“Not a chance,” was the reply from the guy carrying me over his shoulder. From this angle in the darkness, I couldn’t see who it was, and it really didn’t matter. They were stronger and better trained. There was no way I could escape, and as the rush of playing hero died off, I found myself slumping and trying not to hyperventilate.
She’d pointed a gun at me. She wanted toshootme. I’d seen it clear as day in her eyes, but Jace had somehow distracted her. Why had he done that? What if she’d been mad at the distraction and shot him instead?
Arrogant fuck had been banking on theJace effect,and it could have ended completely differently. So totally differently.
Bad blood or not, that bastard was getting yelled at when he ended up back here.
It felt like we reached the bus far faster than it had seemed when we went to the meet and greet, but maybe that was just due to me zoning out for half the journey.
When the guard set me on my feet, I recognized the blond hair and hard face that was somewhere in its forties, but I wasn’t sure of the owner’s name. Trace, maybe? Or Tony?
“The others will be back shortly,” he said, pressing his hand to his ear. “They need to stay on site until the police arrive and deal with all the paperwork. I’ve been instructed to lock you on the bus and stand guard.”
I wanted to glare and demand my independence—not in a stupid way, but it was good to remind them I was a living breathing person with my own rights. My own choices.
But I’d just had a gun pointed at me again. I’d almost died again.
I was too tired to fight “the man” tonight. That would have to wait for tomorrow when the shock and fear wore off a bit.
“They’re all definitely safe, right? No one got shot or anything?” There was a flatness to my voice that would worry me, but I’d already detached from the situation. From reality.
“Safe,” he confirmed. “Shooter’s been detained by our team, and police are still on their way. Slow fucks.”
I nodded a couple of times and then moved toward the bus stairs. He let me go first, which was odd, and when I tried the handle, I found it was locked.
“New automatic lock on these now,” he told me, reaching for keys and opening the door. “Practically impossible to break into. You’ll be safe inside. I’ll remain out here and keep an eye on the area until the others return.Don’tleave the bus, no matter what. Understood? This beast is bulletproof; it’s the safest place right now.”
I nodded again, and there was a very distinct possibility that part of me was broken.
“Look, more guards are already here,” he said, and I turned just enough to see half a dozen jogging in our direction. “I told you it was all handled.”
Yeah, he certainly had.
Without another word, I entered through the open door and let it close behind me. The solid deadbolt lock clicked loudly when it slammed back into place. We’d left the door open when I returned with Grayson earlier, so I hadn’t noticed it. I had to admit, it was nice to know they weren’t messing around on security.
Moving slowly, I rubbed my hands across my arms, trying to find some warmth. It wasn’t cold in the bus, but I felt chilled to my bones as I all but limped up into the dining area.
My frazzled mind locked in on the shower… maybe that was what I needed before the band got back here. People took showers when they were in shock, didn’t they? Something about the white noise and warm water was supposed to help.
Making my way through the bus, I just couldn’t get my body to function normally. I was somehow moving both too slow and too fast. Just as the bathroom came into view off the side of the hall, a shadow moved, and this time I wasdefinitelytoo slow.
Strong hands grasped my forearms, wrapping almost painfully around them and forcing some clarity into the fog in my head.
So much for the bus being impossible to break into.
twenty-seven
BILLIE
The bus was semi-dark. I’d been in such a brain haze that I hadn’t turned any lights on. Fuck, no wonder I was so easy to—
“Bella.” Angelo’s voice cut through my jumbled thoughts like a Damascus blade. It stole the breath from my lungs and turned my knees weak. He didn’t let me to crumple to the floor, though, his grip tightening to offer me support. Or hold me captive.
“Angel,” I gasped, my voiceweak. His timing couldn’t be worse if it was orchestrated. Wait, was it? “Did you set that up? Was that shooter chick here with you? Angel, she wanted tokillme! I saw it in her eyes when she—”
“Bella, shut up,” he snarled, giving me a little shake. I needed it. “That had nothing to do with me; I just took advantage of the timing. I needed to talk to you without…” He trailed off, and his white teeth flashed in the shadows as he grimaced.
I got it, though. “Without Jace seeing you?” I asked, still breathy.
