Warning: Contains mention of sexual assault

Irina awakened to find herself in total darkness. When she tried to move her hands, she found that they'd been tied behind her back. She tried to scream but was unable to make a single sound. Fighting panic, she struggled to make sense of what was happening. She was lying on her side on a soft surface, and she heard nothing but absolute silence. She tried to move her legs and found that they'd been bound together as well. Frantically she kicked out and met with no resistance.

"Ah, I see you're awake now." Irina recognized the voice immediately. Max Albov! He'd befriended her in New York after she'd defected, and before long, they'd become lovers as well. When she'd moved to Germany to be closer to Arkady, he'd followed her there. He'd known of her undying love for Arkady, yet he'd hoped to win her over for himself some day.

At the time, she'd had no idea he was a hardened criminal in league with the Russian mafia to smuggle priceless art out of Russia. When she'd found out, she'd been shocked and had wanted nothing more to do with him.

Now he untied the blindfold that was around her eyes but left the gag on her mouth in place. "Don't be afraid," he told her. "I'm not going to hurt you. I'm taking you back to New York, where you belong."

Arkady was puzzled when he returned to the apartment and discovered that Irina was nowhere to be found. He looked to see if she'd left a note but couldn't find one. She must have thought she'd be back before I returned, he told himself. However, as time passed and she still didn't appear, he became increasingly worried.

Will and Deanna returned a couple of hours later, chatting happily. "Where's Irina?" asked Deanna.

"I have no idea!" Arkady exclaimed. "She was gone when I came home. I thought she'd just stepped out for a minute, but she's been gone for hours now, and I'm worried sick!"

He called all the local hospitals, but she hadn't been admitted to any of them. By nightfall he was frantic. He left the apartment and spent several hours scouring the city, visiting every place he could imagine her having gone, but had no luck. At last he returned home to fall into an exhausted sleep on the sofa.

Max's private jet landed at the fixed base operator, and he picked Irina up and carried her to the waiting taxi. From there it was a forty-five minute drive to the secluded little bungalow in the country which he'd prepared to take her to. Once they were inside, he removed the gag from her mouth. "Scream as loud as you want," he told her. "Nobody can hear you way out here."

He untied the rope that bound her hands, then the one binding her legs. "Don't you like it?" he asked. "It looks just like that little inn we stayed at the night we made love for the first time. Remember how you thought it was gorgeous and talked about how dearly you'd love to live in a house that looked just like it? Well, now you've got your wish!"

Irina looked around herself in mute horror. She was in a charming little room with plush dark red carpet and a large cream-colored sofa with several fluffy pink pillows. "If you think this is nice, just wait until you see the bedroom." He took her by the hand and led her into it. The walls were painted a cheery yellow, and lacy curtains hung at the windows. The room was dominated by a large double bed which had a canopy and a yellow-and-white-checked comforter.

"You look tense." Max's tone was sarcastic. "I'll get you a drink to help you relax."

Irina was so thirsty that when he brought the drink, she gulped it right down without even thinking. Within moments, she felt very light headed and dizzy. A bolt of panic shot right through her. The baby!

"It's wonderful, isn't it?" Max began to remove her clothing, and as much as she tried to fight him, her arms suddenly felt as if they weighed a hundred pounds each. When he raised her skirt and pulled her panties down, she struggled and tried to cry out but could only manage a weak grunt. Max removed his own clothing and mounted her, thrusting into her over and over again. Filled with abhorrence and revulsion, she was helpless to escape his clutches. He continued his violation of her body until he'd achieved satisfaction, then rolled over and went to sleep as silent sobs wracked her body.

As Arkady jerked awake, a terrible thought occurred to him. What if Irina had been spirited out of the country against her will? Suddenly he thought of Max Albov. If anyone had a motive to kidnap Irina, it was him.

Arkady knew that he had to locate Max as quickly as possible. Perhaps Will and Deanna knew of some futuristic method of locating people in a very short period of time. He sure hoped so.