Intensity (Book One) *SAMPLE* (Published)

Three

It was the hand in his hair that set him off. Her small, delicate fingers rubbed across his scalp. The kiss was on a whim, only because he felt the need and deepened for the same reason, need. A peck was all he intended before she rolled her tongue over his lips. It was both surprising and the sexiest thing Antonio had ever experienced. Just like that, he lost himself in it. So lost in the moment, Kya's sudden absence and a fist to his face caught him off guard.

Holding onto his chin, Antonio straightened his back and turned just as another punch was coming his way. Reflexively, he dodged it. Two quick jabs sent the other man staggering backward into a glass table, shattering it upon impact. The sound cleared the club of everyone but the bouncers, who wisely stood back before retreating, themselves. As the man was trying to climb to his feet, Antonio towered over him like wrath in human form, backed by two men, armed and ready.

It was then that Antonio recognized the man that had assaulted him. Putting his hand up for his boys to lower their weapons allowed the man to get to his feet finally. With Donny and Kash at his side, Antonio was more concerned the whereabouts of Kya rather than another hit. Taking hold of his chin again, he quickly massaged, scanning the dark room until he found Kya on the floor. She was slumped over with one person holding the back of her head while the another begged for her to keep her eyes open. The fact that she was on the cold, wet, and sticky floor sent a surge of anger through him.

In rapid Spanish, Antonio gave off an order for Kash to take Kya outside. Both of his men gave him a strange look, but neither dared to question him. Shoving his gun back into place, Kash helped Kya to her feet, one hand on her back and the other placed carefully in the crook of her arm. Her eyes remained closed with all of her other features twisted in pain. Once she and the others were out of earshot, Antonio sent a blow to the stomach of his attacker, causing him to double over.

"Between you and your partner, I don't know who makes my trigger finger twitch more." Touching his chin for the last time, he parted his lips, moving his jaw slightly. "Now, Wes, you know better than to touch me, yet my jaw hurts a little, and I think you were aiming for my eye with that second punch. You have two seconds to give me a reason not to carve out one of yours."

Still in pain, but deeply alarmed, Wes stood with one arm draped across his stomach as he held the other up between them.

"I—I—" he stammered, still trying to breathe through the pain. "Rich—he," Wes paused and winced, "he said you came to him talking shit about his daughter. He asked me to make sure you didn't hurt her."

Antonio spared a glance at Donny, cocking his head to the side as if he were silently running the question by him. Returning a hard gaze to Wes, he voiced it. "Did it look like I was hurting her?" If his tone and facial expression weren't intimidating enough, Antonio paused as if he really were waiting for an answer and silently dared him to do it. "Are you his bitch, now? Doing shit for him simply because he asked?"

Wes laughed, revealing reddened teeth that were oddly visible under the still dimmed lights. "You just said I know better and so do you. I only agreed because that's what you're paying me for, remember? Use my badge to keep you up on his every move in your direction. Help you remain several steps ahead."

Antonio considered it, shaking his head slowly. The reason he was able to stay on top this long was due to men and women like Wes―cops that were willing to accept his so-called dirty money to watch his back and make sure he was informed. His reach didn't stop with law enforcement. It extended all the way to Congress and other high ranking officials with little habits they called upon his people to cure. He had employed the young detective for the reason he spoke of, but mostly because he had an advantage over everyone else. He had a direct line to the man that wanted his arrest more than his next breath. Still, that didn't answer the question of why his jaw was stinging.