by Jamie Begley
“Did you also hear Vida was living with me and was under my protection?” Colton’s voice wasn’t so amicable, in fact, in was downright threatening.
“Briggs might have mentioned it, but since you’ve been fucking anything that has a pussy since you’ve been out, I didn’t think she was important.”
“You thought wrong, Digger.” Vida saw Colton take in her bruised face and blackening eye. His lips tightened and the air in the room turned more menacing.
“You hit her?”
“A mistake. Calm down, Colton. I apologize; I was misinformed as to her relationship with you.” As Digger tried to excuse his behavior, she noticed Morgan’s hand slip under his jacket.
“Come here, Vida.” Ignoring Digger’s excuse, Colton’s voice spoke over his.
She looked up at Briggs who didn’t make a move to stop her. Slowly, still expecting him to prevent her from following Colton’s order, she rose to her feet and walked to stand by his side. His hand reached out, smoothing her hair back into place. Taking her jaw in his hand, he turned her face to the side so that he could see the damage inflicted by Digger.
“You fucked up, Digger. You knew better than to touch something of mine,” Colton threatened.
“I didn’t know she was yours.” This time the worry in his face became more pronounced.
“I was staying out of your disagreement with King, tried to show you respect, even though I knew it was undeserved, but I tried to give you—a former brother—leeway while King dealt with you. That is no longer the case.”
“Colton, I don’t want any trouble with you.” Vida’s head was spinning. Digger was afraid of Colton? He hadn’t been afraid of King or his men, yet the obvious fear in his face showed that he hadn’t wanted to antagonize Colton.
“You should have thought of that before you took her, much less laid your hand on her.” Vida couldn’t believe that she had thought at one time that Colton was afraid of Digger. Now that she had her eyes opened, she remembered that even King had spoken to Colton with mutual respect, not like he spoke to his men.
“A week, Digger. That’s all I’m giving you to get Sawyer back here.”
“That’s not possible, Colton. She’s out of my reach for the next three weeks. Obviously, I would get her back if I could to make amends, but it’s impossible,” Digger prevaricated.
Vida stiffened, about to demand that Sawyer be returned immediately when she felt Colton’s hand on her arm. Looking into his tight face, she remained silent.
“Three weeks, Digger, not a minute more.” Vida saw Digger’s eyes glance towards the security screens in front of him.
“Three weeks, she’ll be here. Will that pacify the Predators?” Digger asked.
“For now. Don’t disappoint me,” Colton responded with cold finality.
“I won’t,” Digger stood up, coming forward as Colton turned Vida toward the door. His expression was ungracious. “I’m sorry, Vida. There was misinformation on my side. I would never have touched you had I known you were Colton’s woman.”
Colton’s fist flew out, striking Digger in his lying mouth. Vida couldn’t prevent the vindictive satisfaction she felt when she saw Digger almost lose his balance at the power of Colton’s hit. Briggs and Morgan moved forward, but Digger motioned them back to their positions. Wiping the blood dripping from his mouth away with a handkerchief from his pocket, Digger didn’t return Colton’s aggressive move.
Colton walked to the door, holding on to Vida’s arm, not worried about Digger attacking him while his back was turned. Vida couldn’t help being amazed at Digger’s deferential treatment of Colton. When they walked out the front door, Vida understood perfectly.
Well over a hundred motorcycles were on the yard in front of the house, parked everywhere. The manicured lawn with its pretty flowers was completely destroyed. Vida recognized one particular face towards the front of the pack.
Max got off his bike, crushing the few remaining flowers that had survived under his feet. Coming to stand in front of her, he took one look at her face and a furious look came over his features. He took a step towards the house, but Colton dropped his hand from Vida and held Max back.
“I already handled it, Max.”
“Then I’m going to handle it some more. I’m going to fuck him up.” Max shook Colton’s hand off.
“Max, we need him in one piece to get Vida’s friend back, not with his mouth wired shut for the next few weeks. We’ll handle him when she gets Sawyer back.”
Max paused, looking down at Vida. “As soon as she’s back, he’ll regret ever touching you,” he promised.
Vida stared at the group of men surrounding the house. “I think he already regrets it.”
Laughter sounded from the rough looking men. Colton took her hand, leading her to his bike. Climbing on behind him, she held on to his waist as the men turned their bikes, driving out of the destroyed yard. Colton rode in the middle of the large group until they reached his apartment building. With a wave of his hand, he broke off from the pack. Colton then drove his bike into his parking spot, got off the bike and helped her off before turning to the four bikers waiting for his attention.
One biker was parked slightly ahead of the others. Colton grasped Vida’s hand and led her to the man sitting casually on the bike.
“Vida, this is Ice, President of the Predators.”
Vida didn’t know how to react, so she gave him a smile and nodded her head.
“Vida? I like your nickname better.” Ice gave her the once over before looking toward Colton. “Colton, you must be getting weak in your old age. If this pretty little bitch was mine, she damn sure wouldn’t be putting those titties and ass out there for show.” Watching Colton get reprimanded by a man who looked around the same age had Vida almost smiling. His hair was lighter than Colton’s, but his attitude, while laid back, held a steely undertone of authority. Even if Colton hadn’t told her he was the President of the Predators, his attitude would have given it away.
Colton stiffened. “She won’t be any longer.”
“I’m going to miss the show. Bring her around the clubhouse sometime,” Ice invited. Vida tried not to blush when she realized Ice and the men behind him had seen her show. She recognized Max, whose bike was next to another biker. He gave her a wink.
Her eyes were drawn to the lone bike sitting further away than the rest. He kept Ice and the others within his sight, but continually surveyed everything going on around them. She had noticed several bikers through her lifetime; this one took dangerous to the next level. He wasn’t good looking in the least; his face was too harsh. His features were actually handsome; it was what had been done to his face that had destroyed what, at one time, would have made women stop in their tracks. A scar ran the length of his face from his eye to just beside his mouth, giving his sensuous lips a cruel appearance. Vida’s eyes were caught by his mocking green ones that were well aware she was staring at him.
“Go on up to the apartment. I’ll be there in a minute,” Colton told her, seeing her wince when she reached up to brush away a loose strand of hair.
Vida left, feeling the eyes of everyone on her back.
* * *
Colton turned back to the President of The Predators. “Thanks, Ice.”
“No problem. Missed having you around the club the last three years.” Colton and Ice stared at each other, both remembering their friendship and the fun they had partying together. “It’s hard to think of Goldie’s kid all grown up. She’s a definite looker. Didn’t make a move on her out of respect to Goldie.”
Colton didn’t say anything. Ice continued, “Hell of a situation you’re in, man. Wouldn’t want to be you.” Ice started his bike. “Give me a couple days warning before coming by the club. I don’t want to fuck with your parole. How long you stuck for?”
“One year.”
“Fuck. It would kill me being away from the brothers that long. I hope this time you’re smart enough to leave that bitch. I warned you fro
m the beginning Tessa was bad news,” Ice reminded him.
Every one of his brothers had tried to warn him about Tessa. He had listened, but hadn’t played it smart. He had learned his lesson the hard way, in prison. If he got caught at the Predators’ clubhouse, he could lose his parole and spend the last year of his sentence back in prison. He wasn’t going to let that happen. More importantly, if he was seen there, it would open up the possibility of the club house being raided by the police, and he wasn’t about to see his brothers suffer. He had lost the right to be a Predator when he had stepped forward and took the blame for Tessa’s crime. Predators never got caught; they lived and breathed their motto.
“Already took care of it, two more weeks and the divorce is final,” Colton explained to his former president.
Ice nodded. “Need anything?”
“No, I’m good. Thanks, Ice.”
“Anytime, brother.” Ice throttled his motor, driving the bike onto the road with the other club members following behind. Colton watched them leave until the last bike disappeared around the corner in the road.
Chapter 10
Vida was sitting at the table with a baggie of ice against her swollen eye when Colton came in, slamming the door shut.
“What the fuck were you thinking?”
Vida stared at him in shock. She hadn’t expected him to baby her, but she hadn’t expected him to be so angry with her, either.
“What do you mean?” Vida asked, confused.
“I fucking mean, why in the hell would you get in the car in the first place. You should have run like the fucking devil was on your ass. They wouldn’t have run you down on the campus.”
“I was afraid they would shoot Henry,” she explained.
“Again, a campus full of college kids. They would have had a SWAT team on them before they could have gotten away.”
Vida began to feel stupid. “I didn’t think.”
“That’s for damn sure. This whole situation you’ve put yourself in is one big fucking mess.”
“I may have made a mistake with Henry, but the rest I have done what I had—” Vida tried to defend herself.
“No, Vida, what you should have done is what I told you to do long ago, and that was walk away,” Colton interrupted.
Vida began to get angry herself. “I wasn’t about to walk away from a degree that has been hard to earn. Plus, I will also be paying for it the rest of my life. I wasn’t going to leave Sawyer behind, either; we made a pact. She worked a full time job then waitressed at night to pay the bills so I could finish school. We’ve saved and pinched every dime so that we would have enough cash to be able to go where we wanted. I am not fucking leaving without her!”
“I have news flash for you, Sawyer isn’t fucking here. She’s not here for you to leave behind. You’re both going to be lucky if you don’t end up buried next to your friend.”
Vida sucked in her breath at his cruel words.
“You asshole. Don’t you tell me what to do. The only thing you’re attached to is your damn dick. You don’t know what loyalty is; you fuck around on your wife. Not only do you fuck around on her, but you can’t even fuck one woman, you fuck anything that moves and breaths in your direction.” She had no qualms about showing her disgust.
“I haven’t fucked you,” Colton taunted.
“No, you haven’t, because you are smart enough to know I don’t want your skanky ass,” Vida snapped back.
All the fear and loathing she had been holding inside for the last month was released into the harsh words she spewed towards Colton. She should have been thanking him for saving her from Digger, who had hit her and was obviously going to rape her before disposing of her. However, Colton’s words about Sawyer and Callie had brought out the fight in her, which she couldn’t get back under control.
“Is that so?” Colton questioned, his expression thunderous.
“Yes!” Vida spat back at him.
“Go get a shower. There’s Ibuprofen in the medicine cabinet; you’re going to be sore later tonight. I’ll fix us something to eat.” Taking a deep breath, Colton managed to do what she hadn’t been able to do. Reign in his temper.
Their argument ended so suddenly it took Vida several seconds to realize that Colton was no longer participating.
“I’m sorry, Colton. I didn’t mean to fly off the handle. You were right; I shouldn’t have gotten in the car. I didn’t mean to snap your head off,” Vida apologized.
“It’s all right, Vida. Go get a shower.” Colton didn’t look back at her as he pulled cans out of the cabinet.
Vida felt terrible, yet went to take her shower. Taking clean clothes, she went into the bathroom. Turning the water on hot, she hoped it would take the soreness out of her body.
When she came out of the bathroom, she smelled hamburgers frying. Her stomach growled as she came to a stop in the kitchen. The waitress from the waffle house was back and she was standing at the stove frying the hamburgers. Colton was leaning casually against the counter. Talking to her, his face was relaxed and friendly with the woman fixing their dinner.
Vida felt a jab in her stomach. Refusing to admit she was jealous, she walked further into the room.
“Have a seat. Dinner will be ready in a minute.” His friendly disposition changed when he saw her come into the room.
Vida sat down at the table, reluctantly feeling uncomfortable. Colton had never had a woman in the apartment outside of the bedroom.
He sat a plate down in front of her with the hamburger and a salad that she was sure Tammy was responsible for as well.
“Water?” he asked.
“Yes, thank you.” Colton sat the drink down in front of her. Going back and forth, he sat a couple of bottles of beer down for Tammy and himself before sitting down on the other side of the table. Vida watched as he opened both bottles of beer and then handed one to the other woman.
She felt like a third wheel.
Tammy’s gasp drew Vida’s attention to find the woman staring at her in horror. “What happened to you?” she questioned, looking accusingly at Colton.
Colton had told her before not to break into his conversations, so Vida kept her mouth shut. Colton didn’t seem pleased with Tammy’s accusing look.
“Vida made someone angry that she shouldn’t have,” Colton informed Tammy.
Tammy didn’t look as if her suspicions had been appeased. She cast looks back and forth between Colton and Vida. Colton gave Tammy a reassuring smile. When Tammy wasn’t looking, Vida smirked at him. He began to look angry, which only fueled Tammy’s suspicions.
“Stop it, Vida,” Colton warned her.
Vida jumped in her seat and threw terrified eyes toward Tammy, all while managing not to burst out in laughter. The food tasted really good, despite watching Tammy flirt with Colton. She thanked Tammy, determined to hide how irritated she was becoming.
“It was delicious. I wish I could cook as well as you.”
Tammy preened with the compliment from Vida.
“Let’s go into the bedroom. Vida can do the dishes.” Colton stood up, taking his plate and Tammy’s to the sink.
Vida hastily stood, carrying her half-eaten plate to the counter. Taking an empty to go box out of the cabinet Vida put her half-eaten sandwich and leftover salad into it before putting it in the refrigerator. Tammy stood with her mouth open.
“We can’t waste food.” This time Vida wasn’t joking when she saw Tammy’s pitying look and Colton’s angry one. The phrase coming out of Vida’s mouth had obviously been droned into her by her quick response.
“I’m sorry, Colton, but I need an early night. I have to be at work early.” Tammy went to the couch, picking up her purse.
“Tammy, she can eat whatever she wants. I don’t starve her,” Colton tried to explain.
Tammy looked at Vida’s thin build and loose clothes.
“Honey, you get tired of his crap, I got an extra bedroom you can stay in until you get on your feet.” Throwing Colton a
look of disgust, she left in a whirl of perfume and high heels.
Vida waited until the door was closed before she broke down into laughter. She laughed so hard she had to hold her sides. Seeing Colton’s smoldering gaze only set her off in fresh peals of laughter.
“I thought the black eye would do it...” Vida had to pause to catch her breath “...not the food. That’s just habit. I guess she couldn’t stand the thought of you not feeding her.” Vida had to lean against the counter she was laughing so hard.
“Oh my God, your expression was priceless. And the madder you got only convinced her more that you were beating me.”
Vida was so busy laughing she didn’t notice Colton setting the dirty dishes in the sink or crossing the room to lock the door.
“Vida?” Colton’s soft voice drew her attention as he now leaned against the counter with his arms crossed against his chest.
“Yes?” Vida wiped the tears of mirth away from her eyes.
“Do you know why I invited Tammy here?”
“Because you wanted to get laid.” Vida didn’t detect the danger she was in.
“Yes, because it was either get a woman here or fuck you. You have now taken that option out of my hands.” Colton straightened, reaching for Vida. Sliding out of his reach, she thought he was paying her back for ruining his night.
“Don’t take it so hard, Colton. Your next lay is only a phone call away,” Vida taunted.
“No, Vida. My next lay is six inches away.” Colton strode forward. Belatedly realizing that he was serious, she took off running for the door. The doorknob was in her hand and she was pulling the door open when Colton’s hand above her head slammed the door closed. Vida was held flat against the door as Colton’s body pressed against her back and ass.
Vida stood still, realizing to late when she felt Colton’s hardness against her backside just how serious he was about his intentions.
“What’s wrong, Vida. Got yourself in trouble?” Colton whispered in her ear. His mouth nuzzled her neck, sending chills down her back.
“Let me go, Colton. I’ll call Tammy and tell her I was just aggravating you.”