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

a chasm inside

through the panes, I give up on sleep and moving as quietly as I can, pull on some clothes and

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

slide of grassy slopes down the mountain,

Soul food…

inside, I am

the world bathed in the grey light of the predawn, but Venus, hanging low, heralds the dawn and is

wait and I watch as the rim of the world begins to

Pull yourself together man…

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

not seen her

never

the clouds, a gash in

You have everything…

Everything else…

“Master?”

my

slippers and a robe. “Are

So I’m just watching the

“Would you like company?”

would. Come and join me.

*****

course, I know what she

Anyone else around?

few moments of what passes for

“Yes, Kirstie?”

“James, about….”

with a file. “Am I interrupting you, Mr

I was just chatting

for today, Kirstie. There’s a couple more confirmations to come in, but that’s most

I’ll put them in the daybook

to me. “Mr Alexanders.” Then she

her then, “She’s um… she’s got a bit of a

God save me…

Kirstie, please. Tell me

eyes. “Not a joke. She’s

lowering my voice. “I hate to break this

then turns serious again. “James,

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