“The Coast Guard.”
Sergei craned his neck, and his heart dropped. Sure enough, the Coast Guard boat was pulling up, and it was slowing down. They weren’t just going to stroll on by, were they?
“What do you think they want?” he asked.
“Don’t know,” Dom muttered. “They don’t usually harass us unless they’re getting suspicious.”
“Of course they’re getting suspicious,” Felice said. “My men have probably already—”
“Your men think we’re having a private business meeting,” Dom snapped. He glanced at the boat and scowled. “We’re not required to let them board and search us, but I’d just as soon not raise suspicions.”
Sergei thought quickly, and then turned to Dom. “Go out and stall them.” Sergei paused. “Take off your shirt and muss your hair a little first.”
“Take—”
“Trust me.”
Dom hesitated.
“Trust me, Dom.”
Dom exhaled, but he pulled off his shirt and hurried outside.
The Coast Guard boat pulled up close, its engines getting louder as it did. Not much time.
Sergei turned to Felice. “I’m leaving you here, and you’re going to keep your fucking mouth shut, or I will—”
“Fuck you.” Felice spat blood at his feet. “You’re not going to—”
Sergei pistol-whipped the fucker, the impact of the gun against Felice’s cheekbone reverberating up his arm.
Felice blinked a few times. Blood trickled from his face, and he stared at Sergei, stunned.
“I’m not fucking around,” Sergei growled. “Make a goddamned sound, and I’ll make sure you live a very long, very hellish life. Wouldn’t take much to plant some evidence and get you convicted of something child-related. And all it would take is a rumor around the prison yard that you’re a child molester, and you’ll learn the meaning of hard time. Am I clear?”
The Italian swallowed. Slowly, he nodded.
“That’s what I thought.”
He double-checked that Felice’s bindings were secure, shoved a gag in his mouth, and then headed down to join Dom, peeling off his shirt as he went.
Chapter 34
Dom trusted Sergei, but this seemed insane. Shirt off? Hair mussed? What the hell did he have up his sleeve?
But he hadn’t led him astray so far, so Dom stepped out onto the deck and leaned on the railing. The smaller vessel was manned by two young coasties in uniforms and sunglasses, and one was out on the deck.
“Can I help you, gentlemen?” Dom asked.
“Good morning,” the coastie said. “Sorry to bother you, but we’ve gotten some reports of—”
“There you are!” Sergei singsonged.
Dom spun around, and his heart stopped. Sergei wasn’t just strutting down the steps from the upper deck, he was completely naked with a wine bottle in his hand and a very prominent erection.
Oh God. What in—
Sergei turned to the guys on the boat. “Oh, hey boys!” He waved at them. “We’re on our honeymoon!”
The blushing coastie chuckled, shifting uncomfortably. “Oh. Uh. Congratulations. Um—”
“Oh my God.” Sergei flashed Dom a grin, then looked back at the coasties. “You boys should join us!” He held up the bottle. “We’ve got tons of champagne and gallons of lube, so—”
“Seriously?” Dom gaped at him. “What—”
“Relax, baby.” Sergei wrapped an arm around him and nuzzled his neck. “Just play along.” Then he grabbed Dom’s crotch and called out to the man below, “Come on, boys! What do you say?”
The other coastie stepped out of the cabin. “What’s going on out—oh, lord.” His eyes about bugged out of his head, and his face turned even redder than the first guy.
“Um.” The first cleared his throat. “Don’t worry about—”
“Hey, honey!” Sergei gestured at the red-faced one. “Do you top? Please tell me you top.”
Apparently the poor kid’s face could get darker. He blinked a few times, and then disappeared inside.
The first guy watched him go, then looked up at the yacht. Shaking his head, he stepped back from the rail and started toward the cabin. “You gentlemen, um, enjoy your… enjoy your day.” As he went back into the cabin with the other guy, he said, “Let’s move on. They’re good.”
The boat pulled away, and as the engines throttled up and they left, Dom stared at the boat and its growing wake.
“Worked like a charm,” Sergei said.
“Uh-huh.” Dom turned to him. “And what would you have done if they’d taken you up on the offer?”
“What do you think?” Sergei shrugged indifferently. “Turned up the music and had a foursome.”
“With how many kilos of coke onboard? Along with my bound and gagged cousin?”
Sergei’s lips quirked. “Well, now you’re just making it sound kinky.”
Dom stared at him. Sergei batted his eyes.
Finally, a laugh burst out of Dom, and he wrapped his arms around Sergei’s beautiful naked body. “That was a pretty genius plan.”
“You sound surprised.”