Hot Revenge Box Set 2

I scrutinize that crack in my footprint.

Need to get new boots soon…

Or I’ll have wet feet…

“I'm scared,” I admit.

His voice is soft. “Of what? Committing? To him?”

“No, not exactly. What if it all went wrong?”

I know that I sound like some spoiled child, complaining about homework or the wrong cookies with my milk, but the words keep coming… “What if I lost my job? Or Ryan was doing badly? If we couldn’t pay, we could lose everything.”

Klempner shrugs. “So, what’s the difference with that to paying rent for the rest of your life? That’s always going to be money down the drain. If you’re on a mortgage, you’re building it up.” He sniffs, scratches his nose. “It seems to me, that you need to sort out your priorities; to decide what it is you really want…”

He’s making a lot of sense…

But he keeps talking. “… Too many people go through life making do. If you fuck up what you really want, you could spend the next twenty years of your life regretting it, before you get another chance.”

“Like you did?”

His gaze goes distant, staring off down at the lake. “Like I did.”

Why are you talking to me like this?

Lawrence Klempner in the role of agony aunt…

However, my good sense rules and I keep that thought firmly inside my head where it belongs.

But I do keep speaking. “It’s just… it’s such a huge amount of money. I’m really worried we can’t afford it.”

Klempner sucks at his cheeks. “You work for Haswell? Do I have that right? And he’s arranging the purchase for this Mill you want to buy?”

“Yes, that's right.”

“And your Ryan, what does he do?”

“He owns his own company. They make heating and ventilation systems. He's doing a lot of contract work right now for James and Richard.”

“He’s the company director?”

“He is, yes.”

“So… his files are a matter of public record. Haswell probably has a very good idea of what he's worth too. And he knows what size of orders Ryan’s company is likely to pull in over the next few years?”

“I suppose so.”

Klempner huffs. “There’s no suppose about it. You don't get into Haswell’s position without having a knack for putting a value on people.” He levels a finger at me. “If he thinks you can afford it, you can afford it. And he’s the one offering you the sale and setting the price.”

Still I hesitate.

He lets out air. “Kirstie, you do realise that Haswell's selling it to you under value?”

He is?

at the same price he paid for

But I heard what he’s offering you. With the terms of payment, the agreed interest rate and the time period… he's… well, if

didn’t have any

do you imagine he had an option on the place? He heads a multi-company international corporation, not a charity for retired

rise. “I’m not a secretary.” Then what’s he’s saying to me sinks in. My mind races. “But why would he do that? He’s an

clearly all looking out for each other… Haswell seems a decent enough man. But you can be sure that to be where he is, he’s been playing the

turn his words over in

Lawrence Klempner…

he

the rest of

as

previous life… I went looking for skeletons on Haswell and I couldn’t find any. So far as I can see, he's as honourable as big business ever allows.” He aims a finger at me. “You helped to

wing. Haswell’s making his best effort to do you a favour. A big favour. No offence meant, Kirstie, but there're not too many women in your position who would be made an offer like that by a

do

as Jenny’s kidnapper.” He muses then smiles. “Haswell aside, I’ll not forget

I realise that he’s not simply staring into space. He really is looking into

air, are you? You’re watching for

at me.

worried about him?

best to hurt my family, in the worst possible way, as a way of coming back at me.” His eyes flash fury. “I have no reason to believe he’s given up on that.” He chews his lower lip, staring out

drying, “You think he'll come

knows I'll be looking. But...” He rocks his hand back and forth...

His words hang, half-said…

something else though,”

then breathes in, lets

that I betrayed him, and I still don't understand why. He said I’d abandoned him. Left him for the police. We've known each other a long

two of

long-term colleagues. We knew each other

it's someone else,

blinks, his head

A brother? A lover? Someone close enough to get inside his head… Is Baxter married? Is there a

I’m aware of. But I’ll think about

to feel awkward. “You didn’t mention

his head,

talked about everyone else; James, Richard, Beth, Charlotte.

but his eyes are cracking a laugh. “I understand why my daughter is married to

don’t like Michael? Everyone

say I don’t like him. I simply don’t think it’s a meeting of minds Jenny was opting for when she married him. It’s not as though he’s the brains of the operation

not being fair on

brow. “You think

qualifications, the letters after his name, but whatever he feels inside, James isn’t good at expressing

Klempner

“Michael… has emotional intelligence.”

intelligence? Really? That's an idea I have

Slaver... Trafficker… Murderer…

realise that. It doesn't mean it's

muses. “It's something Mitch is strong on. Reading

it's got to make you better at the job…” Then I choke on my own words. “Oh, God… I’m sorry… I didn’t

doesn’t seem offended. More amused. “Perhaps. Still… she didn't read