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.

takes an armchair at the back of the room; leaning back,

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

why don’t

it about Larry? You’ve heard

“Please, Mitch, sit down.”

“Sit by me on the

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

the seat. “Mitch, please sit down. James needs to

at me sidelong, but sits, sandwiched between me and Charlotte,

slow, speaks like one making a

As indeed, he

Klempner was fooled into uploading James’

Set a locator

to backup into the cloud, so that when Klempner

was hacked, and

that it is Juliana

I never intended any of this, but we’ve heard nothing from him. Hickman can’t make contact…”

“Are you telling me that woman can trace exactly where Larry is? And

sorry, Mitch. But yes,

it didn’t occur to you to tell any of us what you were doing?” Her tone

James doesn’t reply.

still flat

He swallows…

rises an octave. “Tell me,

then she has control. She’ll certainly know where 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

to his forehead. “Larry uses a top-line model. It’s capable of a lot. But he doesn’t

stares at him,

in. “This doesn’t get us anywhere. Hickman, how long is it now since you last

James a look that would etch glass then, speaking in a

often did he

Mainly…” He looks towards Mitch… “… it was to ask after

was the last thing

was to ask me to obtain the information

could have asked me,” says James. “I’d have

his gaze to James. “Your

because of me. I’ll

if Mr Klempner has encountered the kind of

go,” I say. “I can handle

Summerford.” Hickman sucks at his lips, rubs his nose. “Do you

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255