Page 24 of Draco

“This shit is crazy!” Bear freed a goofy laugh. “I never thought Draco would find his ol’ lady.”

“Why is that?” Frankie asked, catching me by surprise.

Bear’s eyes found me as he said, “I’ve been around Draco for years. He’s always said he would never have a woman on his hip unless shecamefrom his rib.”

Even over the music, my keen senses allowed me to hear Frankie’s heart skip a beat. I glanced down and saw she was gazing up at me.

“I guess I’m special.”

“More than you know, Nugget.”

Frankie opened her mouth to speak, yet the smell of cheap cologne drove my eyes to the door. Cali and Kash, the leaders of the G-Riderz, mobbed through the building like it belonged to them.

“Niggas must want problems popping up over here.”

I heard Quadir, but I was too busy ensuring other members were onalertto say anything back.

“Stay at the bar. I’ll be right back,” I muttered to Frankie.

When her full brows bunched in the middle of her forehead, I leaned forward and kissed her frown away.

“I’ll be right back.”

I joined the group in a room in the back of the club, and I walked up as Sparrow spoke to Cali and Kash.

“Where is Rattle?” Cali asked. “That’s who we’ve been handling business with.”

I rubbed my hand over the hair on my face, hoping to calm my nerves. “Rattle is unavailable.” I gestured toward the bagin Bear’s grasp. “Take the money as an apology for Rattle’s overstepping.”

Kash, the hothead of the two, stepped in my face.

“Draco, that’s not our problem. We had a deal.”

“If y’all don’t move around, y’all are going to make a bigger problem,” Zo countered.

Kash looked him up and down. “Man, fuck what you talking about!”

Zo lunged forward, but I caught his chest. “Chill. It’s not that deep. Not tonight.”

When I faced the intruders, I saw Cali reach for the bag of money we offered them. He sporteda sneakysmirk, whereas Kash maintained a deep scowl.

Once the room started to clear out, I grabbed Cali’s shoulder.

“Yo’ boy doesn’t know how to read the room,” I suggested. “You better handle the problem child before he soils the family tree.”

Cali shrugged. “I ain’t worried about it. The Sons of Eshu run a tight ship. I let myniggasroam as they please.”

I lingered back for a few, trying to calm my raging emotions while everyone else rejoined the party. However, my anger spiked when I reached the main crowd and spotted Kash smiling in Frankie’s face. A frown creased her forehead while she fixed her glasses. When she tried to step away, he blocked her path. Unlike when I confronted her client, I didn’t give any warning before I started wrecking shit.

It took nothing for me to knock Kash off his feet, and my response set off a domino effect. The blend of screams and glass echoed in my ears. During the brawl, I saw a tall dude with a pot belly grab Frankie from behind. I barreled to the other side of the club to where they were, but Bear knocked Frankie’s assailant upside the head with a bottle before I made it to them. Frankie turned to Bear, but Tatiana yanked her back.

“Frank—” A punch to my jaw broke my chance to warn her.

With little effort, I caved thenigga’s chest in, and by the time my eyes found Frankie, she was fighting. I cringed, seeing Tatiana getting the best of the four-eyed beauty. Frankie stayed on her feet and landed shots, but her opponent fought with both hands. I had never put my hands on a woman, but I didn’t think twice as I snatched Tatiana up by the back of her neck and slammed her to the ground.

With no concern for the damage I caused, I held Frankie like we had just left the altar as I carried her outtheclub. She wrapped her arms around my neck, putting up no fight. However, the instant the night breeze crashed into us, Frankie fought to get out of my arms.

I wanted to press her to express what she was thinking, but I could feel the rage. It burned like coals on a grill, damn near making my chest explode.

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