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

“Yes.”

“Why?”

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

That suggested to me that you're worth getting to know. And considering

*****

energies apparently exhausted, the dogs collapse in a

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

pair, expression neutral. “Is that a

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

stay in that

until someone offers him food or another…” I mouth

Kirstie? You were outside a long time talking with…”

fine. We were just

on top of a stepladder, places a final branch

looks up from her paper-folding. “What’s

I was

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 revolves through one-eighty into an upright position and is back on his

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

if

You can

starts yapping and

into the fire. “No, I think I’ll stay

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

*****

about that branch there?” I point up at a bough, glossy green with leaves, cheerful and Christmassy with

back down. I lay it on the stack in my basket,

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

feet or so, the squirrel chitters down, spitting insults, then leaps to the next tree and away. The dogs give

“Is

there would be a good one. It’s

with the secateurs,

“Something wrong?”

but his eyes

is savage,

Baxter…

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

his words, from behind me, there's a

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

that

“That bastard's still on the loose,” he mutters. Then, gun

is another

It’s too low…

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