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?”

other. Yet you seem prepared

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Meg, 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

know. And considering

*****

dogs collapse in a

legs in the air; doing his best ‘Dead Bluebottle’ impression. Archie nudges up

“Is that a natural position for

he’s chilled out.” Mac’s tail twitches and his lips pull back in an up-side-down

in

or another…” I

kiss, but his voice is slow. “Is everything alright, Kirstie? You were

fine. We were

Michael, on top of a stepladder, places a final branch of holly on

from her paper-folding.

I was

my gloves, Archie pricking up his ears as I do so. “I’ll go get some more. The dogs would enjoy another walk.” As I utter the W-Word, Mac

blinks, then sucks in a smile. “Thanks, Kirstie. I’ve still not defrosted after the last trip

“Mind if I

you’d like to. You

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

“No, I

blocking my

*****

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

snipping at the branch and passing it back down. I lay it on the

scratch, getting 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 to the base of a

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 as

eyes the performance. “Is it always like

would be a

with the secateurs, then

“Something wrong?”

doesn’t reply, but his eyes are scanning

expression is savage, and something bites in my

Baxter…

out, he grabs me by the wrist and tugs, pulling me

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

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

that

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

only response is another

It’s too low…

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