Page 109 of Savage Ambition

Jace blinked. “Are you serious right now? You’re defending that piece of shit?”

I shoved Jace against the nearest wall. His shoulder hit the plaster hard. “Shut up and leave!”

He broke my grasp, a dark flush creeping up his neck. “Why the hell should I listen to you when you fuck him?”

“Who I fuck is none of your business.”

“It is when it’s Dante,” Jace shot back. His face twisted with disgust, but beneath the revulsion sat a panicked hunger.

I threw my hands up. “Why? What difference does it make? How does that impact you?” I searched his flushed face. “Unless you want him for yourself.”

“Why would I want anything to do with that asshole? You’re supposed to be my goddamn friend, and you’re fucking my worst enemy!”

“If you were my friend, you would support me.”

“Not when it’s Dante,” Jace snarled. “Out of everyone in that damn building, why did you choose him?”

“What makes you think you get a say in my sex life?”

Jace lowered his voice. “I would understand if you were doing it to humiliate or punish him for being such a dick to all of us. At least that would make sense to me.”

“That’s sick, Jace,” Trent protested. “Who thinks like that?”

“I refuse to believe Shaw goes to see that bastard because he enjoys it.” Anguish fractured Jace’s tone. “That’s too disgusting.”

“Why? What’s wrong with them being together?” Trent asked.

Jace stared at him in disbelief. “Are you okay with Shaw being Dante’s bitch?”

“I wouldn’t use that term,” Trent said, standing beside me. “My only problem is you coming into our home and talking shit about my family.”

Jace used my shirt to yank me closer. “Now you’ve turned Trent against me, too? You fucking backstabber!”

“You’re so full of shit, Jace. You only hate Dante because you want him,” I countered.

Panic flared in his gaze before narrowing to fury. “Shut your fucking mouth.” He drew back his fist.

Trent shoved himself between us. “Back the fuck up. You’re not throwing punches in here.”

Jace stayed focused on me. “So, this is how you want to play it, huh? Dante turns you against me, then you turn Trent against me.”

“No one is turning against you,” Trent insisted. “Stop spewing homophobic bullshit and threatening my cousin. You don’t treat friends that way. Come on, man. What are you doing?”

I shoved Jace hard, breaking his grip. He stumbled back with a pained grimace.

“This bastard’s fuck buddy almost breaks my damn shoulder,” Jace snarled, pointing at me, “and neither one of you gives a shit?”

“You shouldn’t have fucking touched him.” I had no idea what Jace had done to Dante to provoke physical retaliation, but he deserved it. “You shouldn’t have been there at all.”

“Are you jealous I saw your boyfriend at work?” Jace taunted. “Does it piss you off to know I got to witness firsthand what a nasty freak he really is?”

“Shut your damn mouth.”

“Aw, does it upset you to know I’ve seen what he does?” He moved closer. “That I know exactly what kind of filthy pervert you’re in love with?”

I refused to back down. “You don’t know anything about him.”

“I know he spreads his legs for anyone with enough cash. When are you going to realize he’s nothing but a disease-ridden whore who’s manipulating you?”