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?”

not as though we know each other. Yet you seem prepared to trust me with… personal stuff… And to think about

“Yes.”

“Why?”

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

worth getting to know. And considering

*****

energies apparently exhausted, the dogs collapse in a heap

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

pair, expression neutral. “Is that a

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

he stay in that

food or another…”

kiss him on the cheek. Subdued, he returns the kiss, but his voice is slow. “Is everything alright, Kirstie? You were outside a long time talking with…” He jerks his head towards Klempner, returned to his seat at

We were just

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

from her

was

would enjoy another walk.” As I utter the W-Word,

Kirstie. I’ve still not defrosted after the last

stirs. “Mind if I

like to. You

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

stares into the fire. “No, I think I’ll

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

*****

at a bough, glossy green

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

so, the squirrel chitters down, spitting insults, then leaps to the next tree and away. The dogs give chase, their howls fading

eyes the performance. “Is it always

branch there would be a

with the

“Something wrong?”

doesn’t reply, but his eyes are scanning the

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

Baxter…

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

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

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

that here?” I

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

another shiver of the

It’s too low…

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