Free Baby I'm In (Honky Tonk Angels #3) by Ciana Stone

inside him.
    He willed it to grow.  He needed it to intensify until it was an inferno.  And then he needed it to die and leave behind a cold resolve because he needed ice in his veins to destroy his father.
    And that’s exactly what he was going to do.

Chapter Seven
     
    Liz was just drifting off to sleep when the door to her room burst open.  One of her bunkmates, a rather mean-spirited fellow by the name of Kenny staggered into the room.
    “Wrong room, dude.”  He was clearly drunk.
    “No, it ain’t.”  He staggered over to the bed, reeking of alcohol.
    “Hey, whoa!”  She scrambled off the other side of the bed as he made a grab for her.
    Kenny laughed.  “Come on baby, let’s have some fun.”  He started inching alongside the bed.
    “I don’t think so.  You need to leave.” Liz realized her mistake.  She’d gotten off the bed on the side that hemmed her between it and the wall.
    “After.”
    “Now.”  She watched him as he continued in her direction.
    “We ain’t had our fun yet.”  He rounded the corner of the bed.
    “We’re not going to.  Get out Kenny.”
    “I ain’t ready.”  He grabbed for her.
    Liz dove across the bed and headed for the door.  She yanked it open and ran smack into another of the hands, a wiry short guy named Mitch.  “Where’s the fire, hot stuff?”
    “Get out of my way.”  She smelled the alcohol on him as well.
    “Well that’s not very friendly.”  He tried to muscle his way into the room. “Boss said we had permission to get a taste of you.”
    Liz was starting to feel afraid. When Mitch grabbed both her arms fear kicked in with full force. As he pushed her back, she went limp and let herself sink down.  That pulled him forward.  Being drunk, his balance was compromised, so he released her as he fell forward.
    A quick roll to one side and Liz was getting to her feet.  Unfortunately, she’d forgotten about Kenny.  He grabbed her and slung her onto the bed. By then Mitch had gotten to his feet.  Just as she went to sit, he leaned over and wrapped one arm around her throat.
    That’s when Liz’s mind went blank to everything but fear.  She screamed and clawed, dug at the hand around her throat with her nails and kicked at Kenny who was trying to pull her underwear off.  When spots started to dance in front of her eyes, she felt true panic.  She was going to die.
    “Oh hey now.”  The voice from the direction of the door had both men freezing. Kenny released her to turn and look at the door.  Mitch’s grip on her throat eased, giving Liz a chance.  She took it, ripped his hand away from her neck, rolled off the bed and hit the floor running.
    Joe stood at the door and stepped out of her way as she raced by.  “Thanks Joe.”  She yelled over her shoulder as she tore through the bunk house and out of the door as fast as her legs would carry her.
    She didn’t stop until she was inside the stall with Traveler.  He nuzzled up to her, and she put her arms around his neck and clung to him for a long time.  Something Mitch said was eating at her.  Boss said we had permission to get a taste of you.
    Which boss?  Wes?  No, Wes would never do anything like that.  Herbert.  It had to be Herbert.  But why?  What did he stand to gain by having her roughed up or raped?
    He strikes a blow at Lucas.   That had to be it.  Liz grunted in disgust. Obviously Herbert had no clue how things worked with her and her father.  He’d not bat an eye to find out she’d been harmed.  He’d just use it to hammer her over the head with how wrong she’d been to leave.  At home he could protect her.  She’d brought it on herself.
    Liz grabbed one of Traveler’s blankets and curled up against the front wall of his stall where she wouldn’t be noticed if someone walked by.  As soon as she was certain everyone in the bunk house was asleep she’d sneak back in and gather her things.
    And do what?
    She didn’t have an answer to that question