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.

fuck does she

Flattery?

Appeal to the machismo?

Good in the bedroom?

it is she has, she has the knack to sucker a certain kind of

careful, Sola. He’s dangerous.” Cash-Man seems

he speaking

bit

benefit? Put up

he knows she’s screwing

matters when

dangerous can he be when

it?” I raise a finger, pointing skyward. “D’you

snorts. “Yeah… Right… You killed them all of them,

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

talking about?” His voice is slurring just a little. He glares,

dense can he

Seriously?

would it be for her to

of something

While she still has

him a high?

Superman complex?

with her phone as he

pusher who’s a

time, time to think.

Deja vu…

the second time I’ve been found at the spot, and under just these conditions, as I descended from

How did she know?

Waiting for me…

stories of balconies, windows and

All overlooking this alley…

Watching for the

Or me…

halfway down? Throw me off

Or try to…

likely a security camera

Ah… the phone…

to a

she’s tapping at

have thought

No-one’s infallible…

her screen, then her face twists. “Don’t let him get away, Jose,”

He raises the

like that. I told you.

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

teeth. It’s not a bad match for the glint on the edge of my blade. “No. This is what I use for up close.” I nod down to his pistol. “And how much use is that when she wants

gun. “She said alive, not

“No!” It’s Juliana again…

forward, slapping the pistol to one side, I lean the other way. Sure enough, it fires, the

And I’m not about to give

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

prefer my

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

I hold him by the hair, he’s almost horizontal from

pull him upright now that I have control. The muzzle of my gun pressed to his skull. “You’re coming with me, Juliana, if

shit about him, but at least his body

Is she armed?

see anything except the mobile in

all nonchalance, smirking. “That’s it, is it, Larry? You think you have the upper

don’t you ask Speeding Gonzales

the poor sap if I can avoid it. He’s hardly the first to be suckered into doing what she wants. But, something about Juliana’s manner is unsettling. “I

what the card is she holds in her hand that I

Someone else here?

and right… back, front….

infuriating Juliana giggle. “Larry, look

my right hand tighter into his hair, keeping Jose immobile,

“Yes, your phone. You've got incoming, Larry. Take a look.” She’s

but… she knows something

the muzzle of my gun into the back of Jose’s neck, tugging down on

suspiciously calm. Juliana’s gaze follows him down, and now she’s definitely

to the base of his

… and turn cold…

of the usual accept/deny button, there's an image

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

Mitch and Jenny are there, sitting at one of the tables. Their backs are turned to me, but they’re clearly talking together, body language relaxed. James and Michael stand nearby, leaning against a

all, making my 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, they settle

feed

giggles again: an infuriating, sickening sound. “Which will it be, Larry? Your bitch whore or your bitch daughter? I can take the men

Where the hell's Hickman?

doing his

him

Mitch? Or maybe the guys? I can have them picked off one at

Christ…

Or are you going to

Don’t panic…

…

Think…

muzzle of my Glock still to Jose’s head, I watch as Juliana mutters into her phone, grinning as her eyes flash to

give the order

my surrender, then murder them

Mitch…

Jenny…

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