Craved (Book 2)

-25-

Update: 10/19/20

Chapter Twenty-Five

Zamaria

Zamaria didn't want to leave Greyson's side, not for one second, but she knew she had to get back to Diggy before he got suspicious.

"Hey why don't we plan another birthday bash?" Greyson asked as he watched her brush her teeth before throwing her clothes back on.

"I'll have to take a reign check on that. I had already made plans with Jess to celebrate." Lie. It was all a lie; she just didn't know if Diggy would let her out of his sight the minute she got back.

"Okay, well let me know if anything changes. I want to finally be able to hang out with my best friend for once," he said jokingly.

Hearing those words had her pausing in her movement. Were they even friends anymore? Yes, they had been friends in the past; best friends. However, now they were complete strangers who enjoy an occasional sexual adventure. Did that make them friends, or friends with benefits?

"Tell you what, the next day I'm free we can make a day of it," she offered.

Greyson gathered the shorts and shirt he let her wear along with the towel and followed her back to his room.

"I'll take you up on that offer."

****

Pain was felt all through her body as Diggy threw another punch. Zamaria curled into herself to lessen the force but it only caused more pain. She bit her lip to keep her cries from escaping.

"You know sometimes I think you enjoy pissing me off."

Diggy took a few steps away from Zamaria as he began to pace back and forth.

Thankful for the small bit of reprieve, she took a few deep breaths to assess the damage. This time she was lucky to not sustain a cracked rib. She had just started healing from the last beating he gave her last week when she finally "returned".

Someone had told him she had been with the enemy before she got back to the house. Zamaria had to make up the excuse that she was scoping the competition, getting intel for him. He bought it, partially.

Today's beating was brought upon by a lie one of the girls had told him. Apparently, someone had been stealing money from the stash; and since she was the closest to having access, they blamed it on her. It didn't help that she had just pulled out part of her stash to count. It was money she had been saving since she got there.

What Diggy took only ended up being a small percentage of what she really had. With the stash she had at the house plus what she had at her apartment, she had enough to buy a house far away from here.

Diggy stooped down to her level, holding her jaw in a tight grip. "I love you Viper, I would give my last for you, and this is how you repay me?" He said through gritted teeth.

"Diggy it wasn't me. I promise," she pleaded. Hoping like hell he believed her even a fraction.

"But you are in charge of the woman, so yes, it was you," he shoved her face away so hard she almost got whiplash.

Diggy walked from the room as Zamaria laid there as a lump on the floor. She had to get out and fast. She couldn't allow herself to be broken, not again, not in that way. It just hurt her heart that she'd have to leave Greyson again.

****

"Hey Mrs. Miller," Zamaria smiled at the elderly lady as she sat in her rocking chair petting her tabby cat. "I know I'm late but here's this month's rent and the lease. I won't be renewing after this month."

She handed Mrs. Miller her check for rent and the lease to her apartment.

"Oh sweetie you finally leaving?" the old woman grabbed the papers placing them in their respective folders.

"Yes, ma'am. It's time I finally explore the world as I've always talked about," Zamaria turned and headed for the door, "Oh, September 20th, I'll have someone come pick up my things. Tall, dark, and handsome, with really long dreads."

She just hoped by some chance she would be able to see Greyson before then. There was no way she was leaving and not saying good-bye, her heart wouldn't let her. She walked back up to her apartment and continued to pack what she could. Diggy was only giving her a few hours to straighten up her place and pack more clothes to bring. She would use this time to pack up her place in preparation to leave.

After packing a bag to take to back to Diggy's, Zamaria sat down and wrote a note to Greyson in hopes he'd see it in time. Diggy wouldn't allow her to bring a phone, so he sent Boa & Big Boi to babysit. They were standing outside the building waiting for her since it was one way in and one way out.

After writing the note she went back and gathered the rest of her money, putting the stash from the house with it. She packed a few more essentials before heading out the door and placing the note under her new decoration. She had Boa stop at a thrift store on the way and found a really nice statue of a wolf. It was lighter than it looked and it immediately reminded her of Greyson.

As she was checking out, she found a red dog collar and bought it just to be funny. Now she was slipping her spare key under the collar and the note under its foot.

Her birthday was in two weeks and she had hoped Diggy would give her the day off.That would be the day she makes her escape. If not, she'd have to do it thehard way.