Many thanks to everyone who's stuck with this, particularly those who've been kind enough to leave a review. Here's the next chapter …

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Chapter 8

The pervading sense of claustrophobia coupled with the ongoing uncertainty was starting to get to all of them now, Quinn knew: it may be a very comfortable prison, but it was still undeniably a prison. He was luckier than the others, though. At least he got to spend the evenings in the arms of a beautiful woman, which helped to ease the frustration somewhat.

He was trying to read, but his concentration was disrupted by yet another skirmish between Baxter and Rick.

"I am not a fucking accountant. How many times? I'm a financial adviser."

"Same bloody difference."

"I make a damned sight more money than you, anyway."

"Oh, and that's all that matters, is it? Christ, I've known puddles less shallow than you …"

Quinn slammed his book down on the table.

"Will you two just give it a bloody rest? What the hell's wrong with you?"

Rick looked at him is disbelief.

"What's wrong with us? Oh, let's think about that, shall we? We've been shot at, nearly blown up, forced to make illegal drugs, let five million euros slip through our hands and now we're stuck here as 'guests' of a mad fucking billionaire when all we want to do is go home. Will that do you? Plus some of us aren't getting our brains shagged out on a daily basis."

He leant in and lowered his voice, aware of Hope lying in the shade not far away.

"I just hope she isn't taking you for a ride again. Metaphorically speaking."

Quinn crossed his arms, struggling to control his rising temper.

"She isn't. I told you what happened with her father, she's trapped in this bizarre situation just as much as we are."

"Yeah? And what makes you so sure you can believe her? We've only got her word, after all. She could be spying for Mackenzie, for all you know."

Quinn leaned in, his eyes blazing, and hissed at him.

"One more derogatory word from you about her, and I swear I'll knock you to kingdom come. Alright?"

Baxter stood and grabbed Rick's arm, shaking his head at Quinn to warn him off.

"Calm down, both of you. This situation's getting to all of us. Come on, Rick, let's grab a couple of beers and go and watch a DVD."

Quinn stared after them, his hands still bunched into fists. Woody watched him sympathetically.

"You shouldn't let him get to you, mate, you know what a pillock he can be. I'm going to the gym if you fancy joining me, work off some of that pent-up anger. Or maybe you've got a better way in mind?"

He grinned, glancing over at Hope, and Quinn relaxed slightly, returning the smile.

"Think you're on your own, pal."

"Lucky git."

Woody patted him on the shoulder as he headed inside.

"Don't I know it."

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She didn't put up a fight when he slid in next to her on the lounger, kissing his way slowly from the nape of her neck all the way down her spine before pretending to bite her peachy bottom. She did, however, squeal in surprise when he dragged her to her feet, hoisted her over his shoulder and headed off into the bushes.

"Quinn! What on earth do you think you're doing? It's the middle of the afternoon …"

When he was sure they were well away from prying eyes, he set her back on her feet again, pinning her against the trunk of a large palm. The predatory gleam in his brilliant blue eyes sent little sparks of arousal through her body as she put up a feeble fight, half-heartedly trying to push him away.

"We can't, anyone might come along."

"Oh, I think we can …"

Any further protestations were stopped in their tracks by his heated kiss, and her legs went weak under the amorous onslaught of his lips and tongue. When he slid two fingers inside her bikini bottoms, she was lost.

He took her hard and fast, her back against the tree, her legs wrapped round his waist, and as she reached a very vocal climax he covered her mouth with his to swallow her cries, following her into heart-stopping release a few seconds later.

She was still panting when he lowered her gently to the ground, holding her against him until he was sure she could stand unaided before tugging her bikini bottoms back up her legs.

He grinned sheepishly at her, tucking a stray lock of hair back behind her ear.

"Um … are you OK?"

She put her hands on her hips, but her lips were twitching with suppressed amusement.

"Well, apart from the friction burns and the distinctly wobbly knees, I don't think there's any lasting damage. What got into you? Or more appropriately, into me …"

He smirked.

"Dirty girl. I had a row with Rick, it was either rampant sex or the gym."

She arched a perfect eyebrow.

"Nice to know I was the lesser of two evils, then."

He chuckled, pulling her against him and kissing her softly on the lips.

"No competition, love. And you didn't seem to mind too much once we got going."

She grinned, tugging on his hair.

"Yeah, well, the novel I'm reading wasn't that exciting. I was going to settle for a leisurely swim, but apparently someone had other ideas."

"Still time, sweetheart. Better get back before we're missed, huh?"

He swung her up into his arms and she nuzzled happily into his neck as he carried her back in the direction of the house.

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At that precise moment several hundred miles away, Mackenzie's afternoon was being rudely interrupted by the sight of several police officers striding purposefully up his drive. He raised an enquiring eyebrow as he scanned their determined faces, realising he didn't recognise any of them: these were genuine cops, not the ones on his payroll. Trouble, he thought. Slowly he put the pruning shears down and straightened up, removing his gardening gloves before they read him his rights and cuffed him. As they led him away towards a squad car, he paused briefly and nodded back at the neat rows of fruit and vegetables.

"Someone better water my bloody plants while I'm away."

One of the attending officers smiled mirthlessly and replied in heavily accented English.

"I wouldn't worry too much about that, my friend. I think you may be going away for a very long time …"

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The plot thickens! Should be another chapter up over the weekend.