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I can’t help myself. I don’t remember ever being so livid, so full of rage, in my entire life. I grab him by his armpit and the front of his shirt and haul him to his feet. His bony legs bang against the table edge, and he lets out a pitiful yelp. Uncaring if I’m hurting him, I push him against the opposite wall. My face is inches from his, so close I can feel his hot, steamy, putrid breath on my face.

I’ve never hit another person who wasn’t a willing opponent in the boxing ring. I’m sure as shit glad he’s going to be my first. No one could be more deserving than this guy.

No one calls Jess a slut.

The room has gone silent, but it barely registers in my brain.

“Do you want to take this outside and fight like men, or would you like me to embarrass you here?” I ask, my teeth clenched painfully.

The color drains from Anthony’s face, and he begins to shake his head from side to side. His eyes are wide and terrified, and it does nothing to ease my anger.

I feel a light tug on the sleeve at my elbow. Then another. Then, those same fingers wrap around my upper arm.

“Dax, please don’t do this. Just let him go.” She pauses. “Please. People are watching. He’s not worth the problems this will cause.”

My fingers loosen their grip on Anthony’s shirt just the tiniest bit at the sound of her voice.

“I’m not going to allow him to speak to you like that,” I tell her.

Her grip tightens on my arm. “It’s just words. It doesn’t matter what he says. Let it go.”

My fingers loosen on his shirt a little more, but I can’t force myself to back away from him. All I can think about is the satisfying sound my fist would make if it were to smash into his face.

It will kill me to let him go.

But I’ll do it for her.

“Say you’re sorry, and I’ll think of letting you leave with all your bones intact.”

My voice is full of menace, and only a complete idiot would talk back to me at this point. I’m hoping he’s a complete idiot. Just one wrong word, that’s all it would take. One motherfucking wrong word, and I won’t care who’s watching.

Anthony’s face is pale and full of fear, and he doesn’t hesitate to speak. “Jess, I’m sorry,” he squeaks out.

Immediate disappointment hits me. Guess he’s less of an idiot than I thought.

I push Anthony against the wall again as a final warning but then let him loose. My arms fall to my sides, and I take a step back.

Anthony opens his mouth to say something, then closes it without uttering a word. He stumbles away from me and out of the bar without another glance toward us.

Jess is still beside me, holding my arm.

“Dax . . .”

“Come with me,” I order.

I start walking, but she doesn’t budge. She drops my arm and just stands there.

“I didn’t know he was coming. He just showed up,” she says.

“We’ve already given all these people enough to talk about. I’m not having this conversation with you here,” I tell her in a firm voice that leaves no room for argument.

Part of me thinks I should go somewhere to cool down before attempting a conversation. The other part of me knows I can’t walk away from her right now. I have to know the truth of why she did this. I have to know exactly what has been happening behind my back.

And I’m not letting her leave my sight until I know every last detail.

Chapter 15

Jess