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

Flattery?

Appeal to the machismo?

Good in the bedroom?

the knack to sucker

dangerous.” Cash-Man

speaking in

accent is a bit thick but perfectly

Put up a

if he knows she’s screwing

it matters when they’re all already

She smiles sweetly at him. “… how dangerous can

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

You killed them all of them, did

the one responsible. Did you let

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

can

Seriously?

finger at Juliana, “How difficult would it be for her to slip a little something extra

a bit of something different for

still has

him

Superman complex?

and fiddling with her phone as he speaks.

You? A pusher who’s a user too? Sorry. My

I’m talking to buy time,

Deja vu…

found at the spot, and under just these conditions, as I

How did she know?

Waiting for me…

balconies, windows and human

All overlooking this alley…

for the police

Or me…

not stop me halfway down? Throw

Or try to…

camera

Ah… the phone…

linked to a camera

enough, she’s tapping at the

have thought of

No-one’s infallible…

face twists. “Don’t let him get away,

He raises

told

at the rifle over my shoulder. “You think that’s any good for up close?” He grins,

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

gun.

“No!” It’s Juliana again…

side, I lean the other way.

blow may have broken his wrist. Certainly, it jarred it. And I’m not

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

against the style. Each to his own. For myself, I prefer my hair long

it with my free

on the ground. But dangling where I hold him by the hair, he’s almost horizontal from the knees

creak. Hard enough to pull him upright now that I have control. The muzzle of my

that I think she gives a shit about him, but at least his

Is she armed?

I don’t see anything except the mobile in

think so.” Her reaction is weird. She stands there, all nonchalance, smirking. “That’s it, is it, Larry?

don’t you ask Speeding Gonzales

poor sap if I can avoid it. He’s hardly the first to be suckered into doing what she wants. But,

I’m playing for time, trying to figure what the card is she holds

Someone else here?

glances left and right… back, front…. up. There’s

Juliana giggle. “Larry, look

his hair, keeping Jose immobile, the

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

but… she knows something

gun into the back of Jose’s neck, tugging down on the ponytail with the other. “On your knees,

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

of his skull, I fish the phone

… and turn cold…

button, there's an image on

live feed. And of a view I

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.

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

feed from

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

Where the hell's Hickman?

doing his

him for

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

Christ…

are you going to be a

Don’t panic…

…

Think…

watch as Juliana mutters into her

she give the

then

Mitch…

Jenny…

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