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 trust me

“Yes.”

“Why?”

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

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

*****

the dogs collapse in a heap

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

the pair, expression neutral. “Is that a

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

he stay in

until someone offers him food or another…” I mouth the word

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

fine. We were just

top of a stepladder, places a final branch

from her paper-folding. “What’s

out. I was

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 his

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

“Mind if I

You

wind the scarf around my neck, Archie starts yapping and

“No, I think

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

*****

there?” I point up at a bough, glossy

at the branch and passing it back down. I lay it on the stack in my basket, then

making a nuisance of themselves. Until, with a sharp yap, Archie announces, Squirrel! And the troop of five bolt off,

to the next tree and away. The dogs give

performance. “Is it always like

would be a good one. It’s covered

with the secateurs,

“Something wrong?”

but his eyes are scanning

it?” His expression is savage,

Baxter…

secateurs into a pocket. “Get back.” Reaching out, he grabs me by the wrist and tugs, pulling

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

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

that

tilts his chin up, eyes intent. “That bastard's still on the loose,” he mutters. Then, gun levelled, he stalks to within a few feet of the bush. “Out!

response is another shiver of

It’s too low…

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