Dahlia was certain he didn’t have a clue what they were saying.
“Who was that man in your office?” Vadisk asked. Dahlia realized he was being careful not to reveal how much they knew.
Sinaver refused to answer the question, choosing instead to rage at them, using the same insults she’d heard while hiding in the secret room. “You are immoral. Sinners. There is a special place in hell for freaks like you.”
Dahlia quickly translated for Montana, who snorted. “Freaks, huh? Anyone else tempted to break out into a little Usher? Yeah yeah yeah,” he sang.
She couldn’t resist giggling as Vadisk shook his head, amused.
Vadisk’s phone chimed, and he looked at it, then passed it to Montana. “That’s our rendezvous point.”
Montana scanned the map, glanced at the compass, and spun the wheel, the catamaran turning in a slow arch that made Dahlia’s stomach heave.
Sinaver continued to rail. “Laugh while you can. I’ve discovered your secret and now you’ll all pay.”
“Pay? As in blackmail?” Vadisk chuckled, brushing off the threat. “Isn’t that what the man said back in your office? You were blackmailing guests at the resort, causing it to shut down. Your whole village was left to live in poverty, right? Bet that was a proud moment for you.”
Sinaver’s eyes darted away briefly. He didn’t like having his own sins thrust in his face. Unfortunately, the guilt was short-lived as he cast the blame on them. “It wasn’t my fault. It was the people likeyou, sick fucking bastards, so rich they thought they were above following any moral code.”
“Remind me again,” Vadisk taunted. “Which moral code does blackmailing fall under?”
Spittle flew from Sinaver’s mouth as he shouted, “The world will see how disgusting, how vile you are! I have proof. Proof of your sick desires.”
Vadisk leaned back in his seat, looking casual—and sexy—as fuck. “Why do you assume the three of us would give a shit about our relationship going public? We have nothing to hide.”
“You are an affront to good people, faithful people,” Sinaver insisted.
“Like you?”
Dahlia was fairly certain if Sinaver’s hands were free, he would pound them on his chest as he proclaimed, “Like me.”
Vadisk crossed his arms, unimpressed. “The world is different from when you were young. When you started that little blackmailing scheme of yours, you preyed on people with different lifestyles, like us, didn’t you?” he asked, pretending he’d only learned of the blackmail through the Spaniard.
Vadisk was attempting to do damage control, to make Sinaver question whether or not the Spaniard’s information regarding the Masters’ Admiralty was accurate. She had overheard him telling Nikolett that he wouldn’t kill Sinaver. That was safer for them—murder charges would be a potentially deadly complication, not just for them but for their governments. But keeping him alive meant their societies would still be at risk. However, given what they’d heard from Sinaver and the Spaniard’s conversation, the minister had very limited information.
The Spaniard now felt like the more pressing threat.
“It’s not a lifestyle. It’s an abomination. A…a crime. Don’t think I don’t know about you two.” Sinaver nodded his head from Vadisk to Montana. “Everyone will know you for what you are.Pedik,” he spat.
Dahlia felt her temper rise, angry at this man’s continual insults.
Montana raised one eyebrow. “Translate.”