“Get up, you stupid cunt.”
Vida managed to get her feet under her and shakily rose up. The second time he hit her, she barely managed to stay on her feet, which was a mistake because his third hit was with his fist and sent her crashing back down to the floor. This time she was unable to keep her cries silent and she didn’t try to get back up.
“You have been a pain in my ass for the last month. You should have stayed out of my business. Sawyer is mine, therefore she’s my business.” Laughing at his own joke, Digger leaned back against his desk, satisfied she wouldn’t get up again.
“Briggs and Morgan tell me you can shake your tits and ass, so now you’re my business,” he informed her.
“King won’t let you get away with this, I’m under his protection.” Vida stared up at the ugly bastard who stood there as if he had the right to do anything he wanted.
“Fuck King, I’m not afraid of him. Has he managed to get Sawyer back?” Digger laughed sarcastically. “He couldn’t even keep me from taking you from that stupid bodyguard. Take her up to my bedroom, I’ll be up shortly.” He went back behind his desk, sitting down to pick up a ringing cell phone.
Vida felt Briggs take her by the arm, helping her to her feet.
“Wait a minute, Briggs; put her on the chair. Seems like we have company.” Digger put his phone back on the desk. Vida felt herself shoved down onto a chair in the corner of the room. Briggs stayed by her while Morgan stood by Digger. Vida noticed that Digger’s countenance had undergone a change; she thought she caught a small glimpse of worry. The self-satisfied smile from moments before was gone.
Digger’s driver, who no longer looked neat and refined, opened the door. Now, he was holding his ribs and his nose had blood dripping onto his white shirt. The man walking into the room wasn’t any of the men she was expecting.
Colton strode into the room with an air of menace so visible that it frightened even Vida, who had had lived with him the last few weeks, unaware that he could be completely frightening when he was furious.
“Colton, I heard you were out of prison.” The amicable tone coming from Digger had Vida’s eyes turning back to him in surprise.
“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.