He continued, his hands going to her ass, “It’s right under the police’s fucking nose. The recording studio in town that advertises all over the country as having the best rates and sound techs available. The whole building is soundproof. Digger gets fresh stock in all the time, and he doesn’t even have to leave the building. The upper floors are legit, but the basement is used to train the sweet things until Digger moves them out. By the time we get done with them, they walk right out the front door and into the waiting car. I told you Digger is a fucking genius,” Briggs gloated, wanting her to admire the brilliance of Digger’s plan.
Digger might be a genius, but his hired help was a moron. Vida, with the information she needed and unable to stomach one more second near him without throwing up, was relieved when she heard the door open and Colton come in the room.
“What the fuck is going on in here?” he yelled.
Fear flooded Briggs’s face as Colton slammed the door back against the wall.
“Colton, I told you I had to work tonight.” Vida gave a fake squeak of fear as Colton placed his hands around her waist and lifted her off Briggs.
Viciously, Vida made sure that her thick, high-heeled stripper shoe snapped up and kicked Briggs in the balls as hard as she could manage. His scream of pain could be heard, Vida was sure, downstairs. That thought gave her some satisfaction.
“You fucking bitch!” Briggs held himself, crying like a baby.
“Watch your mouth,” Colton growled.
“What’s going on in here?” Henry’s amused voice had everyone looking at the huge man.
“The fucking…” Colton’s furious gaze had Briggs changing his mind about his choice of words. “Vida kicked me in the balls.”
“It was an accident, Henry. Colton pulled me off of him. I didn’t mean to. I wouldn’t hurt you deliberately; you’re one of my favorites.” She batted her false eyelashes at him.
“I’m sure King will refund your money, Briggs. We do want our customers completely satisfied. Ashley will give you a dance on the house also. Does that sound reasonable, Briggs?”
Mollified, Briggs sat back, rubbing his abused crotch.
“Let’s go, Vida and Colton. Vida, King will have to let you go because of this second complaint from a customer. We can’t have them hurt because a dancer’s boyfriend becomes jealous.” Briggs’s head swelled even further at the thought that Colton could possibly be jealous of him.
As Vida and Colton left the room, she gave a sigh of relief when she heard the door close behind them. Colton’s arm came around her shoulders.
“Did you get what you needed?” Colton asked.
“I think so. Colton, they’re really sick and have to be stopped.” Vida told him with resolution.
“I know, baby. That was the only reason I could let you back on that stage again, much less let that motherfucker touch you.”
“You better get out of here,” Henry said, motioning for Ashley, who slid past them with a bottle of King’s best whiskey in her hand.
Vida felt sorry for the pretty blond who would have to let Briggs touch her so that he would forget the fountain of information he had provided them with.
Interpreting her look, Colton sought to reassure her. “By the time he’s a fourth of the way through that bottle, he won’t remember his own name, and she can leave.”
Vida nodded.
Colton and Vida went to the dressing room to retrieve her bag. She didn’t want to take the time to change, needing to go home and get further away from the pollution still upstairs. Understanding, Sherri let her borrow a long raincoat, which she used in her act sometimes, that covered her completely. Vida put it on and, giving Sherri a quick hug of thanks, left to find Colton waiting outside the door.
Colton waved to King as they left, who returned it with a grim nod as he talked on the phone. Vida could tell from his expression he was giving the other person on the line hell. By morning, Vida was sure every bug in his club would disappear.
“Should I call Seth?” she questioned Colton.
“That’s who King is talking to. I gave him the number you gave me,” Colton informed her.
A large man rose from a table they were passing close to the stage. Vida’s stomach plunged when she recognized the man from the farmers’ market that Colton had fought. Glancing quickly at the table, she became even more upset when she recognized the two others among the nine men seated.
“Well, looks like we found Trouble after all, boys.” He snickered. “Charlie recognized you when you were on the stage,” he said, giving her an insolent look. “You being with her, now that’s just icing on the cake.”