“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.