Embroidered on the Heart

By Barbara Vaka

Alex McKay is back as MI6’s leading operative rescuing trafficked women. Brutality escalates to sensual seduction when two young women, Margot Bridgewater and her friend Sherri, while on vacation, are abducted, brutalized, and forced into a life they never imagined. Their struggle to survive and find happiness in a foreign culture is a love story of captor and captive locked in a cycle of pain and pleasure.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 30, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796035407

Barbara Vaka

Barbara Vaka has led an adventurous life traveling around the globe recording her experiences. She currently lives in Tampa, Florida with her husband of 42 years. Throughout her life, she has mingled with the rich and famous including Jerry Lewis with whom she appeared in his 1980 film HARDLY WORKING. Other celebrities include Danny Kaye, Susan Oliver, Steve Franken, and Harold J. Stone. She retired in 2008 from a position with the government as technical writer. HANK’S MOUNTAIN, her first novel, is a story set in Colorado near where she and her husband lived for twelve years, raising horses and their three children. It is a tale of a young Colorado rancher, Hank, who finds himself fighting for the one thing his father treasured most, a ski resort located on what becomes known as Hank’s Mountain following the tragic death of his parents in a car accident. In an inexplicable twist, a young woman from Philadelphia travels to Colorado to decide whether she wants the resort left to her by the young Rancher’s mother and a romance ensues. A New York billionaire wants the property, and will kill to get it. Mystery, revenge, romance, and mayhem fill the pages of this novel. Her next novel, PRETTY MAIDS is scheduled to be released in 2011 and is a story set in the Middle East based on the plight of thousands of young women who are lured into a life of slavery throughout the world. It is a tale of crime and raw passion that explores the contradictions of a modern society still living in the past professing the emancipation of women when in reality it is quite the opposite. Her insightful look at Islamic culture is worth the read alone.

Book preview

Prologue

Eleftherios Venizelos (Athens International Airport) was busy with the constant arrival of tourists. Two Russian brothers, Artur and Bogdan Nazarova involved with the trafficking of women and smuggling of contraband were observing single women or young women traveling together as they came through customs. Their father, Vlad and their uncle Yefim waited in a queue of taxis outside the terminal.

Artur the oldest pointed to a slender young woman with dark hair in her late teens or early twenties. We have orders for young brunette. She looks to be a perfect match for our client. Notice tag on suitcase, she is from Romania. You speak some Romanian, approach her and escort her to Uncle Yefim’s taxi.

Bogdan approached the young woman, smiled and addressed her in Romanian, "Buna ziua, permit me to escort you to my uncle’s taxi. He speaks Romanian. I noticed your luggage tag."

The young woman turned to him and smiled at the striking young man in his twenties. Thank you. My name is Gina. I am visiting a friend in Athens. It is so nice to meet someone that speaks Romanian.

Bogdan carried her luggage and escorted her to his uncle Yefim’s taxi parked ten cars from the front of the line. He opened the door for her and placed her luggage in the trunk. Enjoy your stay. Perhaps I give you private tour of Athens while you are here.

Gina beamed as she handed him an address, This is where I am staying and the phone number. Bogdan smiled, took the card and closed the door of the taxi.

A taxi driver from the head of the line shouted at Bogdan, That fare was mine.

Bogdan shouted back in Russian, Заткнись, иди на хуй. He walked toward the parking garage.

Yefim pulled out of line and drove toward the Port of Piraeus. He handed the young woman a bottle of cold spring water. She thanked him, after giving him the address of her friend, drank the water and within five minutes was unconscious on the back seat.

Artur continued to watch the tourists and noticed two young girls from the Czech Republic. Upon getting closer, he saw the women were identical twins with fair complexions and light blonde hair. Artur spoke some Czech and approached them. "Dobrŷ den, my name is Artur. I noticed you are twins. I have twin brother. My father is from Czech Republic and drives taxi. He will take excellent care of you and charge you reasonable rate."

The girls smiled at the young man and thanked him. We are on holiday, Margita told him. It is so good to meet someone who speaks our language. I am Margita and this is my sister Maruska. Maybe we get together while we are visiting Greece.

Artur carried their luggage, guided them down the line of taxis and introduced them to his father, Vlad. The girls gave Vlad the name of their hotel and entered the taxi as Artur put their luggage in the trunk. Like his brother Yefim, Vlad gave each of the girls a cold bottle of spring water spiked with a strong sedative. They were unconscious on the back seat before the taxi entered a warehouse district at the Port of Piraeus.

Artur joined Bogdan at the garage and they drove to meet their father and uncle at the port. When they arrived, they parked next to the two taxis and walked into a storage unit. Six crates were already nailed shut in the warehouse. Vlad and Yefim stripped Gina, bound her ankles and wrists with leather straps and placed a ball gag in her mouth before placing her into a wooden crate. Maruska and Margita were lying next to each other on the floor still unconscious from the drugged water.

Artur and Bogdan each took one of the twins, stripped them, bound them the same way and put each girl into a crate.

Artur laughed, I am tempted to keep Margita for myself. She has such twinkle in her eye and gave me such warm smile.

Vlad snarled at his son, Plenty of girls elsewhere. She is bought and paid for. Gypsies love blondes.

Yefim interrupted, It is time, nail lids on ladies’ crates and mark them with recipients address. I have cleared all shipping manifests. It is time to transport these nine crates to loading dock.

Artur called for a truck and within five minutes, a flatbed truck was outside the storage locker. Two stevedores from the port loaded the crates onto the truck unaware of the contents, collected the appropriate paperwork and headed to the loading zone for cargo on the freighter Çevik Nakliye. At the loading dock, the nine crates from the Russians along with eleven other crates from two different shippers were loaded onto the freighter. Several pallets of marine equipment and engine parts were loaded last.

Chapter 1

PIRAEUS, GREECE

The cruise ship Hermes, left the dock of Piraeus for a nine-day cruise an hour after the Greek freighter Çevik Nakliye. The itinerary for the cruise included seven Greek Islands, Kusadasi and Istanbul, Turkey. The ship always spent two nights in Istanbul before returning to Piraeus. The Hermes was 192 meters in length and held 1200 passengers.

The ship left port at 08:00. It was now just after 13:00. Two young British women finished lunch and stood on an upper deck discussing their vacation. They were unaware that two men were watching them. Sherri Alexander, tall with topaz eyes that gave the illusion of shining gold when light hit them wore her long blonde hair in a ponytail. Her figure was as men often said, lush. She had a shapely ass and breasts that were the size of melons. She was wearing white shorts and a blue sleeveless blouse. Next to her was Margot Bridgewater. Margot, petite in stature with long auburn hair and cat-like green eyes wore a calf-length medium-sleeved blue sundress with bright yellow flowers on the front and back and a bright blue scarf on her head. She was well endowed for a petite woman. Both women were celebrating their graduation from college with Master’s Degrees.

She’s the one on the left, Khalil said as he pointed to her. Her name is Margot Bridgewater; she celebrated her twenty-third birthday two days ago.

I prefer younger women; however, you have picked a very alluring woman for us. If there were a Helen of Troy, her beauty would have ebbed when standing next to her, Malek, his older brother replied, The tall well-endowed blonde next to her is also tempting.

"The blonde in my opinion is sexy, but seems more of a flirt than her friend. She might bring attention if she goes missing. I observed several men watching her. Introduce yourself to the red head and bring her by my lounge on the promenade deck. I am relaxing with an interesting book I bought yesterday. Crimes of Passion is about trafficking of women."

Khalil laughed, Any interesting ideas on how to treat sex slaves?

Malek replied, Only read first three chapters, the author blames Russians for greatest number of incidents involving the trafficking of women.

Who is the author?

Barbara Vaka, an American writer lives in Florida.

Khalil laughed, Maybe we should kidnap her and sell her; give her first-hand knowledge.

Malek grinned at the idea, She is too old; she would never sell.

Khalil replied, Over thirty?

Hell no, over sixty, Malek laughed.

What’s new with the political movement you started? Khalil asked.

The political situation is becoming more intense; I am stressed all the time. I need a diversion, that young woman you pointed out might be the quintessential relief to my anxiety, Malek explained.

Khalil replied, It worries me that you are so involved in this political movement. You lost your wife and son to a terrorist’s bomb. It is time to move on and let the group choose a new leader. Why not marry Aysun and begin a new family?

Malek glared at him, I do not trust Aysun. She worries me. Besides, I organized this group and I am not stepping down. I am determined to see we succeed. Turkey is too westernized; many women do not cover their heads. Couples kiss in public and hold hands especially on the Kamondo staircase near the Galata Tower. The Millennium Society is gaining membership. They will change the world if they succeed. ISIL is active on our borders and because of their ruthlessness, Muslims are being called terrorists in Europe and America. He took a deep breath. If I ring for a drink, bring two drinks laced with something to make her sleep for a couple of hours. Do not forget my coffee. If I do not ring in the next half hour, she is not to my liking and I will be in the communication room after escorting her from our private lounge.

The two men parted. Malek entered a code on a locked door marked private. The door swung open revealing a luxurious room. He entered and left the door open so the private sign was no longer visible. The younger brother, Khalil twenty-six, was taller than his brother who recently turned thirty-two.

Khalil had black hair, mustache and amber eyes that gave him a wolf like appearance. He was wearing black slacks and a crisp starched white shirt emblazoned with the insignia of the Aksoy Cruise Line. It was open at the neck revealing a heavy gold chain. On his wrist he wore an expensive gold chronograph.

Deck of Hermes

Sherri pushed some loose hairs out of her face and turned to Margot, How can you stand this heat? Our hotel had no air-conditioning last night and I got very little sleep. Now a broiling sun and a gusty wind are playing havoc with my hair.

I love it Sherri. I think of seeing beaches so private our footprints will be the first to imprint the sand. Imagine us wandering through the remains of the Minoan palace on Crete and getting lost in the Minotaur’s labyrinth of Heracleion?

Sherri asked, What do you plan to do when we get back from vacation?

Find a job and hopefully make enough money to move into my own apartment. I am tired of living with my parents; we argue constantly. What about you? Margot asked.

I am too tired to think of anything right now. I did notice several handsome men on the ship at lunch that were not in the company of a woman. What I want is to find a man that wants to settle down and have a family. I want to have children and not spend my next few years working a job I will probably hate. I love to sketch and paint with watercolors. The thought of teaching art to adults or children is not what I want out of life. Being a professional artist, is not what I want out of life either; I want to paint and sketch for my own satisfaction. The men I date want to go out for dinner, back to their place and have sex. When I say no, I never see them again. I want to settle down; I never wanted a career, Sherri told her.

Most of the men that I attract are geeks and when they discover I am not a whiz at computers or play video games, they leave. Never had a date ask me to go back to his apartment and have sex. Someday, I hope to meet a man that I will fall in love with and get married, Margot told her as she re-tied her scarf to stop it from blowing over board.

Sherri looked surprised, "Am I reading you correctly? No rumpy pumpy?"

It is not against the law to be a virgin. No one ever asked me to go to bed with them. Besides, I do not want to have sex with someone unless I am in love and wear an engagement ring. I have never had a relationship last long enough to fall in love. When I make enough money, I will rent my own apartment. I dislike living with my parents.

Sherri shook her head, In my opinion, having sex if you are in love and feel that marriage is in the future, is an acceptable practice. The way you said you wanted an apartment for yourself, living with your parents is not agreeable?

My father is an evil man always finding fault with everyone. Mother is always arguing with Father and screaming at my grandfather. It is impossible for me to relax in such a very unpleasant environment. That is one reason I moved into an apartment with you when I went to college, Margot replied.

My parents are agreeable and I love my grandmother. If I have to work, I also will move out. Maybe we could share another apartment together. I may have to change my mind about no sex until engaged.

You told me what happened at that party on campus. That senior raped you at the fraternity house, Margot replied

He drugged me and the drug he gave me made it impossible for me not to submit to his amours. It never would have gone in my favor at court. Fortunately, I did not get pregnant. My parents never suspected what happened to me. I never told them.

How about Lorenzo? You told me you were in love with him and hoped he would ask you to marry him.

He seduced me and instructed me in ways to love a man without vaginal sex. I thought he was in love with me. You should have traveled with me.

I had other plans and could not join you. Do not blame me for the way he treated you, Margot retorted.

Keep in mind Margot, I do not believe a man would marry a woman he did not have sex with first. It is indicative of the times, Sherri told her.

I will not have sex unless I am wearing an engagement ring. How many men have you had sex with since that party?

Sherri shook her head, Lorenzo is the only man I had sex with since the party and he instructed me in fellatio and on two occasions in anal sex. If a man wants to have sex on a first date, I say no. When I discover all they want is sex and no commitment, I say goodbye and never see them again. Lorenzo seduced me; I fell for his suave talk and handsome appearance. I am going to our stateroom, take a nap and when I wake up enjoy a warm relaxing shower. I hope our luggage arrives soon so I can change my clothes. I plan to look my best at dinner in that adorable cocktail dress I bought when we went shopping a week ago. Take it easy.

What about the dragon tattoo on your back? You never told me much about that man.

That guy never had sex with me. He drugged me and I have no memory of having that despicable tattoo. I hate that tattoo; I hate him and told him to never come near me again, Sherri replied in an angry tone of voice.

I saw you flirting with that man before we entered the dining room for lunch; he must be thirty. I want a man closer to my age. My father is ten years older than my mother and they constantly argue.

Sherri smiled, Just the kind of man I am looking for, late twenties or early thirties, probably settled down, has a good job, tired of playing the field and looking for a wife. He does not have to be wealthy, but make a decent living and be able to buy a small house. Men from this part of the world are quite striking. My grandfather was from Greece. My grandmother met him at university in London. His family was furious because she was not Greek, but they were in love. My grandmother learned to speak Greek and traveled to Greece several times. I have heard men from this part of the world have a reputation for being romantic. I made a mistake with Lorenzo. I never discussed him with my parents.

Margot laughed, All I want to do this afternoon is enjoy the sun and smell the fresh sea breeze. What kind of man do your parents want you to marry? Mine want me to marry a successful man from the UK. They even warned me about flirting with men from the Mediterranean.

You met my father; I am an only child. I believe he wanted a son. After I was born, my mother could not have any more children. He wants me to marry a man preferably with a Scottish background and have a son. Unbelievably, he wants his grandson to have as a middle name Alexander. Except for my maternal grandfather, the entire family has a Scottish background. They were unhappy with the vote against independence. My grandmother was a rebel and fell in love with a Greek. When my father retires, he plans to move to Lanarkshire, Scotland and live near his older brother Angus Alexander.

See you later, Sherri told her as she left for their stateroom. Khalil watched Sherri leave and hurried in Margot’s direction.

Margot strolled slowly along the deck taking in the panorama of the Aegean Sea meeting the Mediterranean as the ship headed for their first port of call, Crete. She stopped to take pictures on her small digital camera of a sea gull swooping down to the water to pick up a scrap of food tossed into the water by a tourist from an upper deck. As Margot was drinking in the scenery with daydreams of exploring the ancient sites of Greece, Khalil interrupted her thoughts. He spoke in a smoky voice that was sexually attractive, but in a mysterious way. He spoke English with a slight Middle Eastern accent.

"Miss Bridgewater, I remember you from when you boarded with your friend. My name is Khalil; I do not believe I introduced myself. I am the entertainment host on the Hermes."

Margot turned to speak with Khalil and as she did, the wind caught her scarf and it floated away carried by the wind.

Khalil tried to catch it, but it drifted off the side of the cruise ship. He laughed, I tried to catch your scarf; it is very windy. It is lost at sea, he laughed.

Margot smiled at the tall striking man walking next to her. Her hair was blowing in the wind and she tried to brush it away from her face. Thank you for trying. Please, do not be so formal, my name is Margot.

Romantic thoughts crossed her mind, He is so attractive, that sexy amorous smile. He has a muscular build and must work out regularly. Sherri is right; a man with that Mediterranean look is handsome. He reminds me of a prince from a movie about the Arabian Nights. He has a sexually attractive voice. If he finds me attractive, perhaps he and I could become friends during the cruise. Sherri would be surprised if I got the first date?

Khalil walked next to her thinking, Margot is very tempting. Perhaps I should keep her for myself, but I already pointed her out to Malek. Maybe he will not want her. Besides, I will be the one to train her in the art of love. We will definitely become intimate.

The wind continued to play havoc with her long hair and Margot kept pushing it away from her face and asked, What activities are available on the ship this afternoon? Everyone, including my friend, seems to be snoozing in their staterooms or sleeping on a deck chair since lunch.

Khalil smiled at the petite young woman that kept beaming at him with a twinkle in her vivid green eyes that matched the color of the Mediterranean, You asked about activities; all the activities on the ship begin tomorrow.

They walked a little further and Khalil made a comment, You are wearing a long dress while most of the women on board are wearing short sleeveless sun dresses, shorts, or slacks, with tank tops or short sleeve blouses. It is refreshing to see a young woman dressed conservatively.

Margot laughed, I have red hair and a fair complexion. If I did not cover up, I would burn to a crisp. I love the sun, but it does not love me. My friend Sherri had on a lot of sun screen. That never seemed to work for me and I get sunburned quickly.

I understand. He replied with a smile, The gift shop on the next deck below sells broad brim hats and scarves to replace the one that blew overboard. I will ask them to give you a discount.

Thank you. I will look in a few minutes. Margot smiled at Khalil, Nice meeting you. Look forward to seeing you again.

Enjoy the gorgeous scenery; dinner is at 20:00. Did you enjoy your lunch? Khalil asked.

Lunch was delectable. Are all the meals that mouthwatering? There was so much food I could not eat it all. I will not lose any weight on this cruise.

"The Hermes is famous for the quality of its food throughout the cruise line industry. If you want something to eat before dinner, there are several cafes and a coffee shop on the promenade deck. The store I mentioned earlier is next to the coffee shop. I must be on my way. There are many things to attend to the first day out from port; see you this evening Miss Bridgewater."

Margot smiled, I look forward to seeing you after dinner.

Khalil turned and hurried off leaving her in front of a doorway to his brother’s and his private sitting lounge where they entertained wealthy passengers and business executives.

Margot pouted and thought to herself, Oh well, he is so handsome … that marvelous smile and strong athletic build. His eyes seemed to sparkle with flecks of gold when the sun hit them. They have an inner fire. He called me Miss Bridgewater and then ran off to do his job. Why is it, the men I think of as the ideal date always smile at me and then walk away? They seem to like taller women that wear sexy clothes and show a lot of bare skin like Sherri. He commented on my long dress and asked why I was dressed this way. The only men who show an interest in me are those I do not find attractive, are too old, or are geeks that spend their days in front of a computer and never enjoy outdoor activities.

The sound of Middle Eastern music caught her attention and she walked through the open doorway and found herself in the lounge. It seemed more like entering an exclusive private club than what one would imagine as a public lounge on a ship. There was seating for a maximum of ten or twelve people. An intricately designed in-laid marble floor drew her attention, as did the rich wood paneling on the walls. There was an immense flat screen television fastened to the wall at one end of the room. In front of the television was a long sofa upholstered in rich red and gold brocade. Matching chairs were off to one side. As she walked over to a bookcase near the sofa, Margot noticed a few of the books were in English including The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran. The lines of a poem from that book flashed across her mind, "When love beckons to you, follow him, though his ways are hard and steep. And when his wings enfold you, yield to him."

Margot did not notice that Khalil returned and closed the door to the lounge after she entered.

The Middle Eastern music emanating from several speakers attached to the ceiling in the four corners of the room gave the effect that musicians were in the room. Brass sconces on the wall provided lighting along with floor to ceiling windows on one side of the lounge overlooking the sea. There was a balcony outside the windows accessed through a sliding glass door. A decorative table with an inlaid chessboard with two chairs and an analog chess clock to keep time of moves during a game was near the sofa. The chessmen were hand carved and represented the Allied Powers to control the sea route from Europe to Russia during World War I against the Ottoman Empire known as the Gallipoli Campaign or the Battle of Gallipoli. Margot picked up one of the chessmen to look at it when the sound of a man clearing his throat interrupted her thoughts. Suddenly, Margot became aware that someone else was in the room. Putting down the ten-centimeter tall king, she turned and noticed a man sitting in a comfortable leather chair reading a book on the far side of the lounge near the windows. She had not noticed him when she entered.

It is probably a private lounge for affluent passengers or the owner or captain of the cruise ship. Margot thought to herself, I noticed the price for the suites and they were extremely expensive.

Turning to leave, she glanced over at him again. He could have been Khalil’s brother, an older brother. He had that same Mediterranean look, dark hair, a heavy moustache dressed impeccably in light gray slacks and a pin stripe blue and white shirt open at the neck. A navy-blue sport coat draped over the back of the chair. He was either a wealthy passenger or a very wealthy man or perhaps he owned the cruise ship. The heavy gold chain around his neck must have cost a fortune. He was lighting a cigarette and the aroma of Turkish tobacco drifted through the lounge. She decided to walk in his direction and go outside on the balcony. She tried not to stare, He is attractive, but not drop-dead-gorgeous like Khalil. The way he holds himself, he appears more businesslike. His eyes are so dark they look obsidian black, Margot thought to herself as she stood looking out the windows of the lounge before opening the door and going outside. It would be impolite to turn and leave without saying something. I studied Greek and Arabic in preparation for this vacation; he probably does not speak English. I will try Greek first. The ship sailed from a Greek port and many of the passengers spoke Arabic, Greek, or Turkish at the table near ours during lunch.

Margot was standing by the window looking toward the chair where he sat. She could not tell the name or language of the book is was reading from the way he held it and asked, "Sighnomi, ghia sas. Milate anglika?"

He glanced up from the book and gazed in her direction, but said nothing.

Maybe he does not understand Greek, perhaps he speaks Arabic. I heard several men speaking Arabic at lunch. If he is, he will find it offensive for a woman to speak to a complete stranger, especially if he is Muslim. I do not speak Turkish.

Margot decided to speak in Arabic, "effendim, misa il-khayr. Bititkallim ingileezi?"

He smiled again as he put down the book. His eyes seemed to be gazing in her direction with more than just a casual glance. It was as though he was undressing her with his eyes and had lascivious intentions toward her. He replied, Yes, I speak English. His voice was deep and low-pitched; it reminded Margot of the resonating voice of a television newscaster from the BBC.

You pronounce Egyptian Arabic and Greek quite well, Malek told her smiling at the petite young woman.

Margot felt her face was turning red and answered hesitantly.

Thank you, your accent is British; did you attend university in England?

Yes, as a matter of fact, I did graduate studies at Oxford, Malek told her as licentious thoughts raced through his mind.

I love to study languages, but I only know a few words in Arabic that I learned from a computer program I purchased before my vacation. My friend Sherri and I learned some Egyptian Arabic and Greek before our trip. We both speak fluent French; Sherri speaks fluent Greek, but can only read a few words. Her grandmother speaks fluent Greek. You must be one of a few people on this ship that speaks English, except for my friend Sherri who is traveling with me. No one in the dining room was speaking English near our table. I ordered my meal in French. The entertainment host Khalil spoke English when I met him on deck while taking pictures.

As usual, once Margot started talking, she never knew when to stop. He does not want to know what I speak or to whom. He probably does not even care what I am doing on this ship. I am probably not supposed to be in this lounge in the first place. The next time I leave my cabin I will read a book while sitting in a deck chair or snooze in a lounge chair on an upper deck, Margot thought to herself.

Malek continued, This is a smaller cruise ship than most in the area. Europeans and Americans tend to travel on the larger more luxurious cruise ships. Many of our passengers are Muslim from the Middle East and prefer a smaller ship without all the crowds, noisy bars and loud music. Because I own several international businesses, including this ship, there is a great need for me to speak several languages. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Malek Aksoy. I am from Istanbul. You may call me Malek.

Margot smiled, "I had no time to study Turkish before the trip, but I have a phrase book. The Hermes is an amazing ship and the food at lunch was appetizing."

Malek paused and stood up. He was almost as tall as Khalil was and towered over her. How did you find your way into my private lounge? Passengers are not permitted; there is a sign.

Oh shit, she thought. Preparing to leave, she turned and said, I apologize for intruding; I was talking to the entertainment host and I did not notice any sign; the music captivated me.

Do not leave, please, sit down, he pointed to the sofa, Seldom do I have the opportunity to speak with passengers unless they have a problem. Do you play chess, I noticed you admiring my chess board?

I tried to play a few times, but I was never skilled. Your chessmen are each a phenomenal work of art.

The Battle of Gallipoli was a defining moment in Turkish history. My great grandfather was a general during the battle. My father commissioned the chess set, Malek explained.

It is impressive, Margot told him.

I will order a cool traditional Turkish drink before you leave. It is very hot and windy today, Malek smiled at her.

Malek pushed a button on a remote-control setting on the table next to the sofa.

Something cool to drink is an excellent idea. My name is Margot Bridgewater, she told him while sitting on the far end of the sofa.

You are British? Malek asked.

Yes, my family recently moved to Sutton. My friend Sherri is from Saltash in Cornwall. We rented an apartment when we attended college and completed our graduate studies at a small Liberal Arts College outside of London. We took this cruise to relax after college before beginning our careers.

Before she could say more, Khalil entered the lounge carrying two cream topped drinks on a tray along with a cup of Turkish coffee. Margot thought to herself, Khalil is so sexually attractive; he only glanced in my direction, but did not seem to return my admiring smile.

Malek handed Margot one of the drinks and placed the second on the table in front of the sofa. Khalil and Malek engaged in a conversation, speaking in Turkish near the windows of the lounge. Margot did not understand a word they said. She sipped the cool drink and relaxed while looking around the lounge at the captivating pictures and paintings on the walls. Many of them were photographs of Arabian horses. A painting of a bazaar with a man dressed in a long thobe selling his wares was colorful. There were also paintings of dancing girls from the time when Sultans kept harems. A reproduction of a painting ‘Charge of the Light Horse Brigade at Nek’ caught her eye. Because she was an art minor at college, she was familiar with the painting.

They must be discussing me, as they keep looking in my direction, Margot thought. This drink is cooling as it slides down my parched throat.

Khalil said good-bye, grinned at her like a Cheshire cat ready to pounce on his unsuspecting prey and left the lounge.

Oh, how I wish he would have stayed. He is so striking. I would prefer having a drink with him. Malek must be over thirty. I should tell Sherri about him; she likes older men. Margot’s eye followed Khalil as he walked out of the lounge.

Malek moved closer to her on the sofa, sat down and brought her out of her romantic daydream.

The drink is called Aryan. It is a very thirst-quenching beverage made from a mixture of yogurt, spring water and salt; it is served in a glass filled with crushed ice; it tastes like buttermilk.

It is creamy and thirst quenching; I must order it at dinner, Margot told him.

I wonder if I should ask for the recipe. The creamy top spilling over the top of the glass makes it so attractive, she thought.

Do you have plans to travel anywhere after the cruise? Malek asked.

When the cruise ends, we fly to Egypt for ten days, tour the pyramids of Giza, the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, day trips to sites outside of Cairo, fly to Luxor and take a three-day cruise on the Nile. We fly home from Aswan. My friend Sherri is asleep in our stateroom; the air-conditioning at our hotel in Athens was not working and it was so hot, we did not sleep much last night. Being my first vacation to the Greek Islands and Turkey, I was too excited to sleep the day away.

You will enjoy the Greek Islands and visiting Istanbul while on the cruise. When we arrive in Istanbul, permit me to show you my ancient city before you leave for Egypt.

I will look forward to it. I have read so much about Istanbul. Are there riots in Istanbul or only Ankara? Margot smiled, but her mind was still thinking of Khalil.

Riots happen on occasion. If you dress conservatively, you should not have a problem. I will be your private escort in the city and you will not have any problems. The market is a lot of fun and I know the best places to shop and will arrange the best prices. I see you have finished your drink. Please, take the second … enjoy. Malek was drinking Turkish coffee and smoking a second cigarette.

Thank you. It seems warm in this lounge; perhaps that is why I am so thirsty.

While sipping the drink, Margot began to feel as though everything was slowing down and when Malek said something, she did not understand what he said.

Ex …, excuse me, what did you say? Margot shook her head and blinked her eyes.

What size is your family? Malek inquired trying to determine if he snatched her, if someone with influence would come searching for her.

Ahh, I have an older married sister that I rarely see and I had an older brother, but he died fighting the War in Afghanistan. My mother is a hair stylist; my father works in an office of a department store.

Malek told her, Sorry for the loss of your brother.

Margot continued, My family lives in Sutton in a three-bedroom terraced home. We recently moved there. When I return from … this trip; I plan to find … to find an apartment and a job … as a language instructor. She was repeating and pausing between words.

As she sipped the second drink, her vision began to blur and a feeling of being light-headed swept over her. Margot shook her head from side to side and tried to focus on Malek, I do not feel very well.

Perhaps it is the motion of the ship that bothers you. Finish your drink and take a walk on the deck. The sea breeze may make you feel better, Malek smiled knowing the drink was taking effect and she would soon be unconscious.

After she finished the drink, the dizziness got worse; she tried to set the glass on the table. The glass fell over and spilled ice onto the floor. She watched as the glass rolled off the table, fell onto the marble floor and shattered into several pieces making a tinkling sound.

Thoughts raced through her confused mind, It is like watching everything in slow motion. I cannot stay awake. Malek is walking toward me, the room is beginning to spin and ….

Malek caught Margot in his arms as she collapsed onto the sofa. He pressed a call button under the edge of the table; Khalil entered the lounge several minutes later and strode across the room.

She is such a striking young woman, but unsophisticated and naive; I will have her submitting to me in an hour or two. Margot will be the perfect addition to our harem. Our business associates will delight in having sex with her. She lives with her parents, notify her cabin mate that she had an accident, broke her leg and we sent her to hospital in Piraeus. I do not believe her parents are wealthy nor have influence. They will not send detectives searching for her. Take her to my stateroom on the lower deck. I expect our yacht to be alongside shortly to transport her to our villa on the island. I radioed Uzair earlier, Malek told Khalil.

I crushed two sleeping pills in those drinks; she will wake up in two hours about the time our yacht arrives with Uzair. Are you sure you want to get involved with another Brit? Khalil asked. I can always return her to her stateroom and ….

Take her away now! Malek practically shouted at his brother. When you get her settled, inform her friend, what’s her name; she broke something and was put ashore. We do not need anyone complicating the situation like the last time. It was very expensive to settle. Preparations are still underway for next week’s operation. I will be in the communications room if you need me. I am in need of a lustful diversion. This current political situation is intense. Riots broke out in Istanbul the other day and Ankara had more riots. We advise our followers to keep the demonstrations peaceful, but the government is cracking down on us. ISIL is gaining in influence. Turkey seems to be a gateway to Syria for young men and women wanting to join them. They are barbaric and I do not understand their violence. Their actions are harmful to Islam, Malek told him.

I do not understand their abominable behavior and beheading so many victims. They actually burned a captive alive. If your group is advocating a more violent approach, you should resign and leave the group. Your family was destroyed because of your leading that group, Khalil replied.

What I do politically is none of your affair. My group participates in the protests, but so far has not been violent, Malek retorted.

They are changing. I have seen the signs. Khalil then picked Margot up in his arms and held her close to his body. He followed Malek through a concealed door behind one of the hidden panels in the lounge and carried her down several flights of metal stairs, their footsteps resounding through the narrow metal stairway making a clanking sound that echoed as they descended several decks. They stopped at an apparent dead-end corridor, Malek pushed a button on a remote control he extracted from his pocket, a concealed door slid open and Khalil entered a stateroom hidden in the bowels of the ship. Malek continued through another concealed doorway.

Khalil laid Margot gently on a sofa in the elaborately decorated suite. Covering her with a light throw, he kissed her on the lips and whispered, Someone will be back shortly to take you to our yacht. You will find our villa on Santorini awe-inspiring where a thrilling adventure on the island is in store for you.

Khalil gazed at Margot’s tranquil face and smiled. Her long auburn hair cascaded off the side of the sofa. He brushed her hair from her face and thought, Just my misfortune, my brother wants you. After he disciplines you and you submit, we will get to know each other intimately as I train all the women bound for the harem. I look forward to training you in the many ways to make love to a man.

He exited the room by the same sliding door. After checking a copy of the passenger list in his pocket, he headed for the stateroom that Margot shared with her friend Sherri.

He knocked at the door, a sleepy and somewhat irritated voice answered from inside, Who is there? Do you have Margot’s luggage, mine came a few minutes ago? Leave it in the corridor.

Miss Alexander, I am Khalil, the entertainment host. There has been a terrible accident.

Sherri got up from her bed and wearing only a terry cloth robe, opened the door.

An accident, what kind of accident?

Your travel companion, Miss Bridgewater, slipped on the deck while we were leaving the harbor. She broke her leg and we were fortunate to have the pilot boat take her to Piraeus. She is most probably resting in a hospital room by now. We sent her luggage and belongings with her. Margot said to tell you she was sorry about missing the trip and hoped you would enjoy the cruise and trip to Egypt. Do you have her passport and wallet? Someone notified her parents, Khalil lied as he explained why her cabin mate would not be joining her for dinner.

Damn! She’s sorry! She paused. I promised myself I would never travel alone again. I will miss her. I will be lost without her. Margot is always talking about this ruin and that ancient site. She knows about all the ancient sites we plan to visit. I am worried about traveling in Egypt alone. Thank you for telling me, Sherri told him as she handed him Margot’s bag containing her travel documents, passport, cash and credit cards.

Do you need anything while I am here? Khalil asked with a contemptuous-smile.

No, I need nothing but sleep. Nothing else. Please, go and do not disturb me again. I am very upset. Hang this sign on the door as you leave, Sherri told him in an irritated tone of voice. She thought to herself, Khalil is handsome, but a member of the crew. Cruise ship crewmembers do not make enough to support a wife and family. Besides, I read in the paper not long ago about a steward who killed a woman tourist. What am I going to do when I arrive in Egypt? I must find someone to travel with me. It is not safe for a single woman to travel alone in that part of the world.

Sherri handed him the ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign and closed the door in his face.

Khalil shook his head as he walked toward the communication room.

Brits, my brother is welcome to them. She dismissed me as though I was a servant. She is an alluring woman; however, I will have to give her some thought. My cousin Sádi loves blondes, especially women that are tall and have a lush body.

Khalil walked along the corridor, entered a door-marked crew only, descended four decks and entered an impressive communication room filled with computer terminals manned by technicians. Malek was sitting at an executive desk reading several reports. The room smelled of tobacco and at least five of the men including Malek were smoking. Khalil had a cigarette in the corner of his mouth. A grey cloud of smoke drifted toward an exhaust vent.

Malek, our yacht will pick Margot up shortly and take her to the villa on Santorini. Her friend has a sharp tongue; she dismissed me like a lowly crewmember. If you have no objections, I will arrange to transfer her to our freighter off the port side. It will be in Kusadasi shortly. She is a gorgeous natural blonde with a lush figure. Sádi might find her of interest along with the other women already onboard. Besides, it would be dangerous for her to travel in Egypt as a single woman by herself after the cruise. She might be kidnapped and the way Egypt is these days, they might rape or kill her just because of the way she dresses, Khalil laughed.

Why not. Make it so. She will not have to wait until she reaches Egypt to be kidnapped, Malek smiled thinking of how much his cousin might pay for an attractive young blonde.

Margot was starting to wake from the sleeping potion when two men entered the suite. They bound her hands behind her back with a silk scarf so not to chaff her wrists, hauled her to a gangway and transferred her to a private yacht that had pulled alongside the cruise ship. She wiggled, squirmed, tried to pull away from them shouting, Let me go; who are you?

One of the men quickly clamped his hand over her mouth and hissed rather than spoke in very poor English, Keep quiet; I will gag you. Malek and Khalil will join you in couple of days at their villa. You will travel there on their yacht.

Uzair, a tall man with black hair, mustache, wearing sunglasses, jeans and a blue shirt open down the front took her in his arms as the two crewmen passed her from the cruise ship to the yacht. He carried her below to the main cabin as she continued to struggle in frantic effort to get free. He reeked of cigarette smoke. The yacht was twenty meters in length, creamy white in color, flying a Turkish flag.

Uzair bound her legs and laid her on one of the sofas, Stay on sofa, do not try to get free and come topside. I will bring you some fruit juice in a few minutes. If you start screaming, I will gag you. I need to go topside to release lines.

Margot did as she was told and laid motionless, her arms bound behind her back and her ankles tied together with a leather strap. What is to become of me? Why are these men kidnapping me? I think I was drugged by Malek; I do not remember anything after being in the lounge before I woke up in an area of the ship I did not recognize.

She looked around the main lounge of the yacht. It resembled the interior of a luxury home. The wood paneling was a light blonde in color. On the floor an oriental rug in shades of gold and tan. Sofas upholstered in colors to match the rug lined both sides of the lounge. Ornate tables each with an inlaid mother of pearl design sat in front of each sofa. Modern lighting fixtures burned brightly along the walls. On the ceiling were panels made of colorful glass with scenes of tropical birds and flowers. The panels had lights behind them that illuminated the scene. At one end of the lounge, a staircase led up to the main deck and another staircase opposite it led to a deck below. Both staircases were made of a transparent material and had lights embedded in the treads. Windows along both sides of the lounge with curtains of a pale-yellow delicate fabric allowed sunlight to drench the giving the room a golden glow.

Khalil called to Uzair from the gangway. Keep her comfortable in the upstairs apartment. Do not hurt her. We will be there in three or four days. Malek plans to personally train her to be submissive, he tossed Uzair Margot’s luggage and bag containing her passport, credit cards, cash and personal items.

Margot recognized Khalil’s voice when he called to Uzair. She thought to herself, Malek plans to train me to be submissive. These men are human traffickers or kidnappers. I have to try to escape, but the way he tied my hands I cannot get loose. If I get loose, this man will hurt me. He is as tall as Khalil and Malek; I could not possibly fight him and win.

Uzair maneuvered the yacht away from the cruise ship. Once clear of the Hermes, he set the yacht on a heading to their destination and engaged the autopilot then went below to check on Margot. He helped her to a sitting position, sat next to her and held a glass of juice while she drank.

Please, let me go. I want to stay on the cruise ship. Who are you? Where are you taking me? There are laws against kidnapping. Is this drink drugged? Margot asked.

Uzair sneered at her, There are no drugs or sleeping pills in the drink. Malek and Khalil have plans for you. Cooperate and they will not hurt you. Fight them and they will punish you until you surrender to their demands. Malek has a mean disposition. Stay here on the sofa and I will not hog-tie you, or lock you in a closet. My name is Uzair.

Margot answered in a voice filled with apprehension, I will sit quietly. Could you bind my wrists in front of me? It is uncomfortable with them behind me.

Uzair smiled, "I will do that, but if you get loose, I will punish you and you will not sit comfortably for the remainder of