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?”

you seem prepared to trust me with…

“Yes.”

“Why?”

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

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

*****

indoors, energies apparently exhausted, the dogs collapse in a

prize place in front of the fire, lies eyes closed, upside down, all four legs in the air; doing his best ‘Dead

neutral. “Is that a natural position for

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

stay in

offers him food or another…” I mouth the

“Is everything alright, Kirstie? You were

We were just

a stepladder, places

from her paper-folding. “What’s

I was

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

a smile. “Thanks, Kirstie.

stirs. “Mind if I join

like to. You can reach

neck, Archie starts yapping and Scruffy, Meg

fire. “No,

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

*****

that branch there?” I point up at a bough, glossy green with

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

nuisance of themselves. Until, with a sharp yap, Archie announces, Squirrel!

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

“Is

there would be

out with

“Something wrong?”

his eyes are scanning the area behind

is savage, and something

Baxter…

shoves the secateurs into a pocket. “Get back.” Reaching out, he grabs me by

me, there's a Crack! Then a muffled

the spot. Leaves quiver, shedding their load of snow. Reaching into his jacket, he takes out a gun, aiming for

brought that here?” I

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.

response is another

It’s too low…

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