Page 161 of Hard Rock Tease

Jayce slowly backed up until he stood next to me at the far end of the bus, as far from the doors, as far from escape as we could be. The girl, Melissa, stood between us and freedom.

“What do you think you’re going to accomplish?” Jayce asked, voice hard, no longer trying to trap her with his seduction.

“Once that girl is out of the way, I’ll be the one to work with you. I’ll get the internship and we can be together.”

This girl was absolutely crazy.

My phone buzzed in my hand. I was still gripping it hard, knuckles turning white. I froze. Had she heard?

It didn’t seem so. She was still ranting about how she and Jayce belonged together, too involved in her own ranting monologue to pay attention to me.

Jayce bumped against me lightly, and I knew he’d heard it.

“There’s no reason you have to do this, Melissa.” Jayce kept his voice loud and clear. A distraction. I snuck a quick glance at the screen.

Neil.

He was on his way.

I couldn’t warn him. Melissa would definitely notice if I started texting. I could do one thing, though.

I slowly moved my hand inch by inch behind my back to hide it from view and trained my eyes on the gun. I swiped across the screen without looking, bringing up the message.

Everyone always said I was addicted to my smartphone, and now it was going to pay off.

I tapped on the keyboard with my thumb, hitting the exact same key over and over again. I didn’t even have to look to know where I was typing.

!!!!!!!

It wasthe same message I’d sent Neil the last time I hadn’t been able to speak, right after he’d gotten me off with only his words on a screen. I hoped he’d see the message and realize I couldn’t talk, would realize something was wrong.

Either that or he’d think I was in the midst of another orgasm.

My phone buzzed four more times after that, all within seconds of each other. Neil must have figured out something wasn’t right.

While I had my phone hidden, I hit the Call button and dialed 911, turning down the volume and placing my thumb over the speaker so Melissa wouldn’t hear the operator’s voice.

She was still ranting and Jayce was trying to talk her down when I saw Neil approach from the front window of the bus. He stopped when he was within a few feet, no doubt confused by the scene in the window before him. He resumed approaching cautiously, ducking low to avoid being seen.

I breathed a sigh of relief when I realized Jayce had left the bus door open. Neil would be able to sneak in without Melissa hearing him. I just hoped he was quiet enough to come up behind her and grab the gun.

And I hoped she didn’t see him and shoot him first.

“I don’t understand why it had to be her.” Melissa was still whining. I’d tuned her out, just glad that she was being loud enough to conceal the voice coming from my phone and the sound of Neil’s approach.

The top of a head up popped up behind Melissa, hair messy and sticking up in all directions. I held my breath. Jayce tensed up.

Neil didn’t bother shouting, didn’t bother to get her attention. He simply snuck up behind her, grabbed her in a tight grip, and pinned her arms to her sides.

The gun went off.

“What!” Melissa yelped, craning her neck around, astonished. “You fucker, let me go!”

The bullet missed, ending up in the floor at our feet. I sank to my knees, legs giving out, no longer able to keep myself up. Jayce ran forward and picked up the gun, immediately opening the chamber and letting all the bullets fall out.

Melissa kicked out with her heels and wriggled viciously, trying to escape. Neil put an arm around her neck and squeezed tight, cutting off her air. Her eyes bugged out, and she clawed at his arms.

Jayce ran to Neil, capturing Melissa’s flailing legs, grabbing her ankles in both hands to stop her from kicking.