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?

she has the knack to sucker a certain

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

speaking

is a bit thick but

Put up

if he knows she’s

when they’re

can he be when I have you

pointing skyward. “D’you

“Yeah… Right… You killed them all of them, did you?

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

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

dense can

Seriously?

difficult would it be for her to slip a little

a bit of

she still has a use for

him a

Superman complex?

simply smirking and fiddling with her phone as

A pusher who’s a user too? Sorry. My

I’m talking to buy time, time to think. My mind’s

Deja vu…

been found at the spot, and under just

How did she know?

Waiting for me…

of balconies, windows and

All overlooking this alley…

look-out? Watching for the police

Or me…

not stop me halfway down? Throw me

Or try to…

security camera somewhere… One

Ah… the phone…

linked to

tapping at

thought

No-one’s infallible…

stares at something on her screen, then her face twists. “Don’t let him get away,

problem.” He

told you. I want him

his chin at the rifle over my shoulder. “You think that’s any good

the glint on the edge of my blade. “No. This is what I use for up close.” I nod down to his

snarls, raising the gun. “She

“No!” It’s Juliana again…

a startled glance her way, and it’s all I need. Darting forward, slapping the pistol to one side, I lean the

screams. The blow may have broken his wrist. Certainly, it jarred it. And I’m not about to give him

recover from his mistake, but as I swing a foot around his ankles,

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

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

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, hard enough to make his neck creak. Hard enough to pull him upright now that I have control. The muzzle of my gun pressed to his

shit about him, but at least his body

Is she armed?

except the

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

don’t you ask Speeding Gonzales

what she wants. But, something about Juliana’s manner is unsettling. “I know you

to figure what the card is she holds in her hand that

Someone else here?

I dart glances left and right… back, front…. up. There’s no-one

giggle. That fucking infuriating Juliana

my right hand tighter into his hair,

pocket. “Yes, your

she knows

vibing. With both hands occupied, I push the muzzle of my gun into the back of Jose’s neck, tugging down on the ponytail with the other. “On your knees, hands clasped behind

calm. Juliana’s gaze follows him

gun muzzle to the base of his skull, I

… and turn cold…

button, there's an image on the

live

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 in hands,

hover. Gliding across the screen, they move between the two men: first Michael, then

live feed from

smile cracks wide and she giggles again: an infuriating, sickening sound. “Which will it be, Larry? Your bitch whore

Where the hell's Hickman?

his

him

waiting, Larry.” Juliana sniggers. “Who's first? Jenny? Or Mitch? Or maybe the guys? I can have them picked off one at a time.

Christ…

are you going to be a good

Don’t panic…

…

Think…

Jose’s head, I watch as Juliana mutters into

she give the

my surrender, then murder them

Mitch…

Jenny…

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