“Move.” Colton took Vida’s arm, moving her to his side, further away from the group of men.
“Make me, asshole. I don’t think you’ll be able to take us all on. When we’re done with you, we’re going to show that slut how a real man fucks.” He laughed with the others following his lead. They started whistling and name calling Vida.
Vida wanted to get out of the club before a fight broke out. She looked around the room for Henry before she realized he must still be upstairs keeping an eye on Briggs.
“Need any help, Colton?” a cold voice had her turning sideways to see Ice, Max and several of the other Predators getting up from their chairs at the front of the stage. She noticed the one with the scar stood before casually striding out the front door.
“I got it covered, Ice. These fuckwads couldn’t fight their way out of a whore’s pussy.”
“Dave, you gonna take that shit?” A loudmouth sitting at the back of the group hadn’t noticed the arrival of the Predators.
“No, I don’t think I am.” Dave seemed bolstered from Colton’s friends’ presence, which just proved how stupid he was. “I’m going to kick your ass.”
Colton took a step toward Dave and Vida pulled him back.
“Colton, remember you’re on parole. If you get caught, you could get your parole revoked. He’s not worth it. Let’s go home,” she pleaded. The thought of him getting thrown back in prison, this time because of her, wasn’t something she would be able to handle. “Please, Colton, ignore him.”
“Shut-up, and take your tits and ass over there.” Dave pointed to the stage where Sherri stood frozen in place, ignoring her music. “Me and my friends will take care of you when we finish.”
Max moved closer. “Fuck this shit. I’m not on parole.” His fist struck out, sending Dave hurtling onto the table. Bottles of beer went flying as the men stood up, each becoming ready to fight.
“Gentleman, I want you to leave.” King’s sudden appearance with several of his bouncers as the fight started to get out of control had the men pausing briefly.
Dave and his friends came to their senses when faced by even more opposition.
“We’re leaving,” he grumbled as they began to head to the door followed by the bouncers.
“Thanks, King,” Vida said, relieved.
“No thanks needed, Vida. I wasn’t going to have to pay for the damages to my club. Those fuckers don’t look like they could afford one of my chairs.”
Vida had to agree. “Can we go now?” she asked Colton.
“Go out back. I’ll send Henry to give you a ride in my car,” King ordered.
“Why not take his bike?”
“Because I think the police will be called any minute.” Vida didn’t understand what King meant until she realized the Predators had also gone outside. The bouncer’s hadn’t returned, either.
“Oh.”
“Let’s go,” Colton said with a satisfied smile.
Henry was waiting for them at the back door. He had come down the back stairway. As he saw their approach, he opened the back door, looking outside before holding the door open for them.
Colton and Vida slid into the back seat as Henry started the car, pulling out of the alley onto the main road. Henry turned the car towards the direction of Colton’s apartment.
When they passed the front of the King’s club, Henry slowed the car as they stared at the huge fight in the parking lot. Ice and Max were beating on Dave. Vida almost felt sorry for him until she remembered he could have led to Colton being back in prison.
Vida’s eyes glanced off one fighting pair before they went back in shock. The biker with the scar who had left the club had the heckler down on the ground. Vida turned, burying her head in Colton’s shoulder at the viciousness of his attack on the man.
Thank God, King had stopped them from going outside. There was no way the cops wouldn’t be locking up several of the men fighting while sending others to the local hospital.
During the ride back to the apartment Vida’s thoughts returned to those poor women who didn’t have their freedom. They had no choice in who took their bodies, captive and broken, and bent them to someone else’s will.
Vida rolled down her window so the wind could hit her face, missing Colton’s motorcycle. She leaned closer to Colton, needing his strength as she reminded herself Sawyer was still one of those women.
Chapter 17
Vida felt Colton’s eyes searching her face as they got out of the car. His arm went around her shoulders while they walked up the stairs side by side. When she turned back towards the car, Henry waved as he drove silently out of the parking lot.