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.”

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

time for that. Once we're out, you can sing to the world about what's in here, but until

and Baxter could have murdered all the

Whoever’s in those cells represents his working stock. His property. He’ll not be eager to get rid of them. What’s your priority, Michael? We

don’t think a lot of screaming, panicking women, running around the place, creating chaos, trying to escape, is likely to

look. “Sold to the man with the highest bid. Get on with it then. You got those

have my axe. James, can you

Cara with one hand, waving

shoulders, I aim… swing… and strike at the first padlock. The angle’s a little

this time striking square

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

and eyed, fair-skinned, she would be beautiful if she weren’t

her, “Quick,

James with Charlotte and Cara. Wide-eyed, tearful, she jabbers

the door. “Você quer partir? Venha conosco.” He throws a

then scrabbling up, dashes out, joining us,

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

she darts inside, gesturing me on to the next. Half a minute later,

on the shoulder. “Keep at it.

to share a language, but all come bursting from their grim prisons, flooding down the cells. A

the keys, thrusting them into the hands of

his

parte.

“What are you saying?”

can’t catch all of them and Baxter

final door opens,

Gunshots…

and shouting, chaotically, the women scatter. Splitting and flowing one way and the other; maybe thirty of them, running as if the devil

“Suba

as he arrived at the cell and he’d taken a beating. He may not want to admit it, but he’s struggling with Charlotte’s

in your hand. Charlotte, give James yours. Arm around my neck. I need you to hang on

me a dry