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?”

Yet you seem prepared to

“Yes.”

“Why?”

startled eyes down at my barrel-bodied little girl, then around at the other dogs, cavorting in the

of you. That suggested to me that you're worth getting to know. And considering what Haswell is trying hard

*****

the dogs collapse in a heap and

closed, upside down, all four legs in the air; doing his best ‘Dead Bluebottle’

“Is that a natural position for a

Mac’s tail twitches and his lips pull back in an up-side-down canine

in that

him food or another…” I mouth the word silently…

but his voice is slow. “Is everything alright, Kirstie? You were outside a long time talking with…” He jerks his head towards

fine. We were just

Michael, on top of a stepladder, places

looks up from her paper-folding.

out. I was sure we’d

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

Kirstie. I’ve still not defrosted after the

stirs. “Mind if I join

You can reach higher

Archie starts

“No,

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

*****

point up at a

I lay it on the stack in my basket, then aim upwards again. “Now, that

under my feet and making a nuisance of themselves. Until, with a sharp yap, Archie announces, Squirrel! And the troop of five bolt off, howling and yelping

then leaps to the next tree and away. The dogs give chase, their howls fading into the distance as they high tail it

performance. “Is it

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

stretches out with

“Something wrong?”

doesn’t reply, but his eyes are scanning the area behind

What is it?” His expression is savage, and something bites in my

Baxter…

out, he grabs me by the wrist and tugs, pulling me backwards, placing himself between

there's a Crack! Then a muffled

in the spot. Leaves quiver, shedding their load of

brought that

still on the loose,” he mutters. Then, gun levelled, he stalks to within a few feet of

another shiver

It’s too low…

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