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?”

we know each other. Yet you seem prepared to trust me with… personal stuff… And

“Yes.”

“Why?”

she pushes her stick at him again. “Because they do.” He casts startled eyes down at my barrel-bodied little girl,

getting to know. And considering what Haswell is trying

*****

apparently exhausted, the dogs collapse

the air; doing his best ‘Dead Bluebottle’ impression. Archie nudges up beside him trying, unsuccessfully, to ease

expression neutral. “Is that a

favourite,” I say. “When he’s chilled out.” Mac’s tail twitches and his lips pull

stay in that

another…” I mouth the

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

We were just

stepladder, places a

up from her paper-folding. “What’s

I was sure we’d picked

“I’ll go get some more. The dogs would enjoy another walk.” As I utter the W-Word, Mac revolves through one-eighty into an upright position and is back on

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

if I join

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

Archie starts yapping and Scruffy, Meg and

the fire. “No, I think

barges past me to the door, blocking my way to the

*****

point up at a bough, glossy green with leaves,

and passing it back down. I lay it on the stack in

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

tree and away.

performance. “Is it

there would be a good

out with the secateurs,

“Something wrong?”

reply, but his eyes

is savage, and something bites in my

Baxter…

a pocket. “Get back.” Reaching out, he grabs me by the wrist and tugs, pulling me backwards, placing himself

a Crack! Then a muffled

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

brought that here?”

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

only response is another shiver

It’s too low…

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