Masters & Lovers Box Set Three

Chapter 16

After Finchby and Yakovlevski leave, Bech still wears that ‘just sucked a lemon’ expression.

“Something to say, Bech?”

He scowls and looks down. “No, sir.”

“Good. Remember who's in charge here. And who's already made you a rich man.”

“Yes, sir.”

I turn to the girl where she cowers at my feet. “Tell her she can write a letter. Make sure her family know it’s her.” Luuk translates.

“Thank you, sir.” She launches herself at me, wrapping her arms around my ankles, weeping incessantly. “Thank you.”

Bech lashes out with a foot. “Get back, you little bitch!”

Disentangling myself from her grasp, I stoop, looking her in the face. “Remember, they have to pay for you. And they have to outbid the others. I’m a businessman, not a charity.”

“They will, sir. They will,” says Luuk.

*****

 

James

Sleep escapes me. My green-eyed Love lying next to me, my friend beyond her, I toss and turn in the dark, my mind churning.

Georgie…

Family matters…

Michael was right to pull me away that day. He enjoys a drink as much as anyone but doesn’t normally overdo it.

When did I last see him drunk?

?

When he believed he was losing Charlotte…

… to me…

He’s right, partially at least. It helps blot out the worst for a few hours. And he went there with me. Stayed with me.

only sticking-plaster over

and there’s a

quietly as I can, pull on some clothes and head for the kitchen. Then, coffee in hand,

if, full of care, We have no time to stand

long slide

Soul food…

inside, I am unquiet.

enough that the sun has not risen, the world bathed in the grey light of the predawn, but Venus, hanging low, heralds the dawn and is already fading against the rising glare on the

fingers on the mug, I wait and I watch as the rim of the

Pull yourself together man…

sun rises, casting blood-red across the low mist writhing over

seen

never

into the clouds, a gash in

You have everything…

Everything else…

“Master?”

my lips

and a

I’m just watching

“Would you like company?”

me. But put some proper clothes

*****

my eye. And of course, I know what

Anyone else around?

have a few moments of what passes

“Yes, Kirstie?”

“James, about….”

office with a file. “Am I interrupting you,

at all. I was just

for today, Kirstie. There’s a couple more confirmations to come

I’ll put them in the

Alexanders.” Then she waddles off back to her

her then, “She’s um… she’s got a

God save me…

please. Tell me that’s a

eyes. “Not a joke. She’s awfully sweet don’t you

to break this to you, but

then turns serious again. “James,

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