Hot Revenge Box Set 4

Chapter 34

Michael

“James, we have to tell her. Given her condition, Mitch has to know. ”

He exhales slowly, avoiding my eye. “Yes, she does. I’ve… been avoiding it…”

“Hoping it would go away? That Klempner would contact us out of the blue and we could warn him? That just like that, everything would be alright?”

“Something like that, yes.”

“If Mitch doesn’t have all the facts, she can’t make proper decisions. She’s going to need support. And part of that support is to give her the truth. It’s not doing her any favours to be kept in the dark.”

“You’re right of course.” James squeezes his eyes closed, presses at a temple. “Let’s get it over with. Can you get everyone together. We’ll need the family with her for this.”

*****

Richard and Beth drop what they are doing, joining us in the lounge. Georgie appears shortly afterwards, strolling in from the hotel with a speculative look in her eye.

Elbow resting on the chair arm, I talk behind my hand to James in the next seat. “You think it’s a good idea to have Georgie here?”

“She’s family too,” he snaps. “And she was also targeted by that maniac woman. So, yes, she should be here.”

Turning away from me, he flips open his mobile, giving the screen a couple of taps. “Hickman? Yes, it’s James. Could you join us in the house, please… Yes, right away.”

I bite down on my doubts. Georgie sits off to one side, silently waiting, regarding me from under lidded eyes as she sees me watching her.

But it’s James’ call…

His daughter…

His problem…

Or at least, the problem he created…

Charlotte perhaps has similar reservations. She meets my gaze for a long moment, her attention broken as James speaks. “Charlotte, could you fetch your mother, please. Tell her I need a word.” He stares at his feet for a moment, then, “Don’t say more than that. This has to come from me. Try to keep her calm.”

Sucking at her lips, Charlotte nods and heads out.

James paces the room, looking as though he’s just been asked what he would like for his last meal.

Richard pushes a glass into his hands. “Calm down. We all know it wasn’t intentional.”

James knocks back half an inch of golden liquid, then thrusts the glass back at Richard. Legs akimbo, his back to the fire, he stares moodily into space, cracking his knuckles.

armchair at the back of the room; leaning back, arms folded, legs outstretched, crossed at

arm hooked through her mother’s. Mitch pauses in the doorway, brow furrowing as she sees

clears his throat, then gestures to an armchair. “Um… why don’t

“What? What is it? Is it about Larry? You’ve heard something?” Her voice snatches. “Has… something

“Please, Mitch, sit down.”

Charlotte takes her hand. “Sit by me on

you know something I don’t? How do you get to find out

elbow with my palm, steering her to the seat. “Mitch, please sit down. James needs to talk and it’s not going

but sits, sandwiched between me and

sheened, his words slow, speaks like one

As indeed,

Klempner was fooled into uploading James’ Trojan to

a locator

into the cloud, so that when Klempner replaced

James himself was hacked, and that virus

assume that it is Juliana behind

his hands, “Mitch, I’m sorry. I never intended any of this, but we’ve heard nothing from him. Hickman can’t make contact…” He glances to

usual, her complexion sallow. “Are you telling me that woman can trace exactly where Larry is?

yes, that’s almost certainly

And it didn’t occur to you to tell any of us what you were doing?” Her tone would blunt the edge on

James doesn’t reply.

hands clasped over a still flat stomach.

He swallows…

an octave. “Tell me,

his entry codes. She’ll be able to use

his forehead. “Larry uses a top-line model. It’s capable of a lot. But

stares at him,

doesn’t get us anywhere. Hickman, how long is

gives James a look that would etch

he normally contact

a day. Different times. Different pattern. Mainly…” He looks towards Mitch… “… it was to

the last thing you discussed

was to ask me to obtain the information regarding the organised crime

“I’d have been happy

swings his gaze to

me. I’ll book a flight and get over

Alexanders, I know you mean well, but if Mr Klempner has encountered the kind

go,” I say. “I

sure you can, Mr Summerford.” Hickman sucks at his lips, rubs his nose.

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