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I was off my stool and halfway to the pool table when the guy whirled around and hollered at her to watch where she was going.

Everything blurred around me, and the next second I had the douchebag pressed against the wall with my hand clamped around his neck. “What the fuck do you think you are doing?” I growled wildly.

He was struggling to breathe and to free himself.

“Just let it happen, Jim. The more you struggle, the more he’ll kill you,” Jersey called. “You messed with the wrong woman.”

“I didn’t know she was yours,” he gasped. “I didn’t know, Hail.”

I had no idea who this guy was, but he knew me.

That was normal around town. Being the prez of the Lost Mavericks MC meant everyone knew me, but I didn’t know them.

“So if she weren’t mine, you would still have yelled at her?” I growled. “You like to be a douche to women who are just minding their business, and you slam into them?”

Jim shook his head. “No, no. It was my fault.” He looked around me. “I’m sorry, lady. I shouldn’t have yelled at you. I’m sorry.”

I tightened my grip around his throat. “Don’t fucking look at her.”

Jim snapped his eyes shut. “I’m sorry, Hail. I had a bad week at work and just snapped, man. I promise it won’t happen again.”

A hand wrapped around my bicep and gently tugged me back. “Please stop,” a soft, feminine voice called. “He said he was sorry, and I don’t think he’ll do it again. Or maybe never even open his eyes again.”

“I won’t,” Jim called. He plastered his hand over his eyes. “I will never open my eyes again, Hail. I’m sorry.”

I looked down at the hand on me and followed the length of her arm till my eyes locked on her beautiful face.

“I’m okay,” she whispered. “I should have paid attention better.”

I shook my head. “He should have paid attention better.”

“He’s right,” Jim called. “It was my fault, miss. I don’t know what I was thinking when I yelled at you.” I glanced at him; his eyes were still closed, and his head was tipped to the ceiling. “If you could just push me toward the door, I’ll be on my way home.”

“We got him,” Tiger called. “To the gutter with him.” Tiger appeared next to me and grabbed Jim. “Why don’t you take care of her?”

Tiger grabbed Jim’s arm, and Jersey grabbed the other.

“I don’t even know what happened,” Jim muttered.

Jersey patted his shoulder. “You made a mistake, man. A huge one.” They guided Jim toward the door, and I turned my attention to… hell, I didn’t know her name.

“Are you okay?” I asked softly.

She bit her bottom lip and nodded. “Uh, yeah.”

Her brown hair was piled on top of her head in a messy bun, her cheeks were flushed pink, and her green eyes were focused on me. Her clothes were never fancy and were typically a sweatshirt, jeans, and heavy work boots.

She was coming home from work whenever I saw her walking to her apartment stairs through the bar, but I didn’t know where she worked or, well, really anything else about her.

I knew nothing, but she was perfect.

“Are you sure you’re okay? He slammed into you pretty hard.”

“It wasn’t that bad, just surprising. I’ve dodged many pool players trying to get to my apartment. Jim was quicker than most.” She pushed her hair behind her ear and took a step back.

“You knew Jim?” I asked.

She shook her head. “Uh, I met him one minute ago. So, no.” She quirked her eyebrow. “He could use a tic tac, though.”

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