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?”

happened is that last night, Elizabeth went into premature labour.” He holds up palms… “It’s settled and she’s fine, but under the circumstances, for the sakes of both Elizabeth and Charlotte, and considering Charlotte’s feelings regarding hospitals right now, I have assembled a team for

to argue. I don’t. “They are 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 going to let Doctor Polinski examine that eye. Along with any other damage you might

*****

I pull my ingredients

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

“Please don’t.”

smile from her place at the table. “It

off.” The tang of onions rides up my sinuses

my shoulder. “You don’t have to cook

cooking. It helps me relax. I

enough.” Klempner turns, grunting

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

down at himself, seeming surprised. “Oh! Must have done. Um, yes, he did,

top he's wearing, Michael's, and the

these are

damage to himself. Quite the opposite.

says. “Let me have a

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

Mitch hooks fingers

slice, six inches long, scored from shoulder to chest. At the edges, blood crisped dry resists, plucking

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

have an annoying habit

rags and a tube of antiseptic cream on the

Klempner's naked chest is smeared in blood, red by the wound, black at

than it is,” he comments. “My clothes... Sorry... Your clothes... soaked up

flies then, starting at the outer edge,

two, silently, Michael fills another bowl

clean slit, starting shallow, but slicing deeper. Mitch slaps a pad of clean cotton over the top, pressing it in

her hand, replacing it with his own, face

sits back, a set to her eye. “You behave as though you've done this before…” She halts in mid-sentence, staring at his chest. “Good God, Larry. What have you

weighs in. “Or

scars, slices and punctures. Some deep and red, some fine white

and then I can

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

needs stitches,” insists

going any deeper. It does need stitching, yes.” He presses pad and fingers back into place. “Back in a

his forehead. “You telling me he keeps sutures in the

I shrug.

wherever you would stitch but keep to

looks at the wound. Looks at the tube. Bites