Hot Revenge Box Set 2

James

Michael looks me up and down. “You fit to walk?”

“I’ll manage.”

He gives a short jerk of his head and turns to Charlotte, arms outstretched. “You walk. I’ll carry Cara for you.”

She retreats, clutching Cara to herself, shrieking. “No!”

Michael steps back, holding up his palms. “Whoa… Calm down. It’s me. What do you think I’m going to do?”

She bursts into tears. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry…”

He takes a step closer, moving carefully. “Charlotte, we have to leave. I’m not sure you can carry Cara and walk too.”

“No.” She swings her head in denial, tries to step out, then totters, Cara still tight to her chest.

Michael exchanges a look with me, shaking his head, then he moves in… “Hold on to Cara.” …. sweeping her up. His voice changes to a kind of fake yokel accent. “Come, Mr Frodo!” he says. “I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you.”

She gives him a watery smile. “I’m sorry.”

“Stop saying that. You’ll be fine when we’ve got you home and rested up for a few days.”

Klempner shoves a knife into his belt. Another into the top of his boot. A handgun into a pocket. Then, picking up his SMG, “We need to get moving. I'll go to the front. Michael, you with Jenny in between. James, cover our backs.”

*****

Michael

My arms full of Charlotte, we clear the first flight of stairs to the corridor of ‘cells’. “Klempner, we should release the other women.”

at me, then looking along the passage and its barred doorways, nods

Once we're out, you can sing to

“By that time Finchby and Baxter could have murdered all the witnesses. Gotten rid of the

stock. His property. He’ll not be eager to get rid

the place, creating chaos, trying to escape, is likely to make

shoots me a calculating look. “Sold to the man with the highest bid. Get

downstairs somewhere. But I do have my axe. James, can

to him, clinging to his Cara with one

swing… and strike at the first padlock. The angle’s a little wrong. The blade bites in, but

my aim, this time striking

this time, the blade cuts through. The lock springs open and after a brief struggle with the bolt, I open the door to a

woman cringes back, babbling something at me. Dark-haired and eyed, fair-skinned, she would be beautiful if she weren’t so obviously

gesture her, “Quick,

then sees James with Charlotte and Cara. Wide-eyed, tearful,

head around the door. “Você quer partir? Venha conosco.”

up, dashes out, joining

her. “Nós estamos indo embora. Você quer ajudar?” He jabs a finger to me… “Ajudem-no.” Then he

padlock, she darts inside, gesturing me on to the next. Half a minute later, she exits, now with another two women, one looking barely old enough to drive

“Keep at it. I’ll

share a language, but all come bursting from their grim prisons, flooding down the cells. A couple of boys emerge from one cell, ten, maybe eleven years old. Another, with eyes like

them into the hands of the first woman we

his

parte. Eles não podem encontrar todos

“What are you saying?”

Finchby can’t catch all of them and Baxter probably

the final door opens, disgorging its

Gunshots…

I duck, and screaming and shouting, chaotically, the women scatter. Splitting and flowing one

yells, “Suba

exhausted as he arrived at the cell and he’d taken a beating. He may

her to me. Klempner needs you with a gun in your hand. Charlotte, give James yours. Arm around my neck.

gives me