Then a sharpwhooshcut through the chaos.
The impact was sudden—a dull,crackingthud as the floor lamp slammed across the man’s back. His body lurched forward from the blow, his hold on Sayer’s throat breaking as he stumbled.
Sayer sucked in a ragged breath, vision swimming as the man collapsed to his knees, his hand flying to where Diamond had struck him.
Before he could recover, Sayer didn’t hesitate. He surged forward, seizing the bastard by the collar, and drove his knee into his ribs. Once. Twice. A pained wheeze escaped the man before Sayer shoved him onto his back, pinning him down.
The fight was over. The room pulsed with heavy breathing; the only sound left in the aftermath of the struggle. Sayer’s brothers finally pushed through the door, but they were too late.
Diamond had already finished it. Diamond stood, chest rising and falling with heavy breaths as she locked eyes with Sayer. He rubbed his throat, voice rough when he spoke.
“This is the same guy from earlier.” It wasn’t a question. It was a fact.
Diamond gave a tight nod. “Yeah. It’s him.”
Sayer’s jaw clenched. “Who is he, Diamond?”
“I don’t know who this crazy bastard is, Sayer,” she snapped, frustration crackling through her words.
His gaze didn’t waver. “He said you know where someone is. Who does he think you’re covering for?”
Diamond exhaled sharply. “Sayer. I. Don’t. Know.”
Silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken things.
“Alright,” Sayer finally said, but the doubt in his voice was clear. He glanced towards his brothers. “Someone call the cops.”
“No cops,” Diamond said quickly. “Call security. Have them remove him from the property.”
Sayer and his brothers exchanged looks.
Diamond squared her shoulders. “I can’t afford to have a police report attached to me. It’ll cause problems with the foundation.”
Something in her voice—earnest, edged with quiet desperation—made them hesitate. Sayer studied her, reading the concern written plainly on her face.
After a beat, he gave a slow nod. “Security, then.”
Sayer didn’t take his eyes off the man still sprawled on the floor, groaning as he tried to push himself up. His brothers stood just outside the door, waiting for his call, but Sayer wasn’t about to leave Diamond alone with this bastard.
“Get security up here now,” he told them.
One of his brothers nodded and disappeared down the hall while the other stayed posted by the door, arms crossed, keeping watch.
Diamond stood a few feet away, still gripping the battered lamp, her knuckles white. Sayer’s throat ached from the bastard’s grip, but he ignored it, stepping between her and the man on the floor.
The guy let out a rough chuckle, wiping blood from his lip as he rolled onto his side. “You don’t even know what you’re protecting her from,” his voice was hoarse but laced with something mocking, like he knew something they didn’t.
Sayer didn’t respond. He just crouched down, grabbed the guy by the collar, and yanked him up just enough so they were eye to eye. “I don’t need to know,” he said, voice low and cold. “You come near her again, and I’ll make sure you don’t walk away next time.”
The man smirked, but his eyes flicked to Diamond, studying her, before Sayer shoved him back to the floor.
“Hotel security’s here, Sayer,” Teller said from his spot inside the door. He barely stepped aside as two uniformed guards strode in.
“This guy attacked her,” Sayer said bluntly. “Get him the hell out of here.”
The guards hauled the man up between them, but he didn’t struggle. He just smiled—something about it was wrong, like he knew it wasn’t over.
Diamond didn’t say a word.
