Page 111 of Pure Vengeance

“No, I…” Hannah paused, unsure what she was going to say. Was she about to insist she was alright? If so, maybe she ought to take a long look at herself first.

Either Lawes had truly been there to spook her—a prospect that terrified her half to death—or she’d imagined the entire encounter in the middle of a club. Both outcomes were troubling, at best.

“It’s okay.” Milly’s voice was soothing. “I’m ready to go home, anyway.”

“But I just got us cocktails.” Hannah gestured to her untouched gin.

“Drink up.” Shannon forced a smile as she pulled her phone from her purse. “I’ll order our ride home.”

CHAPTER TWO

Consequences

Hannah

“How are you feeling now?” Milly lowered her voice, glancing around the bustling coffee shop, although Hannah doubted anyone was listening.

Few would be interested in the experiences of one neurotic woman with post-traumatic stress disorder.

“Much better.” Hannah feigned her upbeat timbre. “And the best part is, I haven’t seen either of my captors since that night in the club.”

“Don’t do that.” Shannon peered at Hannah from over her expensive coffee.

“Do what?” Hannah turned Shannon’s way. “I’m being honest.”

“And I’m glad,” Shannon retorted. “But don’t use that derisory tone about yourself. Han. You’ve been through so much, and you’re doing amazingly well.”

“You’re being kind.” Hannah shook her head with a smile.

There were no two ways about it. Both of her friends were angels. They’d been by her side day and night ever since her hallucination. Hell, Milly had even taken time away from her job to make sure Hannah wasn’t alone.

“We love you,” Milly reminded her. “And you’re being too hard on yourself.”

Hannah doubted that was true. She’d thought she’d been over the worst of the Lawes and Fuller experience, thought the court case and years of counseling would have laid their ghosts to rest, but she’d been wrong. The image of Lawes in that club had been as tangible as Milly was in the cafe. Hell, she’d even imagined bumping into him. If physical contact was possible in her invented landscape, what else could her mind conjure? She dreaded to think.

“My old shrink talked about this once.” Hannah glanced at the daily specials board. “It’s called psychological overspill, or something like that; when you’ve been through something so horrendous that the mind decompartmentalizes it, and it takes time for the remnants to surface.”

Hannah wasn’t sure if the condition she’d mentioned was real or something she’d just made up. Crippling self-doubt seemed to be a disconcerting, new reality for her. She didn’t seem able to trust anything she thought she saw or remembered anymore.

“That makes sense.” Shannon placed down her coffee cup. “You did go through something awful.”

“I know.” Hannah closed her eyes briefly, trying not to think of the dank basement where she and the others had been held. “It’s just… I thought I was over this by now.”

Over it? She might have laughed had her past not been so traumatic. There was nogetting overwhat those men had done to her. She would carry the scars for the rest of her life.

“You’re doing so well.” Milly smiled, then added. “But perhaps it’s too soon for you to be looking for a man, Hannah. I mean, there’s no rush.”

“I need this, girls.” Hannah’s voice sounded pained. “I need something more in my life than only work and the memories.”

“You have us.” Milly patted her hand. “You always will.”

“I know, and I’m so thankful for you both.” Hannah’s gaze traveled between them. “But I feel ready, you know? The hallucination in the club was just a setback. I still need to move forward.”

Milly and Shannon shared a lingering glance, although neither one of them spoke.

“Well.” It was Shannon who ultimately splintered the silence. “If you’re sure, then of course we’re happy to help.” She gestured to the dating app on Hannah’s phone. The device had been sitting there as the three discussed her state of mind. “Show us who you have in mind.”

Hannah’s heart rate accelerated as she reached for her phone and flicked into her ‘favorited’ selection. Only two men had made the cut.

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