I have never felt jealousy in my life. It’s just not something I’ve experienced. I’ve never had anyone I cared that much about. Bitches aren’t worth the trouble, and that is for damn sure. Seeing my woman standing there though, with another man’s hand on her ass, hearing another man ask my woman out? All I know is in that moment—I wanted to kill.

Something violent comes out of me at the thought of anyone other than me touching Nicole. I want to tear Skull apart limb by fucking limb. It takes every damn thing inside of me not to do it.

“What the fuck did I tell you, Skull? You do not fucking touch her.”

“Aw but Nicole...”

“Motherfucker, I don’t think you’re listening to me. You do not say her goddamn name.”

“Surely you do not expect to keep a luscious mujer such as Nicole all to yourself?”

I grab him by his neck before he knows what in the hell is going on. I have no plan other than to show this asshole I am not joking and this is no fucking game. I’ll gut the motherfucking son of a bitch if he says my woman’s name one more time.

“I told you fucker, you do not say her name! You do not even think her name!”

I pull my blade out that I keep in my back pocket and hit the button so it pops up. Skull’s men go to make a move, but my men circle around them. I hear my girl and Dani yelling, but my eyes don’t move from Skull.

“I didn’t take you for being an idiota amigo,” I sneer. “Are you? Or, are you just eager to sink your dick where I’ve already been.”

I can hear Nicole in the background. I’m going to pay for that later, but I do not give a damn. Her ass will be so red when I get done with her, she’ll be lucky if she can sit for a week.

“Perhaps I have misunderstood, hermano. I have not known you to be so enamored before. I meant no harm. I will step back if you intend to claim her.”

I should let it go at that, but he had his hand on my girl’s ass.

If it was someone else, I would cut off his fingers and his dick—just for fun. If I close my eyes, I can still see his hand there and fuck, the urge to do it is strong.

The rest of my men have come out from the alley where they were waiting for my signal. We now outnumber Skull’s crew easily. He only has a few of his men with him. A mistake, but one I am more than ready to take advantage of.

“Tell me Skull, what would you do to a dirty fucker who puts his hands on your property?”

Proof that my men know me well, Bull comes around and grabs Skull and holds him for me. Bull’s huge ass arms are as big around as a telephone pole. Still, that’s not what keeps Skull from moving. No, that would be the 357 currently cocked and pointing at the side of his head.

I take a breath and step back, getting a little space between us. I need to get a handle on my emotions and tone them the fuck down. Nicole is going to have to learn to stop pushing my damn limits or someone will get killed. I look around and notice that each of my men have a gun trained and aimed at Skull’s entourage. They’re making sure all our bases are covered.

Nicole’s girl and some other bitches are trapped behind Skull’s men. The men seem to be protecting them. The guy that’s hiding Dani could almost make Bull look small.

“Answer me! What would you do to a dirty motherfucker who thought he could put his hands on your woman?” I ask again.

Skull, the cocky bastard that he is, ignores the 357 currently pointed at his head and seems unfazed. I could almost respect the motherfucker with his next words.

“I would cut off his hands an inch at a time.”

I rub my jaw, feeling the stubble from my five o’clock shadow. I’m pretending to think this shit over. Truth is I may want to, but I’m not going to harm Skull. He needs to stay the fuck away from Nicole, but he is not my problem. No, I’m here tonight to chase down what’s causing my problems—as well as get my woman.

I’m using Skull as a means to that end, because one of my motherfucking problems is locked up in a meat locker on the outskirts of town. One of my own and that shit, even if expected, burns in my craw. I turn my attention back to Skull.

“That seems like a plan. I’ll start with the fucking hand you had on my woman’s ass.”

I hear Irish yell out, and Nicole yell at him. I turn around to see my boy Irish bent over holding his balls. Nicole comes and stands by me. I blow out a breath and look up at the sky. Fuck, this woman has fire, so much fire it may ending up burning both of us. She needs to learn when to rein it in. Hell, from the looks of Irish, he may never walk straight again, let alone father children.

“Dragon, you can’t hurt Skull.”

“He had his hand on your ass, Mama.”

Fuck, I want to be pissed at her, but she looks too damn sexy standing there in those tight ass jeans and blue sweater. That sweater is molded to those fucking breasts of hers and her hair is all messed up from wrestling with Irish. My cock instantly reacts—the damn thing stays hard if she is anywhere around.

“Yes well, we were discussing that right before you got here.”

“What’s to discuss Mama? He had his hand on your ass. Did you want his hand on you, woman?”

“Don’t be stupid,” she growls at me, and I somehow keep from smiling as she berates me in front of my men. What the fuck has she done to me?

“You and me, what we got going on, means you’re mine. That also means his hands—or any motherfucker’s hands—better not touch you.”

I expect her to argue. The fact that she doesn’t, calms me as nothing else could. Instead of arguing, she comes closer and wraps her arm around me. Does she know what she just agreed to, in front of everyone? Does she have any idea she sealed her fate right here in this moment?

“He’s sorry Dragon. He was just about to apologize.”

All of the men start laughing—mine and Skull’s. With her acceptance of my claim the tension lessens around the group.

“I’m actually not that sorry, querida. It was worth it.”

“Will you shut up? Do you want him to kill you? Perhaps it has escaped your notice that there’s a man pointing a gun at your head!” Nicole snaps.

I look at my girl and grab the back of her neck and pull her close. She squeaks, but she doesn’t fight me. I lean down so our foreheads touch. Her blue eyes are so fucking deep, I could drown.

“Shut it, Mama.”

“You can’t hurt him, Dragon.”

“Why’s that?”

“I’d miss you if you went to prison.”

“You could visit me.”

“I don’t date men who wear orange. It’s a rule.”

Fucking cute.

“Kiss me, Mama.”

“Dragon we’re on the street with a hundred people and guns are involved. I don’t think now is the time to kiss,” she argues.

“You can give me your lips or I can always cut off Sku....”

Her lips press against mine, cutting off the rest of my words. Her tongue pushes against my lips and I open immediately, but I do it taking control. Our tongues fight and duel with one another and when I finally pull away, she sighs and lays her head on my chest.

“Are we going to have trouble?” I ask Skull. He looks down at Nicole with a look of want on his face, but I’m good at reading people. It’s not exactly Nicole he wants, but what she’s giving me. I don’t like it, but I understand it. I totally do, but I’m not letting her slide through my fingers. Life has been shit mostly. Nicole deserves better, but I’m a selfish fuck. They’d have to kill me to get her away from me at this point.

“We’re good. Call off your men, mi hermano. You are a lucky son of a bitch, Dragon. She’s a hot...”

Smarmy motherfucker! I twist away from Nicole and nail him in the ribs with a hard right.

“Respect my woman and keep your fucking distance brother,” I sneer. Skull bends over with a groan as my punch is delivered. I have claimed Nicole. I never imagined doing that shit with anyone before, but if I’m going to do it, then it better damn well be respected. “Tomorrow night around nine, have your men at the old butchering plant. Watch your backs,” I order Skull. He’s rubbing his ribs, watching me, and I can see anger there, but something more. Skull and I understand each other.