Page 127 of Explosive Prejudice

“What the hell happened to you?” I asked, completely forgetting Jordan as soon as I saw the bruises on his face. Suddenly, I couldn’t care less about Jordan, and all I wanted was to know how he ended up with a black eye and busted lip. But Camilo didn’t seem to care as he kept his dark eyes pinned on Jordan like a hound with a target.

Jordan probably got the wrong idea because instead of staying back as he should have, he grabbed my arm and tried to pull me away from Camilo.

“Shay-Lee, stand behind me,” he told me while keeping his eyes on the so-called threat.

“What the fuck did you say to him?” Camilo growled.

“I told him to stay the hell away from you,” Jordan spat.

Yanking me away from Jordan’s reach, Camilo was a second away from punching him when I grabbed his arm and brought him close to me.

“Nothing happened,” I whispered while caressing his cheeks. “I swear to God, nothing happened.”

Camilo’s whole body was shaking with rage, and I knew he was fighting his demons to keep his composure with the way his eyes kept jumping back to Jordan. Knowing I was the one who brought him to this point broke me. But I didn’t have time for self-pity, so I pushed aside my guilt and focused on him. “Camilo, I swear nothing happened.”

After what felt like forever, he finally closed his eyes and leaned into me, pressing his forehead to mine while taking a deep breath.

Good. Just keep on breathing.

“Him?” Jordan hissed, the word sounding like a swear word that quickly burst our bubble.

“Is this a fucking joke?” Jordan sounded so hurt that it sent me back to the day I left him at the hospital.

In no way was this how I wanted him to find out about Camilo and me, but I’d never expected to see him again.

“Jordan—”

“Have you lost your freaking mind?” he cut into my words.

Making sure Camilo stayed behind me, I stepped toward Jordan.

“You said you don’t do relationships.” His whole face twisted with each word he’d said. “Or was it just me you couldn’t be with?”

Shaking my head, I swallowed hard and looked down at the floor. “I didn’t plan for this to happen—”

“Why him? Out of all the people in the world, why him? He’s sick in the head, Shay-Lee.” Taking a deep breath, he paused for a second. “Is that what you think you deserve? Someone who hates you?”

I glanced away from Jordan’s furious face and up at Camilo, who’d said nothing while keeping his eyes pinned to the ground. I knew I’d fucked up. I’d fucked up big-time, but there was no questioning my love for Camilo.

“When did this start? Did you fuck us at the same time? Is that why you got rid of me? So you’d have more time for that monster?”

So much hate oozed from his mouth, hate that was the direct result of my crimes. I should’ve never involved him. I should’ve kept his pure heart out of harm’s way.

“Of course not. Jordan, listen to me—” Before I could finish my words, he started to walk away, bumping my shoulder on his way out of the room and slamming the door behind him.

Knowing how badly I’d hurt him, I wanted to follow him only so I could explain and let him know that things between Camilo and me hadn’t started until after he was in New York. I reached to open the door when Camilo slammed it shut and pushed me face-first against it.

“You have two options,” he whispered in my ear, voice low. “Either I fuck you right now against this door.” He bucked his hips forward, rubbing his erection against my ass. “Or I go out there and beat the shit out of him, and I won’t stop with one broken leg.”

“Camilo—”

He shut me up by bucking against me harder.

“What choice is it, then?”

The choice was easy.

I quickly unzipped myself, then pushed my pants and underwear down to my mid-thighs.

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