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.

the fuck does

Flattery?

Appeal to the machismo?

Good in the bedroom?

she has, she has the knack to sucker a certain

dangerous.”

speaking

accent is a bit

benefit? Put up

if he knows

when

“… how dangerous can

I raise a finger, pointing skyward. “D’you know

all of them,

the one responsible. Did you let her dole out whatever

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

can he

Seriously?

would it be for her to slip a little something extra into the

bit of something different for

has

Give him

Superman complex?

phone as he speaks. “I don’t believe you. You think I’m

who’s a user too? Sorry.

time,

Deja vu…

found at the spot, and

How did she know?

Waiting for me…

balconies, windows

All overlooking this alley…

Watching for

Or me…

halfway down? Throw me

Or try to…

camera somewhere… One I

Ah… the phone…

linked to a camera

she’s tapping at

thought of

No-one’s infallible…

face twists.

He raises

told you. I

think that’s any good for up close?” He

the edge of my blade. “No. This is what I use for up close.” I nod

raising the gun.

“No!” It’s Juliana again…

startled glance her way, and it’s all I 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 the apartment block

have broken his wrist. Certainly, it jarred it. And I’m not about to

a foot around his

nothing against the style. Each to his own. For myself, I prefer my hair long

at it with my free hand, I yank upwards, halting his fall…

horizontal from the knees up.

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

gives a shit about him, but at least his body is shielding mine while I figure how

Is she armed?

don’t see anything except the mobile in her

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

ask Speeding Gonzales

what she wants. But, something about Juliana’s manner

for time, trying to figure what the card is she holds in her hand that

Someone else here?

I dart glances left and right…

That fucking infuriating Juliana giggle.

into his hair, keeping Jose

my jacket pocket. “Yes, your phone. You've

knows

my pocket, the phone is vibing. With both hands occupied, I push the muzzle of my gun into the back of Jose’s neck,

Juliana’s gaze follows him

the base of his skull, I

… and turn cold…

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

It’s moving: a live feed. And of

sunshine, looking up towards the terrace 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, body language relaxed. James and Michael stand nearby, leaning against a wall, mugs

across the screen, they move between the two men: first Michael, then James. Then drifting, as though by accident, they

feed

“Which will it be, Larry? Your bitch whore or your bitch

Where the hell's Hickman?

doing his fucking

him for

I can have them picked off one at a time. Or my

Christ…

Or are you going to

Don’t panic…

…

Think…

watch as Juliana mutters into her phone, grinning as her eyes flash

she give the

my surrender, then murder them

Mitch…

Jenny…

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