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.”

then looking along the

Once we're out, you can sing to the world about what's in here,

Baxter could have murdered all the witnesses. Gotten rid of the

eager to get rid of them. What’s your priority, Michael? We have

the place, creating chaos,

man with the highest bid. Get on with it then. You got those

I do have my axe. James, can you

him, clinging to his Cara with one hand, waving a gun in

I aim… swing… and strike at the first

adjust my aim, this time striking

lock springs open and after a brief struggle with the bolt, I open the door to a dim

and eyed, fair-skinned, she would be beautiful if she

gesture her, “Quick,

sees James with Charlotte and Cara. Wide-eyed, tearful, she jabbers at me, hands outstretched,

partir? Venha conosco.” He

scrabbling up, dashes out, joining

estamos indo embora. Você quer ajudar?” He jabs a finger to me… “Ajudem-no.” Then he stands back, plucking

gesturing me on to the next. Half a minute later, she exits, now with another two women,

shoulder. “Keep at it. I’ll see if I can find those keys. Back in

Few seem to 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

them into the

his sleeve. “Onde

não sei. Em toda parte. Eles não podem

“What are you saying?”

them to scatter. Finchby can’t catch

the final door opens,

Gunshots…

by me, ricocheting from the wall and spitting brick-dust. I duck, and screaming and shouting, chaotically, the women scatter. Splitting and flowing one

“Suba as

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

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

gives me a