“I learned the hardest lesson of my life that day. The same one that you learned when you lost your family. That family always comes first. If you were given the opportunity again, would you have made that flight?”
“God, yes. I would have been there for their birthdays, Thanksgiving, the first day of kindergarten. I would’ve been there.” This time it was Kaden’s voice breaking.
“I would have called the police. I would have run away with Callie. I would have killed Brenda. I would have done something. That’s what we learned, Kaden; the most painful lessons in life are the ones that hurt the most.”
They held each other through the night while Kaden talked about his family and Sawyer talked about her mother and Callie. Eventually, they got out of bed, taking a bath together. Sawyer threw in her last bath bomb. She had saved the overpowering floral-scented one for last, not crazy over the smell.
Kaden made a face, sinking into the tub.
“What?” Sawyer giggled at his expression.
“I have a feeling this is going to be another painful life experience.”
“Why?”
“Those bikers are going to think I’m a pussy for smelling like a girl.”
***
Vida and Sawyer had lunch together in Sawyer’s room. Kaden had been able to get Vida and Colton a suite next door. For the other bikers, the hotel found rooms on different floors.
Kaden was still interviewing tour managers, but Colton had joined them. Vida told her how King had let her stay at the strip club for her protection.
“They told me that you were staying there; they didn’t tell me you were actually stripping.” The bastards hadn’t told her that part. Suspiciously, she asked Vida, “What was your stage name?”
“Trouble. I wasn’t very good at it, even worse giving lap dances.” Sawyer had lived with Vida since her mother had died; she knew what kind of body she had. She would bet the men had loved her. Vida was beautiful in a quiet and unassuming way, but her body was a showgirl’s dream with long legs and perky breasts.
She cast Colton a look underneath her lashes. “How did she really do?”
“She did great dancing, but I’m still waiting to judge the lap dancing,” he said, giving Vida a sensual smile.
Sawyer laughed at his answer.
She noticed the new tat on Vida’s collarbone, the intricate lines of the butterfly drawing her eye. “Are those your initials?” She made out the swirling lines of the C and the D.
“Yes.”
Wow, the man didn’t believe in wasting time.
Sawyer also noticed the color on the back of her wrist when she lifted her glass to take a drink. She reached out, turning her wrist over to get a better look. It was a piece of art.
“It’s beautiful, Colton,” Sawyer complimented him.
“Thank you.”
“If you get time, will you give me another tattoo? I already know what I want.”
“If I can get a machine,” Colton said.
Sawyer studied the man, who it was obvious her friend was in love with. He had always been good looking, but age and experience had added a sensual appeal that would be hard for a woman to resist. Sawyer was confident enough to know Vida wouldn’t have made it easy for him.
At that moment, Kaden came into the suite, slamming the door. He took a seat at the table and poured himself a cup of coffee.
“I take it the interviews are not going well?” Sawyer questioned.
“They’re going fine, if I want another R.J.,” Kaden said in disgust.
“I really like Jordan.” Sawyer knew Jordan would be thrilled with the job.
“Ms. Jordan is too inexperienced for the job.”
“That’s what makes her perfect. She’s eager to please, enthusiastic, and I damn sure don’t see her hiring a pimp for the band.”
“I’ll think about it,” Kaden conceded.
“Does that mean that you’re considering going back to singing full-time?” Sawyer asked, twirling her hair.
“No, I just want to leave them in better hands this time. I plan on spending my time writing songs, and occasionally singing, but I have no intention of becoming involved in the constant touring and travel.”
Sawyer smiled, relieved. She wasn’t fond of touring, but she would have done it to make him happy. She could handle the occasional concert and she wanted to travel, just not to the extent his career would require. She stopped her wayward thoughts. Kaden had never really said he was planning on a future together with her after Digger’s capture.
“Something wrong?” Vida questioned. Her friend knew her too well not to recognize that something was bothering her.
“N—n—no.” Both Kaden and Vida looked at her skeptically.
Sawyer sought to change the subject. “Do Vida and I have to stay inside for the next two days? We have enough security that we should be able to get out for a little while to do some shopping.” Kaden and Colton both nodded their heads in agreement.
“The Predators can watch you while you shop. Digger is smart enough not to try anything when you’re surrounded by them.”
“Take some of Alec’s security, too; they’ll have the firepower if Digger does get brave,” Kaden added.
Colton lifted a brow, not saying anything. Kaden got his message with a nod of his head.
“Go, you’ll probably be safer than Fort Knox.”
Vida and Sawyer both got to their feet, anxious to relieve their anxiety over Digger with some retail therapy. Sawyer, already dressed, went to go with Vida as she dressed so they could gossip without the men overhearing.
“Sawyer,” Kaden’s command had her freezing, turning to face him.
“Did you forget something?”
“No, I have my own money; Vida brought my purse.”
“I wasn’t talking about money.” His eyes stared into her until she blushed, walking back to him and then leaning down to brush his mouth with hers. She started to stand, but his hand on the back of her neck held her captive as he took control, giving her no opportunity to evade his kiss.
“Now you can go,” he said, releasing her. The girls had the door open this time when Colton’s voice called out.
“Vida.” Vida turned back.
“Did you forget something?” His voice mocked Kaden’s choice of words.
“Now that you mention it, I did. Come here.” Colton grinned as he stood up and walked to Vida’s side.
Sawyer’s mouth dropped open. He had a lethal sensuality that would make any woman pause. When he stopped in front of Vida, he put his arms around her waist, lifting her against his body and giving her a passionate kiss that had Vida almost losing her balance when he placed her back on her feet. Colton put out a hand to steady her.
Sawyer threw Kaden a dirty look. Obviously
she had a thing or two to learn from her younger friend.
Chapter Twenty-four
Sawyer and Vida spent the day shopping. Sawyer was able to replenish her supply of bath bombs, even purchasing several for Vida. Vida picked herself out a few more items of clothing, explaining that Colton and she had left Queen City in a hurry and hadn’t brought enough clothes.
The Predators watched them closely, entering the stores with them, making the salesclerks nervous. Sawyer couldn’t blame them; their appearance was frightening. She noticed the one with a scar down his cheekbone standing in the store doorway, surveying anyone who entered.
When they stopped for lunch at a small diner, Vida told her all the tricks she had learned about stripping. She couldn’t hold back her giggles when she talked about shaking her ass at the crowd as she left the stage.
Sawyer couldn’t help it; she laid her head down on the table she was laughing so hard. She had never imagined her shy friend would ever be able to strip, much less shake her ass at a group of horny men.
Suddenly somber, Sawyer took her hand in hers. “I’m so sorry that you went through that, Vida. If I hadn’t been stupid enough to go out with Rick, then you wouldn’t have had to go to work for King.”
“If Rick hadn’t kidnapped you, then Briggs or Morgan would have. Digger is determined to find out something to use against King.”
“I know. Let’s hope the police find Digger, and we won’t have to be surrounded by our entourages anymore,” Sawyer teased.
“I don’t know. I’m beginning to like being surrounded by a large group of men.”
“Yours are better looking than mine. Mine look like they have sticks up their asses; yours look like they put them there.” Both group of men cast suspicious glances, as if they knew they were the topic of conversation.
When they arrived back at the hotel, the security guards put them on the elevators, radioing Kaden’s security that they were on their way up. Sawyer was about to say goodbye to Vida at the door to her room when she got a text message from Kaden, telling her that he was interviewing Jordan, and if she wanted to see her before she left, to come to Jordan’s room.