I scrub a hand through my hair. My nerves have been shattered since she got home earlier than expected, and it’s not a feeling I’m familiar with. I need to ensure Thea is mine before her mother obliterates our happiness and devastates me once again. Only this time, there won’t be any coming back from it. Thea is my future, my everything, and she’s not something I’m willing to walk away from.
“I know. I’m sorry.” I lift her hand to my lips, and she relaxes beneath my touch. This is what we do for one another: bringcomfort and security, and I point blank refuse to let Veronica destroy us.
I put the truck into park and glance up at the warehouse. We’ve a lot of work to do before opening day, but today, I get to meet some of the trainers and fighters while checking on how the improvements to the building are coming along.
“Come on, baby.” I step out, then round the vehicle and open the door to give her my hand, giving her my assistance. She looks edible in the white summer dress that touches her knees. Even with the wedged sandals, she still doesn’t come up to my shoulder, so I feel like a giant beside her. I’m six feet three, and Thea is barely five feet one.
“What are you grinning at?” she asks as she entwines her fingers with mine, and I shut the door behind her.
“You.” I press my lips against hers. “You look fucking gorgeous,” I say as I pull back. Her eyes sparkle with wonderment, and I wish I could bottle that look up for an eternity because the twist in my gut tells me she isn’t going to feel like that about me forever.
Instead of dealing with my concerns, I push them away and concentrate on the here and now. Something that could bite me in the ass at a later date, but call me delusional, I need to keep this feeling of euphoria inside me when I’m around her.
Her eyes search mine, and it feels like she can see through me and my betrayals, so I turn, hauling her behind me as we head toward the warehouse side door.
“When did you say it opens again?” she asks, and I scan my hand on the newly installed security system, thanks to Storm Enterprises.
I glance over my shoulder at her as the door opens. “In a couple of weeks. We’ve a lot of work to do before then.”
The bellows and the slapping of skin can be heard the moment we step inside, and Thea’s hand tightens in mine.
I stride toward the open space and take it in. I’ll give Miko credit; he’s done a damn good job so far. The man can move mountains when he needs to.
“Massio!” Crest declares as he drops the boxing pads to the floor and marches across the room. Thea steps out from behind me, and Crest spares her a quick glance before his eyes come back to mine. Yes, motherfucker, she’s taken. Sweat pours from him, and his broad, bare chest has a sudden rush of jealousy surge through me.
I’ve never been jealous before, not even when I was married, but with Thea, I want to bottle her up and keep her just for me. It’s a primal feeling I’ve only recently discovered, one that makes my blood boil with fury.
He swipes the sweat from his forehead. “What do you think?” Throwing his arm out, he grins from ear to ear.
“I think you need to keep your fucking eyes to yourself,” I growl, uncaring who hears me. “If I ever see you as much as glance in my woman’s direction again, I’ll slaughter you. Bit by fucking bit.”
He jolts, then blinks slowly before scanning my face as if searching for seriousness. “I wasn?—”
I cut him a sharp glare. “Shut the fuck up and tell me you understand.”
He swallows hard. “I’m not interested in your woman, Massio. I won’t be looking in her direction again. Trust me.”
“Okay, then.” I take a step back.
He clears his throat. “Would you like me to introduce you to some of our fighters?” His gaze roams over the room, as if unsure where to look. If I were a lesser man, I’d take pity on him, but I’m not. I’m making a statement, one to everyone in the room. It’s a mistake they won’t be repeating.
I throw my hand out. “Go ahead.”
“Don’t be a dick,” Thea whispers, stepping beside me, and I cast her a smirk.
My eyes widen on the first group of people we approach. A young tattooed woman delivers a perfect roundhouse kick to one of our trainers.
“Her name’s Frankie. Also known as Star. She’s one of the fighters who came on board with our agreement.” Crest locks eyes with me, and I give him a knowing nod. “She’s prolific in weapons too.”
I whistle between my teeth when the trainer is delivered another swift blow.
“Her man is Cameron over there.” Crest points toward a young guy sitting with his elbows on his knees, delivering Frankie praise while remaining transfixed on her movements. He looks completely enthralled by her, and in a strange way, it feels like we’re trespassing on their form of foreplay.
“She’s young,” Thea notes.
“Yeah, they recently left high school and already have their own fight crew. Frankie is like a fucking assassin.” He chuckles as we move on to the next group of people. “She’s a savage in the cage, lethal.”
As we approach the next group, I take note of the little girl sitting on the floor. She’s coloring, her tongue sticking out the side of her mouth. There’s a guy standing next to her, and he looks like a damn guard dog, barely moving an inch away from her. He’s dressed in slacks with a white shirt and looks completely out of place in here.
