Hot Revenge Box Set 2

Chapter 34

Meg drops her stick, curls back her lips to display teeth, bristling and growling.

Klempner frowns…

“Shhh… It’s alright.” I scratch her ears, calm her down. “As I said, she's a shelter dog,” I explain. “A rescue. And they know, more than almost anyone else, that there are monsters in the world...”

His eyes dart between me and Meg…

Dare I say it?

“… And some of those monsters walk around looking just like real people.”

I stoop, pick up Meg’s stick and throw it overarm as far as I can. She races after it, scattering snow behind her, the rest of the dogs in her wake.

Klempner relaxes, drooping his eyelids, head shaking so slightly.

Apology?

“Self-knowledge can be unsettling, can it not?” he comments. But his voice is mild. “So… given that you claim to have the answer to the perfect relationship, returning to the start of our conversation, why are you out here? Agonising over the right thing to do with your Ryan?”

I don’t have an answer. I settle for prevarication. “Why are you out here?”

“If you insist, I’m trying to decide how to go forward with Mitch.”

That was settled…

… Wasn’t it?

“You don't know? I thought you and she were…”

“No, I don’t know. You’re right. Mitch was a hooker. But what I wanted from her was never for sale. Not until the day Jenny was in danger. Then she offered herself to me.”

“And...?”

“And... I didn't accept. I didn't want her on that basis.”

Enthralled by the revelations coming from this dangerous, fascinating man, “What did you want?”

“I wanted her to want me. That's all I ever wanted.”

Meg returns, carrying her stick, to drop it at Klempner’s feet. He ignores her and she yaps, lashing her tail.

“So, what’s your problem now?” I ask. “The pair of you looked pretty chummy to me when we were inside.”

He grimaces. “I… never expected to get this far. I’m not sure what comes next.” He grins, quite disarmingly, then, “Why are you talking to me like this, Kirstie?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

prepared to

“Yes.”

“Why?”

her toothy grin as she pushes her stick at him again. “Because they do.” He casts startled eyes down at my barrel-bodied little girl, then around at the other dogs, cavorting in the snow. “Anyway, I could ask you the same question. Why are you talking

to know. And considering what Haswell is trying

*****

indoors, energies apparently exhausted, the dogs collapse in a heap and

in front of the fire, lies eyes closed, upside down, all four legs in the air; doing his best

expression neutral. “Is that a natural position for

“When he’s chilled out.” Mac’s tail twitches

he stay in

another…” I mouth the word silently… “…

is slow. “Is everything alright, Kirstie? You were outside a long

fine. We

top of a stepladder, places a final branch of holly

up from her paper-folding. “What’s

out. I was

enjoy another walk.” As I utter the W-Word, Mac revolves through one-eighty into an upright position and is back on

Kirstie. I’ve still not defrosted after

stirs. “Mind if

If you’d like to. You can reach higher branches

wind the scarf around my neck, Archie starts yapping and Scruffy, Meg and Emma appear from

into the fire. “No, I think I’ll

me to the door, blocking my

*****

about that branch there?” I point up at a bough, glossy green

down. I lay it on the stack in my basket, then

and making a nuisance of themselves. Until, with a sharp yap, Archie announces, Squirrel!

tree and

eyes the performance. “Is it always like

branch there would be a

out with the secateurs, then

“Something wrong?”

his eyes are scanning the

is savage, and

Baxter…

a pocket. “Get back.” Reaching out, he grabs me by the wrist

there's a Crack! Then a muffled

and he stares, intent in the spot. Leaves quiver, shedding their load of snow. Reaching into his jacket, he

brought that

“That bastard's still on the loose,” he mutters. Then, gun levelled, he stalks to within a few feet of the bush. “Out! Right now.

response is another

It’s too low…

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255