Page 24 of Tico

The look Empress gives Ember could kill, but I need to prove a point. No one controls or decides who I will be with.

Especially not a fucking vile bitch like Empress.

Grasping Ember’s chin, I tilt her head up and bend down, kissing her. Her body melts into mine and I tighten my grip on her waist. Breaking the kiss, I pull back slightly and somethingswells in my chest at seeing her dilated eyes, flushed skin, and how breathless she is. The look she gives me has my black heart stuttering, finally beating for someone other thanmi familia y hermanos(my family and brothers), and a feeling I’ve never felt washes over me.

Empress shrieks, and almost as if we planned it, Ember and I turn to glare at her in unison.

“How the fuck can you be choosing this washed up, used up, puppet over me? You know I’m better than her. I’m the best fighter you have. You should be with me, not her. I’m the one that’s put in the work, not her. She should be tossed out of here on her fucking ass like the trash she is.”

Anger swirls in my veins at her disrespecting my woman, and therefore, disrespecting me. A growl builds in my chest as I straighten to my full height. I take a step forward. Empress’ face pales and she swallows thickly.

“What makes you thinkyouhave the right to decide who the fuckIam with? Just because you quickly rose through the ranks doesnotmean you get to have me or my dick. It doesnotmean you have a fucking say about anything I do or who I’m with. You may think you run the show, but you are the one that works for me. Not the other way around.

“And on that topic, I also know about what you’ve been saying to the other fighters. There is no fuckingus, Empress. There never has been and there never will be. If Ieverhear that you’ve been spreading this fucking bullshit again, even if it’s just a fucking whisper, I will toss you out on your ass so fast you won’t know what hit you. All ties will be cut and you’ll be blacklisted as a fighter in the Royal Bastards circuits. You’ve already been a hairsbreadth away from being blacklisted because of your past behavior anyway.”

Her eyes widen in shock before her face morphs in anger. Her hand rises and I move to grab it but end up grabbing air. Ember moves quicker than me, intercepting her herself.

Empress shrieks in outrage as Ember wrenches her arm behind her back. With the other hand, Ember fists Empress’s hair, yanking hard on it and pulling her head back at an uncomfortable angle. Empress winces and opens her mouth, but then Ember leans in close.

“If you ever lay a hand on my maneveragain, I will beat your ass until your body is black and blue, your bones are broken, and you are pissing blood. He ismine,” she growls.

Her gaze turns to me and a dark smile forms on her face.Chingar(Fuck). Ember is a beautiful woman, but I’m fucking loving her dark side as well.

“Now, Empress, I think you fucked up royally. You just tried to hit the President of the Royal Bastards. That comes with consequences.”

Empress’ eyes widen in shock as realization hits her and her gaze snaps to mine, her eyes silently pleading me for mercy.

Mercy I’m not sure I want to give.

“Now, I’m not new to MC’s, as you well know, but from what I’ve already learned of the Royal Bastards is that they will not hurt women.”

Empress’s body relaxes minutely at her words but then she cries out in pain as Ember tightens her grip on her hair and twists her arm.

“Lucky for the President, I’m more than willing to handle and dish outanythingwhen the club’s hands are tied.”

My gaze sharpens and snaps to Ember’s in shock, silently asking if she’s serious. She subtly nods and something tightens in my chest. I don’t know how I feel about her stepping in to ‘help’ us out, but then another thought hits me.

My woman is as tough as some ofmis hermanos(my brothers).

Maybe more so for some of them.

The fact that Ember can take care of shit on her own without having to solely rely on me has pride blooming in my chest, easing the tightening feeling.

Stepping forward, I glare down at Empress. “You’re banned from the pits for three months for this fucking stunt, Empress. You need to learn your place. One more fuckup and you will be blacklisted, your ass tossed out of here.” I turn my glare to Bandit and he dips his head in apology.

“I didn’t know, Tico. Ashley,” he says, using Empress’s real name, “told me you guys started seeing each other. I should have questioned it since I know how manipulative she is, but with how happy she was when she got home that day, I assumed it was true.”

A growl builds in my throat but I suppress it. “Next time, verify before spreading shit, especially when it comes out of her fucking mouth.”

Empress cries out in pain. I turn just in time to see Ember land a punch to her jaw before gripping her chin tight.

“Your fucking ego needs a fucking check, Empress. Next time you say shit about me and my sister, your ass will be in a fucking hospital bed and you’ll be breathing out of a fucking tube. Do you fucking understand me?”

Empress snarls. “Yes,” she spits out.

Ember releases her, pushing her away from us.

“This is your last chance, Empress. Now, get the fuck out of my gym,” I sneer as I wrap my arm around Ember’s waist, pulling her into my side.