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.

clean of any expression. He takes an armchair at the back of the room; leaning back, arms

arm hooked through her mother’s. Mitch pauses in the doorway, brow furrowing as she sees the gathering. “What can I

don’t

about Larry? You’ve heard something?” Her voice snatches. “Has… something happened to

“Please, Mitch, sit down.”

her hand. “Sit by me on

a glance at her daughter. “So you know something I don’t? How do you get to find

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

glares at me sidelong, but sits, sandwiched between me and Charlotte, who slips her hand over her

skin sheened, his words slow, speaks

indeed,

uploading

a locator on

into the cloud, so that when Klempner replaced his mobile, he

James himself was hacked, and that virus now has control

only assume that it is Juliana behind

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

sallow. “Are you telling me that woman

sorry, Mitch. But yes, that’s

us what you were

James doesn’t reply.

hands clasped over a still flat

He swallows…

octave. “Tell me, James. What

he is. She’ll have his log-ins, passwords and his entry codes. She’ll be able to use the camera and the microphone. If he carries it in his pocket as

top-line model. It’s capable of a lot. But he doesn’t have

stares at him, trembling, stroking her

us anywhere. Hickman, how long

heavyset man gives James a look that would etch glass then, speaking in a

often did he normally contact

a day. Different times. Different pattern. Mainly…” He

the last thing

information regarding the organised crime syndicates in São

James. “I’d have been happy to help with the

his gaze to

because of me. I’ll book a flight and

you mean well, but if Mr Klempner has encountered

go,” I say.

at his lips,

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