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?”

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

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 taken last night. I can

*****

my

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,

“Please don’t.”

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

when I can take the bloody thing off.” The tang of onions rides up my sinuses and I try to rub my

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

I could do

Klempner turns, grunting

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

at himself, seeming surprised. “Oh! Must have

me look…” She plucks at the top he's wearing, Michael's, and the fabric gapes open at a clean slice. Mine is

Larry, these are

her face. Klempner watches her, apparently unconcerned by the damage to himself. Quite the opposite. He seems gratified

says. “Let

at the bottom hem, then

hooks fingers

fabric peels away from the gash underneath; a wicked slice, six inches long, scored from shoulder to chest. At the edges, blood crisped dry resists, plucking at the wound as she peels

needs a doctor. I’ll go get him…” He makes as

says, “They have an annoying habit of wanting

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

smeared in blood, red by

it is,” he comments.

edge, working in, she wipes and

only a minute or two, silently, Michael fills

seen as a clean slit, starting shallow, but slicing deeper. Mitch slaps a pad of clean cotton over the

her hand, replacing it

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.

in. “Or

and punctures. Some deep and red,

“I'm not a bloody circus show. Mitch, just dress it and then I can get

in these clothes, you won't. I'll get you

stitches,”

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

at his forehead. “You telling me he

I shrug.

you would stitch but

at the wound. Looks at the tube. Bites a lip.