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?”

He holds up palms… “It’s settled and she’s fine, but under the circumstances, for the sakes of both Elizabeth and Charlotte,

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 have

*****

the kitchen, I pull my ingredients

ain’t my old friend Capt’n Bluebeard.” He elbows me in the ribs. “Oohhh, Aaarrr!” Then, slaps his forehead as I

“Please don’t.”

from her place at the

my sinuses and I try to rub

shoulder. “You don’t have to cook for me, James. I’ll be happy with a

me relax. I could do with some relaxation right

turns, grunting

why are you moving

seeming surprised. “Oh! Must have done.

you forgot something like that. Let me look…” She plucks at the top he's wearing, Michael's, and the fabric gapes open at a clean slice. Mine is underneath and it's

Larry, these are soaked

damage to himself. Quite the opposite.

she says. “Let me have a proper

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

Mitch hooks fingers

At the edges, blood crisped dry resists, plucking at the wound as she peels away the garment. But liquid blood, dark and red, dribbles from

doctor.

apologising with his eyes, says, “They have

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

in blood, red by the wound, black

he comments. “My clothes... Sorry...

swat flies then, starting at the outer edge, working in, she wipes and

silently, Michael fills another bowl with

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

removes her hand, replacing it with his own,

done this before…” She halts in mid-sentence, staring at his chest. “Good God, Larry. What have you been doing the last few years? You look as if someone's been

weighs in.

of any trace of flab, apparently constructed from whipcord and leather, Klempner’s chest is crisscrossed with scars, slices and punctures. Some deep and red, some fine white lines. Trying not to be obvious about it, I steal

not a bloody circus show. Mitch, just dress it and then I can get some clothes on again. I’m

my fleece. “Not in these clothes,

needs stitches,” insists

pad from Klempner’s reluctant fingers and peers close. “Stopped by the breastbone from going any deeper. It does need stitching, yes.”

“You telling me he keeps sutures

I shrug.

dot wherever you would stitch but keep to the edges. If it gets onto

looks at the wound. Looks at the tube. Bites a lip. “Can you