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

“Yes.”

“Why?”

nod down to 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

of you. That suggested to me that you're worth getting to know. And considering what Haswell is trying hard to put your way, James isn’t the only

*****

energies apparently exhausted, the dogs collapse in a heap and

legs in the air; doing

neutral. “Is

chilled out.” Mac’s tail twitches and his lips

stay in that

food or another…” I mouth the word silently…

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

We were

places a final

from her

run out. 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 an upright

a smile. “Thanks, Kirstie. I’ve still

if

to. You can

I wind the scarf around my neck, Archie starts

into the fire. “No,

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

*****

at a bough, glossy green

branch and passing it back down. I lay

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

the next tree and away. The dogs give chase, their

the performance. “Is it

That branch there would be a good

out with the

“Something wrong?”

reply, but his eyes

is savage, and something bites

Baxter…

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

from behind me, there's a Crack! Then a muffled rustling

stares, intent in the spot. Leaves quiver, shedding their load of snow. Reaching into his jacket, he takes out

that here?”

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

another shiver of the

It’s too low…

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