Hot Revenge Box Set 4

Chapter 37

“Charlotte, could you set an extra place at the table, please.”

“Sure.” She pauses, her hand full of cutlery. “Who are we expecting?”

“Georgie’s joining us for lunch…”

Her mouth opens in a silent Ahhh…

“… Is that alright with you?”

She moves table-mat, knife and fork to one side, clearing enough space for another setting. “Of course it is, Master. I know how much it means to you to have Georgie speaking to you again. I’ll do my best to make friends with her.”

“Thank you.” I kiss her forehead, tilt her chin up. “For what it’s worth, she said something similar.”

*****

The doorbell rings.

Charlotte stands. “I’ll go.”

She returns a minute later with Georgie, who offers her a bottle of wine. “I wasn’t sure what everyone likes, red or white, so I brought a rosé.”

“Good choice.” I gesture towards the fridge. “It’ll go well with the salmon we’re having. Just pop it in the fridge for now to chill, then take a seat.”

She hovers by the table. “Any particular place I should sit?”

“I set your place there...” Charlotte points. “… next to your Dad.”

Georgie takes a seat, having the look of one floundering. Then, spotting Cara on her playmat on the floor, patting at a dangling pink and blue ladybird. “Are you enjoying being a Mom?”

Charlotte beams. “Oh, yes. But I'll be glad when I’m back to my proper shape again.”

“I suppose you can use the gym in the hotel. Get plenty of exercise.”

“There's that. And I can ride too. That's good exercise.”

“Ride? You have a horse?”

“That’s right. She was a Christmas present. Can you ride?”

Georgie blows air. “I’ve never been on a horse.”

Credit where it’s due, Charlotte’s hesitation is infinitesimal. “Would you like to try? You could… You could borrow Charlie. I'm sure my Ma.. your dad would teach you.”

Georgie swings around to me. “Would you?”

“If Charlotte is happy for you to ride Charlie, I’d like that very much.”

“When can we try?”

“No time like the present. After lunch?”

*****

 

Klempner

Abandoning the abattoir above me, I make the quick climb down again, hanging from the rail of the lowest balcony to let myself drop to the ground. Landing on my toes, the rifle swings against my shoulder then jogs against me.

“Ah, there you are, Larry. I was beginning to worry you might have taken a wrong turn.”

The voice comes from behind me and despite myself, I startle, spinning to face the grinning Juliana and, by her side, a stranger with a gun in his hand. In the poor light, I can’t make out the model, but since the dangerous end is waving at me, that’s by the by…

I look more closely, but not at the weapon: his face.

A bit of a pretty boy: his hair is slicked back to a fetching ponytail and he has that slightly oily look that says Pimp.

No… not a stranger…

Now I look again, it’s Cash-Counting-Man from the night Wonder Boy led me here the first time.

While Juliana was making cow’s eyes at another gang member…

Cash-Man hovers close to Juliana with a slight proprietorial air…

Thinks he’s got her?

Another one?

Must have worked her way through half the fucking city…

Be walking bow-legged if she’s not careful…

And now I think on it, I have Cash-Man’s photo in my phone…

Wonder if Hickman made any progress on that?

Juliana’s wearing that manic grin that is so much a part her sexual allure and Femme Fatale appeal. “So sorry, Larry. Weren’t you expecting me?” She fishes into a shoulder bag, producing a mobile, then tapping the screen to life.

WTF?

Calling for backup?

She’s opted for redhead this evening…

Deliberate?

Probably…

… with green eye make-up which I’m guessing is supposed to give her a delicate mermaid air, but in reality reminds me of one of the characters I saw in the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies movie.

Oddly, Cash-Man seems attracted to her. I cannot see why. But she’s repeated this pattern now again and again.

does she pull

Flattery?

Appeal to the machismo?

Good in the bedroom?

she has the knack to

dangerous.” Cash-Man seems genuinely

he speaking

is a bit thick but

benefit? Put up a

if he knows she’s

that it matters when they’re all

“… how dangerous can he be when I have you to protect

raise a finger, pointing skyward. “D’you know all your friends up there

all of them, did you? All

of the poisoned pocket is the one responsible. Did you let her dole

little. He glares, moving toward me and now, closer,

can he

Seriously?

for her to slip a little something extra into the mix for the

a bit of

While she still has

Give him a high?

Superman complex?

nothing, simply smirking and fiddling with her phone as he speaks. “I don’t believe you. You

pusher who’s a

talking to buy time, time to think.

Deja vu…

been found at the spot, and under

How did she know?

Waiting for me…

of balconies, windows and human

All overlooking this alley…

look-out? Watching for

Or me…

me halfway down? Throw me

Or try to…

a security camera somewhere… One

Ah… the phone…

linked to a camera

tapping at the

thought

No-one’s infallible…

on her screen, then her face twists. “Don’t let

He raises

I told you. I want him

over my shoulder. “You think that’s any good for up close?” He grins, advancing, pistol in hand. I reach behind

is what I use for up close.” I nod down to his pistol. “And how much use

snarls, raising the gun.

“No!” It’s Juliana again…

need. Darting forward, slapping the pistol to one side, I lean the other way. Sure enough, it fires, the round blowing a hole in the wall of

broken his wrist. Certainly, it jarred it. And I’m not about to give him time to regret his moment

but as I swing a foot around his ankles, he’s off-balance

ponytail was a mistake. I’ve nothing against the style. Each to his own. For myself, I prefer my hair long enough to provide a bit of padding against blows, but short enough to

statement follows him down. Snatching at it with my free hand, I yank

weight is taken by his two feet, firmly on the ground. But dangling where I hold him by the hair, he’s almost horizontal from the knees up. He can’t get up, can’t get down and now, shoving the knife into my belt for speed, I have the Glock in my

neck creak. Hard enough to pull him upright now that I have control. The muzzle of my gun pressed to his skull. “You’re coming with me, Juliana, if you don't want to lose the

least his body is shielding mine

Is she armed?

see anything except the

She stands there, all nonchalance, smirking. “That’s it, is it, Larry?

you ask

I can avoid it. He’s hardly the first to be suckered into doing what she wants.

what the card is she holds in

Someone else here?

left and right… back, front…. up.

That fucking infuriating Juliana giggle.

his hair, keeping Jose immobile, the left is occupied

your phone. You've got incoming, Larry. Take a look.” She’s not

but… she knows something

With both hands occupied, I push the muzzle of my gun into the back of Jose’s neck,

as he obeys: suspiciously calm. Juliana’s gaze follows him

of his

… and turn cold…

button, there's an image on the

not an image. It’s moving: a live feed. And of a

of James’ home in the mountain. Mitch and Jenny are there, sitting at one of the tables. Their backs are turned to me, but they’re clearly talking together,

gut tighten and my mouth dry, crosshairs hover. Gliding across the screen, they move between the two men: first Michael, then James. Then drifting, as though by accident, they pass over Jenny. And then, finally,

live feed from rifle

be, Larry? Your bitch whore or your bitch daughter? I can

Where the hell's Hickman?

his

him for

sniggers. “Who's first? Jenny? Or Mitch? Or maybe the guys? I can have them picked off one at a time. Or my sniper can simply mow them all down in a few

Christ…

dramatic silence…. “…. Or are you going to be a good boy

Don’t panic…

…

Think…

the muzzle of my Glock still to Jose’s head, I watch as Juliana mutters into

give the order

then murder them

Mitch…

Jenny…

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

Comments ()

0/255