Page 55 of Hell In A Handbasket
“No. Airport first,” Fletch growls. “Then you lot can do whatever the fuck you want.”
“Did you fix that shit with my plane yet?” Felix leads Christabelle to a seat, holding her hands and helping her down until she docks with an exhale of relief. “I’m gonna need a written fucking guarantee from the US Air Force that they aren’t gonna shoot us out of the sky because they think we’re enemies to the country.”
“Soon.” Soph waves him off, sneaking a smile my way. Because she gets off on taunting them. “And just so we’re on the same page, I can get you a written guarantee that your name is Vladimir Putin and you’re the CEO of Clown College. Doesn’t make it a truthful document.”
Micah swings around and clicks his neck. His fingers twitch, like this motherfucker has to control his urge not to grab his knife. But a lot has changed in the space of twenty-four hours. Because none of us—not Jay, not Romeo or Spence or Corey, and not even me—worry he’llactuallystart slicing.
Instead, I snag Jess before she can wander straight past and tug her onto my lap. She lets out a yelp, her pulse thrumming and her eyes swinging to mine. But her surprise turns to a hum of pleasure, and her smile notches up a thousand degrees. Most stunning of all, her Caribbean eyes lock on to mine, and her plump bottom lip falls prey to her teeth.
“You’re sitting with me, Blondie.”
“Hmm.” She draws her long legs up, placing all of her weight on my cock and saying nothing when she feels me hard. Always hard. Always wanting her. “There are other, perfectly suitable seats, Bish. Besides, sitting on your lap is not road-legal, and we have two cops riding with us.”
“I wouldn’t care if the police commissioner was on the bus and he had an active warrant with my name on it.” I slide my fingers into her hair and pull her closer. Closer. Until I get to replace her teeth with my own. “I’m kinda sad our camping trip is over.”
She snorts. “You would be. Turns out youcanrelax, but only when we’re sleeping in the dirt and none of us are communicating with the outside world.”
“Makes it easier to relax when our camp is controlled, our guests are friendly, and your ass is on my cock, right where it’s meant to be.”
“This bus isnotbig enough for your nasty talk.” Spence presses his back to the wall and lowers to the floor. Drawing his knees up, he takes out his phone and starts typing and talking out loud, “Dear Priss. I miss you so fucking much. I miss your sweet, succulent, rounded?—”
“Hey!” Romeo snarls. “No.”
“Double fucking no,” Corey sneers. “It’s not happening, and you’re outgunned. Delete that shit and shut your damn trap.”
“Heart,” Spence continues. “I miss your massive, swollen?—”
“Dude!”
“Smile,” he snickers. “Break out the fine china, chill the lemonade, tie a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree. ‘Cos this boy’s coming home to his ladies. Coming home fo?—”
“Uh…” Jay mashes the control panel up front… but nothing happens. He tries again. Then a third time, before turning back and meeting Soph’s gaze. “It’s not starting, Sugar Plum.”
“Funny,” Minka drawls. “Start the damn bus.”
“No, seriously.” Jay tries again. Then a fifth time. “It’s not starting.”
Aubree shoves to her feet and stalks to the front of the bus. She taps the same button he does, and fuck me, I catch the hand she places on his shoulder. She touches him, and he knows it, too. She squeezes and stares into his eyes. Then she turns to Minka and gulps. “There’s something wrong with the bus.”
“That’s what I just said!” Jay brushes her hand off and pushes up from his seat. “Someone else wanna try? Because I’m not lying.”
“He’s gonna die.” Jess giggles in my ear. “If he’s playing, he’s gonna regret it.”
“This isn’t funny,” Minka growls. “Start the stupid bus so we can go home.”
“Let me try.” With a huff of exertion, Spence jumps to his feet with surprising agility, considering his size. Slipping the phone into his pocket, he strides past the Rosa brothers and flicks the shell of Troy’s ear as he passes.
When he reaches the front of the bus, hevery carefully, very respectfullygrabs Aubree and moves her to the side. But for every second they touch, he grins. For every moment her eyes hold his, he smirks and plays her game.
“What do you see, Doc?” He drops into Jay’s chair and fusses with the control panel. “Wanna share with the class?”
She firms her lips and folds her arms. But there’s no animosity in her gaze. No rage or distrust.
“She saw nothing,” Soph jabs. “Because it’s all fake. We were bamboozled.”
“Kind of like how we were bamboozled and brought here in the first place. Ihatewhen that happens.”
“Prove me wrong.” Soph leans against the wall of the bus, on the opposite side to where Minka sits.Just in case. “Tell me something you couldn’t know.Wowme.”
