Page 18 of Guardian

“He’ll live,” Doc declared.

“He always does,” Prime retorted. “The cleaners took care of things, and the little shit in the hospital won’t say anything. He’s been warned, and shit his pants while Ditch told him what would happen if he ratted. Since the pair of you missed our latest meeting. I came to fill you in.”

“What’s up, boss?” I asked, knowing he wasn’t here to gossip about the junkies.

“We got a warning from the cartel. Aguilar has made it clear that he’s not Perez and won’t be acknowledging any deals or alliances his predecessor made. There are already rumblings that he’s effectively wiped out anyone in his organization that held loyalty toward the deals Perez made. He’s also had his soldiers sniffing around our territory looking for vulnerable spots. Your junkies may have been paid to test our weak spots. Needless to say, I’m closing up any holes in our security. The guard who let those idiots past him got his ass kicked and won’t be guarding anything more important than toilets until he’s gone through a retraining. I doubt the cartel will allow the prick in the hospital to stay alive. They can’t afford tattletales, though I didn’t have Ditch bother to question him about the cartel. There was no use in wasting time asking questions that I figured we already had the answers to.”

“Do you want me at the club this afternoon? I can change my plans,” I asked. “I can go wherever you need me, boss. We can’t let this asshole take what’s ours. I’m more than ready to show his soldiers whose territory this is. I can cut a few bodies out of his ranks fast enough if you order it.”

“Not yet, Sweet. I prefer that they make the first big strike. This small shit is better ignored. I’d rather Aguilar believe I don’t see him as a threat while I build ranks and make plans to take him down,” Prime explained. “Go ahead with your plans but watch for trouble. I’ll call you in if the necessity arises.”

I nodded. “Okay, Prime. I’ve got to go teach a woman how to protect herself, so I’ll head out.”

“Don’t open up that wound, Sweet. I’ll make sure it hurts more if you make me have to stitch it up again,” Doc said.

I shot up my middle finger as I walked out. I could hear both men laughing before the door closed.

***

There wasn’t any way to hide the bandage from Jemma, so I didn’t even try. She knew what my life was all about. If she was going to protest it, this was a good time to get it done.

I was beginning to have feelings for her, and I hoped she was feeling something as well, so if this wasn’t going to work out it was better to know now rather than later.

She was already at the gym when I arrived. My eyes roamed over her curves encased in the spandex she had started wearing to practice. I saw several men’s eyes tracking her movements and wanted to gouge them right out of their heads.

Nobody touched those curves but me. I was getting hard just thinking about my hands positioning her shapely hips into the perfect fighting stance.

“She’s building some muscle,” Colt commented as I passed him.

I practically growled when I answered, “Keep your damn eyes off her body.”

“That’s not likely, bro. She’s one hot woman, and fair game as far as I know.”

This time I definitely growled. “Not if I have anything to say about it.”

“So, it’s like that,” Colt replied.

“Yes.”

“Got it.”

I let it go at that and continued to Jemma’s side.

“You’re early,” I stated when I saw she was already sweaty.

“Colt let me warm up with the punching bag. I hope that’s okay. I know we’re supposed to practice me flipping you today, but I really like relieving my stress with the bag,” she answered.

“If it makes you happy, then I’m fine with it. Do you need some water or something before we move on?” I asked since her body was shining with sweat.

“I came prepared,” she replied, showing me a large container of Gatorade.

“You’re learning.”

“I’ve got an excellent coach,” she said.

“Then let’s get to it,” I announced, gesturing to the thick mat on the floor.

I heard her gasp of shock and realized she’d taken note of the bandage on my arm. I tried to ignore her reaction and ordered, “Turn your back to me so I can wrap my arm around your neck. You’re going to show me what you’ve learned so far about getting out of that situation, then we’ll go on to flipping me.”

---