During the speedy return to 'Il Paradiso', Irona cuddled Anoushka and rocked her gently. Her assault had been vicious, the Albanians had been particularly cruel as they meant to break her in again. Nicholas was on the phone, explaining the situation to an irate Inspector, but still managed a glance back to the two women and the hog-tied prisoner, who was still unmoving. After succeeding in getting Marco to deploy his own police department to the house and take over the investigation. Nicholas didn't spare too much effort on what would happen. As one call finished, he dialled the Haven to have the doctor ready for their return.
Once the van had driven up to the heavy wooden door, Nicholas concerned himself with his prisoner and Irina escorted Anouska to the doctor. Dragging the man across the floor, Luigi and Nicholas pulled him to the library untied and stripped him of his clothes and then re-tied him to a wooden chair, after cutting out the wicker seat, as moviegoers had seen in Casino Royale. Nicholas then ordered Luigi to get rid of the van and torch it for any physical evidence. The Albanian was gagged but his anxious face betrayed his absolute fear of what merciless treatment he would be facing imminently. Sweating from his exertion, Nicholas's shirt was stained with perspiration but once he was certain, the man was bound. He stood back. Looking down at his shaky hands, he clenched his fist to try and control the chaos in his mind and the fluttering in his body.
"I know you understand English so I'm going to make this very clear, "Nicholas pointed to the door, "There are over twenty girls on the other side of that door; your entire stable of girls." Nicholas grabbed a handful of sweaty hair, and pulled him painfully, "You'll die here, but how you die is up to you. I will let the girls in, give them pairs of scissors and walk away. Have you ever seen a man with his balls cut off, There is a lake of blood, but you don't die." Nicholas smiled viciously, "You just bleed out, very slowly. I have a doctor here, did you know? I can have him patch you up, and then let the girls back in." Daniel sucked air in through his teeth, emphasising the awfulness of his fate.
The Albanian moaned into the gag. His eyes wide open and frantic. Nicholas smiled thinly. "I will let you think on that for a minute or two." Nicholas tapped him on the head, like an addled schoolboy and left the room. He needed to wait for Luigi anyway and that gave him time to check on Anoushka. In the clinic, the redoubtable doctor had examined her and given her the medical all-clear after treating cuts, abrasions and injections for any STIs. It was clear that neither of her rapists had worn condoms. Nicholas was overcome with guilt, but he was thankful for the GPS button her had made her wear.
"Thank you, Major Addams, for the lessons I learned about preparedness." He intoned, remembering how his commanding officer had reminded him time and time again, about being ready for any eventuality. A lesson he had learned on his deployment to Kabul and again here in the tourist city of Florence.
"She will be fine," Doctor D' Alegre smiled. Nicholas looked down at the prone figure of Anoushka in a simple blue gown.
"I am sorry I took my eyes off you, Anoushka. I feel.." Nicholas looked downcast. Anoushka held his arm,
"No, Sir Nicky. You came for me. You rescued me and killed those men for me." She smiled weakly. Nicholas returned her smile and then turned to Irina.
"Irina, stay with her. I'm going to talk to our 'guest'," As he turned, Luigi tumbled in,
"Nicholas, the van has been disposed of, but my Inspector has contacted me. We have a new problem." He looked at Anoushka and then to Irina, "Is she alright?" He looked at the doctor for confirmation of her condition.
"Si" The doctor busied himself with a dressing for a cut on her neck. Luigi looked back at Nicholas.
"Well, one problem at a time. Let's see if our tied-up friend is talkative," Nicholas stopped and turned to the Doctor, "Can I borrow Anoushka for five minutes? You come too."
The five of them walked into the library. The smell of sweat and urine was almost overpowering, but it was sweet to Nicholas, the Albanian was scared, and he wanted him terrified.
"Ah, I thought I would introduce two former employees to you, as they wanted to be the first to offer their reviews of your management skills. Their reviews are quite sharp, however." Nicholas turned to the doctor, do have any surgical scissors in your bag?"
"Sorry, but I have two number 8 scalpels if you need them," the Doctor sneered and opened his bag, took out the shiny surgical knives and handed one to Irina and Anoushka.
"Who would like to go first?" Nicholas asked, smiling at the helpless man, then shrugged, "You brought this upon yourself, you know?" As the girls approached, the man cried out and a foul odour filled the air, as he fouled himself. Nicholas then sprang his trap.
