Page 62 of Explosive Prejudice

“Please, enjoy your evening, and don’t forget the cause for which we have all gathered here tonight,” Christian said before placing his hand behind Shay-Lee’s back and leading him into the excited crowd, parading him like some object—a pretty little thing to present the world with.

Miles grunted and rolled his eyes, moving closer to Andrei. “I can’t believe we used to be friends.”

Andrei kissed the back of Miles’s hand. “Don’t think about it, Zaychik. He’s not worth it.”

“I mean it.” Miles’s lips twisted with annoyance. “He’s so repulsive. Just looking at him makes me recoil.”

Miles often made me want to punch him in the face, but right now, I wanted to rip his head off. “Why would you say that?” The anger in my voice caught both of their attention.

“Excuse me?” Miles asked with his nose stuck up in the air.

This guy just pisses me the fuck off.

“You were friends for years, weren’t you? And now you’re acting like an asshole, as if you were forced into it. Fucking hypocrisy.”

Miles’s eyes widened, and he looked like a stupid rodent before Andrei stepped in. “What the hell are you talking about?”

I smiled. “Nothing, really. It’s funny how Miles here keeps forgetting that he was Shay-Lee’s bestie for years. It’s easy putting the blame on someone else, isn’t it?”

“Guys, we’re working. Maybe we shouldn’t discuss this here?” Levi suggested, but none of us seemed to care because Andrei just stepped closer, pointing his finger at my chest.

“You’re out of line.”

He’s so fucking delusional.

“I don’t give a shit.” Right now, I was fucking pissed. More at myself than with Miles because I’d told Shay-Lee the same thing. At his most vulnerable point, after using him like a hole and with my cum dripping down his face, I told him he repulsed me. Not only was it cruel, but also a lie. He didn’t repulse me. In reality, he turned me on from the inside out, so much so that I kept losing my control.

“Andrei,” Miles whined, placing his hand on Andrei’s shoulder and pulling him back. “Levi’s right. We shouldn’t get into it here.”

Locking eyes with me, the muscle in Andrei’s jaw twitched. “Fine.” He broke our stare and stepped back, turning to look at Miles. “Let’s find Elliot and Daniel and see if we can get the hell out of here.”

Nodding, Miles glared at me over his shoulder one last time before the two walked away, blending into the crowd that suited them so fucking well.

“You know, I sort of agree with you,” Jessie said while giving me a soft smile that reached his big, green eyes. “I’m not saying Shay-Lee is the nicest guy around. Far from it. But if Jordan loved him, I bet there’s more to him than we realize.”

Jordan? Who the fuck is Jordan?

“Anyway, I’m going to see if Aloïs wants a refill. Babydoll, wanna come with me?”

Frowning, Levi shrugged and tucked his empty tray underneath his armpit. “As long as I don’t need to speak with anyone.”

Wait, isn’t Jordan the guy Shay-Lee spoke about on that recording? The one who nearly got murdered? Rubbing my jaw while trying to remember more, which wasn’t much considering the zero fucks I gave about other people, I sighed. Maybe I should have paid more attention because then I’d know what the fuck Jordan had to do with Shay-Lee. During our meetings, Llorón had never mentioned a Jordan, but if Shay-Lee went as far as to fabricate evidence for the sake of that guy, it must have meant he cared for him. What’s their relationship? Were they a couple—

“What are you doing here?”

“Oh shit, you’re here,” I said, like a complete idiot, to Shay-Lee, who stood right before me with a pissed look on his face. Fuck, he was sexy in a suit.

“Of course I’m here. It’s my fucking house. The fuck are you doing here?” he snarled, his jaw tensed.

Looking down at my outfit, a black shirt tucked in trousers of the same color and an apron around my waist, I smirked. “Working, it seems.” I then pushed the tray I was holding in his face, offering him… what was that again? Oh, right. “Caviar croquette?”

Not finding me amusing, Shay-Lee pushed the tray aside. “Did you plan this?” His eyebrows frowned. “Are you trying to get back at me or something?” He kept his voice low while constantly looking around. This odd behavior made me even more wary of him.

“That’s not it,” I tried to say, but he snapped.

“I got your message loud and clear.” He looked down at the floor. “I’ll stop bothering you. Just go. Okay? Get out of here.” He was ready to walk away when I reached forward and grabbed his wrist. He winced in pain, so I dropped my hand immediately. What the fuck? I didn’t apply any force.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, trying to step closer. Was he in pain from when I held his wrists behind his back?

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