Page 89 of Clawed
Fuller looked at him, bewilderment flashing in his friend’s eyes.“Take you back?”he repeated.
“Hannah is being kind.”Lawes’ thumb drew small circles on her back.“What she means to say is I abducted her again.I had a score to settle, and I wrongly thought taking those feelings out on her would satisfy me.”
“Jesus, Mark.”Fuller grunted.“Fresh out of prison and this is what you do?”He signaled to Hannah.“No offense, Hannah.From what I recall, you are lovely, but I mean...really?”
Hannah let out a sigh.“Really.”
“But having Hannah backdidn’tsatisfy you?”Fuller’s tone was sardonic.
“Exacting my revenge didn’t, no.”Lawes’ hand rose to the back of her neck, and to his amazement, she reached for his hand.He’d never been happier than he was in that moment when the woman he’d tried to pulverize grasped his hand in support.“It turns out I wanted something more.”
“We both do.”She sounded more confident that time, her fingers tightening around his.
“So...”Fuller looked stunned.“You’retogether?”
His surprise was understandable.Even Lawes couldn’t believe what a lucky son-of-a-bitch he was.
“As in, consensually together?”Fuller looked at Hannah for clarity.
“Yes.”She pulled in what looked like a steadying breath.“It’s complicated, but yes.”
Fuller whistled.“And you think this old sod can make you happy, Hannah?”
“Hey!”Lawes interjected, but he hesitated at her laughter, sensing her relax at his side.
It was weird to see her chatting with Fuller as though they were old colleagues.Only a few years prior, he’d been the master of her every inch as much as Lawes had, yet standing there, a casual observer would never have known.
“We’re figuring things out.”Her answer was uncharacteristically diplomatic, but then, that was his little girl these days.
She’d changed a lot.
They both had.
“So, what’s this impromptu gathering about?”She cocked an eyebrow, using Lawes’ gesture of choice on both men.
Fuller smirked as though he recognized the symbolism.“I have a windfall for Mr.Lawes.”
“For us both,” Lawes clarified.“Whatever I have now, I’ll be sharing with Hannah.”
He waited while Fuller explained their new financial abundance, watching while Fuller reached for the first bag and shoved it in his direction.Dropping Hannah’s hand, Lawes tucked the bag to his chest, amazed at how heavy the money was.
“Looks like we can ditch the car and buy something new.”Lawes couldn’t wait to drive a decent car again.
“Yes, but I’d use a false name if I were you,” Fuller warned.“You don’t want to give the authorities any leads to follow up on.”
Lawes nodded.Fuller was right.
It was almost like old times.
***
PRESSING THE ACCELERATORto the floor, Lawes’ gaze flitted to the sun rising high in the sky.
“Are you all right, little girl?”
Hannah had been quiet since they’d got back on the road.The back seat of the car was filled with the cash-stuffed bags, a reminder that they needed to find an upgraded vehicle as soon as they could.
“It was a shock seeing you and Mr.Fuller together again, sir.”She seemed to suppress a shiver.“For a minute there, I thought...”Her voice trailed away.
