Page 94 of The First Cut

He’s silent once more, and then it finally sinks in. “Fuck.”

“You always wanted her, Hannibal.”

“Fuck me. I’m an idiot.”

“You are,” I say. “But you’re my idiot.”

His fingers slip under my arms and he starts tickling me.

“Stop, or I’ll pee,” I squeal. He laughs, but thankfully, he stops.

“Thank you, doll.”

I lean over and press my lips to his chest. “You would’ve figured it out eventually. You’re smarter than you look.”

There’s a brief pause before he bursts out laughing and starts tickling me again—this time until I actually do pee a little.

Asshole.

Chapter Thirty

Hannibal

Ilook around the room and sigh. It will have to do for now.

The door creaks open behind me, making me tense until I hear the shuffle of feet and realize who it is. Staying where I am, I watch out of the corner of my eye as Millie moves to the chair in the corner and curls up in it with her legs tucked underneath her.

Tapping my chin, I walk to the counter, pluck the iPad from it, and then walk over to Millie and hand it to her. “We need to make a list. If anyone has anything worse than a paper cut, they’re fucked.”

She doesn’t speak, but I watch as she opens the notes section and looks up at me expectantly.

“Okay, well, let’s start with the basics: gloves, gauze, bandages. I brought some with me when we moved here, but not enough.” I wait for her to add those as I take in the room itself. It’s not very big, having once been used as a supply closet. But one wall is floor-to-ceiling cupboards and drawers, and the wall next to that houses a room-length countertop with a fullsink built into it. And honestly, anything is better than the boom room.

The bed I ordered was delivered two days ago and is pushed against the far wall, leaving me just enough space to move around. The chair Millie's sitting in was added as an afterthought.

“Actually…” I rummage through the drawers until I find the book I’m looking for. I open it and thumb through until I find the page I need. “Here, add all of this to the list. I also want two fully-loaded first aid kits. I’ll keep one in my office and one in the garage, just in case.”

She nods and starts typing stuff in, her eyes flicking to the book balanced on her leg and back to the iPad.

The door opens, and Meek sticks his head around. “Chris is here. He says the house is done if you want to take a look and sign off on it.”

I look at Millie, who’s watching me. “Want to come check out our new place?”

She stands up and puts the iPad and book in the chair before walking over to me. “Sure.”

“Meek, find one of the prospects and get them to come finish off what Millie started. This place needs a fuckload of supplies to even be considered a med room.”

“I can do it. I was only going to head out for a ride anyway.”

“Page 158. And add two fully-loaded first aid kids,” Millie tells him, making me grin.

“Well, you heard the woman. Speaking of which, you see my old lady?”

“Yeah, she was in the rec room last time I saw her.”

“Thanks, man. Come on then, kid. Let’s go find Lola and see if she wants to come with us.”

We head downstairs but find the rec room empty. “Any idea where she might be?”