Honeybun on the Run

CHAPTER TWO-1

CHAPTER TWO

EMMA CLOSED HER EYES and let the rumble of the bus engine coax her into sleep. She figured as long as they kept moving she could relax a bit. Shawn wasn’t going anywhere and nobody could get to him.

She didn’t expect to be able to sleep. Her nerves had been on edge for days, since she’d first hooked up with the man slouching next to her. She’d known Shawn had a rep. A bad one. But nothing she’d known about him could have prepared her for what she’d endured over the last forty-eight hours. So many times she’d been tempted to walk...to find another way. But in the end she was too scared. She had way too much to lose. The thought made her heart pound and her stomach twist with worry.

Her hand gripping her purse close, Emma tried to clear her mind so she could sleep. Soon the soft drone of snoring next to her, along with the mesmerizing sound of asphalt passing beneath the tires, eased her into a doze.

Pain ripped her from sleep some time later.

“I said, give me my fags, woman!”

He had a grip on her wrist that made the bones grind together and Emma had to grit her teeth against an angry response. “Let go of me, Shawn, you’re hurting me.”

He tugged on her arm, dragging her close. “Do as you’re told,” he hissed. He nipped hard on her bottom lip and Emma gave out a startled gasp before she could stop herself. “You can’t smoke in here.”

His hand went back and, god help her, Emma flinched, waiting for the strike.

Shawn’s hand never made it to her face. A large, blunt-fingered hand grabbed his fist and twisted it behind Shawn’s back.

Her companion made a sound that was a mix between outrage and pain as the big blond guy from across the aisle jerked his arm up between his shoulder blades and yanked him from his seat. “Don’t. Ever. Hit. The. Lady. Again.”

He spoke softly, his lips close to Shawn’s ear, but the big man was so taut with rage and aggression he was like rock. His jaw flexed under the rage, the muscles in his densely muscled arms bulged with it.

“Let go of me, asshole.” Too stupid even to recognize the danger he was in, Shawn tried to swing at the big guy holding him with his free hand. The man easily ducked the swing and grabbed Shawn’s arm, twisting it around to join the other one.

Shawn whimpered with pain.

The blond guy looked at Emma. “You all right?”

She’d been unconsciously rubbing her wrist, which was red from Shawn’s manhandling, but when that intense blue-gray gaze slid to assess her arm, she quickly stopped rubbing it and shoved it behind her. “I’m fine. You should let him go.”

The blue-gray gaze widened slightly with obvious surprise.

Emma flushed. “He won’t do it again.” God, she wanted to shrink into the seat and disappear. She sounded like one of those women who let their man beat on them because they had no feelings of self-worth.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Mr. Sexy Eyes said.

“It’s fine. Really.” She tried a smile but it stretched her cheeks in an unnatural way. “Shawn doesn’t mean any harm.”

The stranger twisted Shawn’s arms up tighter, eliciting a pain-filled yelp, and then finally let him go, reluctance clear in the brusque movement. “You touch her again, you won’t get away with a little arm twist.” He leaned close as Shawn rubbed his arms and glared at her unwelcome savior. “You hearin’ me?”

“Screw you.”

The big guy tensed and then smiled, slow and mean before sliding her a look. “Ma’am.” He turned and walked back to his seat. Unlike before, he made no pretense of looking out the window. He stretched himself across the seat, facing across the aisle so he could keep an eye on Shawn.

Her companion clenched his fists, fairly growling. Emma reached up and touched his arm, earning herself a violent rebuff as his arm snapped away. “Leave me alone, woman.”

“Sit down. This isn’t the time or place for a confrontation,” she said softly. Not to mention you’ll get your flat, narrow ass handed to you, she added mentally.

He lifted his fists, obviously thinking about hitting her, but a quick glance across the bus seemed to dissuade him from that course of action. He dropped into his seat. But he wasn’t done with her. Leaning close, Shawn wrapped a hand around Emma’s arm where nobody could see. “I don’t appreciate you messin’ around with strange guys right in front of me. You got responsibilities here, woman.”

She frowned, opened her mouth to defend herself, but he tightened his grip. She had to work really hard at not reacting. That intense blue-gray gaze was focused on her face. Emma smiled. “I’ve never seen the guy before.”

Shawn snorted. “And I have two dicks.” He threw the big guy a smile and sat back, finally releasing her arm. She fisted her hand to keep from rubbing it. “But I’ll give you a chance to prove your loyalty. When the bus stops, you’re gonna help me kill him.”

She blinked, her gaze shooting across the aisle before she could stop herself. The big guy sat forward, his gaze questioning. She gave her head a tiny, little shake, willing him with her gaze to stay put. Emma sat back, pulling air into her lungs as she tried to calm her nerves.

Kill the guy. Good god. What was she going to do now?

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