Hot Revenge Box Set 2

James

And now, for the first time, I push the door, quiet as I can, looking in.

Mitch is there, a pad on her lap, sketching. She sits by Charlotte; sleeping, so pale.

No, not pale; pallid.

What they did to you…

But she’s clean and warm and comfortable. And by the side of the bed, within touching distance, also sleeping…

Cara…

My daughter…

And in a chair by the window, a hawk-eyed nurse.

What’s been happening?

Mitch smiles, holding up her pad: a half-drawn sketch, in pastels, of mother and baby. Then she looks me up and down, pulling a face.

?

I mouth silently. “What?”

She nods me to the mirror and I see myself.

Oh, My God…

Even though I changed, brushed my hair, I can’t let Charlotte wake up to see me like this. Or Cara…

The eye is not a pretty sight. It’s not so swollen now and it’s beginning to open again, but the colour, a kind of reverse rainbow in blue, green and sickly yellow, is enough to put anyone off their… milk… There’s not too much I can do about the bruising, but at the least, I should clean myself up.

I stoop, kiss Charlotte’s cheek. She stirs, mumbling something soft. I can’t make out the words, but sleeping, her lips are curving.

I stroke Cara’s tiny face, and eyes-closed, she blows a bubble.

Then, with a nod to Mitch, I turn to leave. And Michael’s there. He too holds the pair in his gaze, then with a tap to my chest. “Let’s let them sleep.”

Mitch follows us out, picking up a baby monitor en route and popping it in her pocket.

*****

A hot shower and I feel more myself. Then Richard snags me, bullying me through to where the doctor I saw is waiting.

“I’m sorry… What’s happening?”

the circumstances, for the

staying in the hotel for the next few weeks and are on 24/7 call should we need them. Meanwhile you…” He levels a finger at me… “…are

*****

I pull my ingredients

comes in, inspects my work area and Hmmms, then grins as he gets a look at me. “Well, if it ain’t my old friend Capt’n Bluebeard.” He elbows me in the ribs. “Oohhh, Aaarrr!” Then, slaps his forehead as I wince. “Sorry, James. I

“Please don’t.”

a smile from her place at the table. “It suits you. Kind of…

bloody thing off.” The tang of onions rides up my sinuses and I try to rub my nose, then realise my damn eye is watering under the

don’t have to cook for me, James.

relax. I could do with

turns, grunting as he

him with her eyes. “Larry, why are you moving like that?” She looks closer. “You're bleeding.

looks down at himself, seeming surprised. “Oh! Must have

Let me look…” She plucks at the top he's wearing, Michael's, and the

Larry, these are soaked

watches her, apparently unconcerned by the damage to himself. Quite the opposite. He seems gratified by her attention, eyes crinkling as she

“Let me

to pull them up, fingers tugging at the bottom hem, then hisses, eyes rising to

hooks fingers under, then

a wicked slice, six inches long, scored from shoulder to chest. At the edges, blood crisped

of looks. “That needs a doctor. I’ll go get him…” He

thank you.” Klempner calms, then apologising with his eyes, says, “They have an annoying habit of wanting to know

runs warm water into a bowl, dumping bowl, soap, clean rags and a tube of antiseptic

is smeared in blood, red by the wound, black at the

it is,” he comments.

to swat flies then, starting at the outer edge, working in, she wipes and cleans, squeezing the cloth into the bowl which swirls

silently, Michael fills another bowl with fresh water and

as a clean slit, starting shallow, but slicing deeper.

her hand, replacing it with

halts in mid-sentence, staring at his chest. “Good God, Larry. What have you been doing the last few years? You

weighs in.

with scars, slices and punctures. Some deep and red, some fine white lines. Trying not to be obvious about it, I

bloody circus show. Mitch, just dress it and

of my fleece. “Not in these clothes, you won't. I'll get you

stitches,”

breastbone from going any

scratches at his forehead. “You telling me he

I shrug.

returns with a small tube; hands it to Mitch. “Superglue. Use a dot wherever you would

the wound. Looks at the tube.