Joe's face darkened for the first time, cold as ice. He said flatly, "Andrew, I never wanted to lay a hand on you. Because if I did, Lauren would think less of me. She'd think I'm a bully, that I'm using my power to crush an outsider like you."

He continued, "But Andrew, you really don't know your place. In all of Gabo Creek and the southern region of Holtrien, there aren't more than people who would dare to stand up to me like this. And you? You're nowhere near that level."

Andrew slowly rose to his feet, calm and unfazed. "Whether I'm qualified or not, Mr. Driscoll, why don't you enlighten me?:

He was not interested in playing games anymore. The tension between the two men snapped like a rubber band. They were like two raging lions on the plains, both dominant and ready to kill for their pride and their woman.

Andrew was more than ready to throw down, no tricks, no nonsense. He was eager for a clean, brutal fight.

However, Liliana finally lost it. She jabbed a finger toward