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

a chasm

on sleep and moving as quietly as I can, pull on some clothes and head for the kitchen. Then,

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

this view, normally calms me. The long slide of grassy slopes down the mountain, the

Soul food…

I am

has not risen, the world bathed in the grey light of the predawn, but Venus, hanging low, heralds

I wait and I watch as

Pull yourself together man…

casting blood-red across the low mist writhing over the

not seen

you’d never see

blood seeps into the clouds, a

You have everything…

Everything else…

“Master?”

twisting my lips

and a robe. “Are you

sleep. So I’m just watching

“Would you like company?”

join me. But put some

*****

catches my eye. And of course, I know what she wants

Anyone else around?

lobby is quiet. We have a few moments of

“Yes, Kirstie?”

“James, about….”

from the back office with

I was just

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

I’ll put them

Alexanders.” Then

then, “She’s um… she’s got

God save me…

Tell me that’s

around her mouth and eyes. “Not a joke. She’s awfully sweet

lean down, lowering my voice. “I hate to break this to you, but she’s not my

turns serious again.

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