Page 165 of Rough Around the Hedges

What was I doing?

My aim was shit, and Bertha sailed right past him and landed in a birdbath with a splash, giving a magpie the fright of its life.

Good. He was a strawberry-thieving little bastard.

“What is it with you and that dildo?” Oliver shouted, a little out of breath.

“Shaun!” I yelled at him as soon as he appeared. “Help me!”

He looked at me, then behind me at Oliver. “Ah.”

“Help!”

He grabbed me, and instead of running, he wrapped his arms around me, pinning me against his body. “Sorry. This is for your own good.”

34

ROSE

Wotten Bastard

“What are you—let me go!” I wriggled in his hold, but he swiftly clasped my wrists together behind my back, completely immobilising me. “What are you doing? My own good? Can’t you see I’m escaping?”

“You’re not allowed.”

“Shaun, you traitor!”

He nodded. “Yes, yes, you can punish me later.”

“Oh, I will. Slowly. Painfully. Aggressively. You will never know peace again,” I hissed.

“Mhmm, I can’t wait.”

“You little—” I stepped on his foot with all my might, but while he winced, he didn’t let me go.

Stupid police officer.

Stupid police training.

Stupid Shaun.

“My dad is gonna beat you up,” I muttered. “I knew I should have let him come with me today.”

Shaun laughed and leant back, looking down at me. “Sorry, Ro. But it’s a punch I’ll gladly take. My work here is done.”

“What do you—ahh!” I fell backwards as he released me, and I was quickly wrapped in another pair of arms.

A pair I knew too well.

I stiffened. “Let me go.”

“You’re a flight risk,” Oliver said quietly, almost a hint of laughter in his voice. “So, sorry, but no can do.”

What was so funny about this?

Oh, now I wasn’t just mad.

I wasmadmad.

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