Egor looked at Tatjana dispassionately as she lay on her side on the bed, sniffling.

She was securely bound, her hands fastened behind her back with zip ties, while her friend lay under the bed, gagged and similarly bound, eyes wide with terror.

If Tatjana had ever seemed attractive, it was all gone now; her face red, with a shiny nose and red-rimmed eyes, her mascara streaking down her cheeks, she looked exactly what she was, a terrified young woman.

Tatjana tried to shake her head to dislodge the blonde hair that was sticking to her sweat-dampened forehead, all to no avail. The man had secured the ties so tightly,...