Page 80 of Diamond in the Rough

She patted his hand. “Anytime, Boss.”

His head pounded, and he gripped the back of his neck. He looked at Amber, then whipped his head towards the driver.

“What the fuck are you doing here?”

He glared at Tom in the mirror, and he flashed his eyes up.

“Boss—”

“Don’t ‘Boss’ me. You fucked up.”

“Yeah, I did. I’m sorry. I didn’t know he was wearing a jacket—”

Maddox scrunched up his nose. “You did a runner instead of finishing the job.”

“I thought you’d think I botched it on purpose.”

“Did you?”

“No,” Tom said, shaking his head. “I swear, and when I heard about Carl…”

“You should’ve put a fucking bullet through your head.”

“I thought about it. I really did.”

“And yet you’re still here,” Maddox growled.

“I came back to help you.”

“A bullet in your skull would help me.”

Tom looked into the mirror. “If that’s what you want, I’ll pull over and do it right now.”

“Enough of the dramatics,” Amber snapped. “We don’t have time to argue. Boss, there’re clothes for you in the back.”

Maddox tugged the rucksack over the seats and unzipped the top. He pulled out his shirt, creased and crumpled.

“I didn’t have room for an iron.” Amber smirked.

Maddox scrambled out of the firefighter’s jacket and tugged his T-shirt over his head. He slipped the shirt on and quickly buttoned it up. The trousers were equally creased, and the suit jacket even worse. Amber shrugged off her own jacket and climbed out of her trousers. There was a rustling sound from the front, then Amber held out a garbage bag. Maddox shoved the smoky clothes inside, then coughed into his bicep.

“All right?” Amber asked.

Maddox’s spluttering eased, and he nodded. “Apart from the headache, and the burning in my chest.”

Amber smiled. “Well, at least you’re dressed much better.”

Tom pulled up in a lay-by, and Amber dumped the bag of clothes. She brushed her hands together, then nodded. “Let’s go.”

He was dressed, but he didn’t feel any better. He stank of smoke, his hair was a mess, and when he saw his untamed beard in the mirror, he recoiled.

“Gun…,” Amber whispered.

In the bottom of the rucksack, Maddox found a holster and a gun. “Are you both armed?”

Amber answered for both of them. “Yes.”

“Good.”

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