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?”

though we know each other. Yet you seem prepared to trust

“Yes.”

“Why?”

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

me that you're worth getting to know. And considering what Haswell is trying hard to put your way, James isn’t the only

*****

apparently exhausted, the dogs collapse in

place in front of the fire, lies eyes closed, upside down, all four legs in the air; doing his best ‘Dead Bluebottle’ impression. Archie nudges up beside

neutral. “Is

Mac’s tail twitches and

stay in that

another…” I mouth the word silently…

“Is everything alright, Kirstie? You were outside a long time talking with…”

We were just

places a final branch of holly

from her paper-folding.

run out. I was sure we’d

I do so. “I’ll go get some more. The dogs would enjoy another walk.” As I utter the W-Word, Mac revolves through

in a smile. “Thanks, Kirstie. I’ve still not defrosted

stirs. “Mind if I

You can reach higher

around my neck, Archie starts yapping and Scruffy, Meg and Emma

the fire. “No,

door, blocking my way to the hall. “Let me past,

*****

point up at a bough, glossy green with leaves, cheerful and Christmassy

I lay it on

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

of thirty feet or so, the squirrel chitters down, spitting insults, then leaps to the next tree and away. The dogs give chase, their howls fading into the distance

the performance. “Is

much, yes… That branch there would be a good one. It’s

stretches out with the secateurs,

“Something wrong?”

eyes

His expression is savage, and

Baxter…

back.” Reaching out, he grabs me by the wrist

his words, from behind me, there's a Crack! Then a muffled

snap towards the sound and he stares, intent in the spot. Leaves quiver, shedding their load

that

he mutters. Then, gun levelled, he stalks to within a few feet of the bush. “Out! Right

is another

It’s too low…

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