Page 51 of Desire

“Something? You mean like a secret life where you’re both involved in some kinky shit behind closed doors?”

Dante’s jaw tightened as he fought to keep his temper in check. The last thing they needed was for this confrontation to devolve into a shouting match. “Our relationship is more than just what happens in the bedroom. It’s about trust, understanding, and a connection deeper than either of us could have ever imagined.”

“Trust?” Joey snorted derisively. “How can I trust either of you when you’ve been sneaking around behind my back? How long have you been seeing my sister?”

“About a month,” Dante said.

“And it’s love?” Joey sneered.

“Look, I feel for Emma more than I ever thought possible. Our connection runs deeper than anything I’ve experienced before. I promise you, I would never do anything to intentionally harm her.”

“So you don’t beat the shit out of her like you did Kiki?”

“I didn’t beat the shit out of Kiki,” Dante said.

“This is insane. You’re my best friend. How could you do this to me?”

The words hit Dante like a physical blow, knocking the breath from his lungs. He had known this moment would be difficult, had braced himself for Joey’s anger and betrayal. But hearing the pain in his friend’s voice, seeing the anguish twisting his features, it cut deeper than any knife ever could.

“I didn’t do this to hurt you,” Dante said, his voice rough with emotion. “But I won’t apologize for loving her. Emma is everything to me, Joey. Everything.”

He met Joey’s gaze unflinchingly, willing him to see the truth in his eyes. To understand that this wasn’t some fleeting infatuation or casual fling. That what he and Emma shared was real and raw and worth fighting for.

But Joey only shook his head, his expression hardening into a mask of bitter anger. “How could you?” Joey’s voice came out barely above a whisper, but it was laden with betrayal. It was a question not meant to be answered, as if the very act of Dante and Emma’s union had shattered the foundation of trust they’d built over the years.

Dante chose his words carefully, knowing that one wrong move could sever the fragile ties that still held them together. “This wasn’t something we planned. It just...happened.”

Joey’s jaw clenched. “You took advantage of her. You saw that she had been infatuated with you and used that to get her into bed. You’re going to break her heart when you get tired of this game. And I’m not going to be around to pick up the pieces. I’ll be overseas and I don’t know when I’ll be back. I don’t want her to have to suffer being used and abused by you.”

“I am not going to do that,” Dante said between his teeth.

Joey barked out a harsh laugh. “You forget, I’ve seen you in action. I’ve seen what happens to the girls you discard when you’re bored with playing with them.”

The accusations cut deep into Dante’s core. He hated that Joey thought so little of him, saw him as nothing more than a heartless predator. Taking a step closer to Joey, he locked eyes with his best friend, the pain of their fractured relationship reverberating in the tense silence between them.

“You know me, Joey.” Dante’s voice was low but firm, every word weighted with sincerity. “I would never intentionally hurt Emma or anyone else. She means everything to me, and I would lay down my life before I let any harm come to her.”

“Then prove it,” Joey challenged, his stance unwavering. “Stay away from her. Let her go before you ruin her life.”

Dante’s chest tightened at the ultimatum hanging heavy in the air. He knew Joey was hurting and scared for his sister, but asking Dante to walk away from Emma was like asking him to stop breathing.

“I can’t do that,” Dante admitted, resigned. “I can’t walk away from her and what we have.”

Joey’s eyes darkened, hurt and anger warring in their depths. “You mean you won’t.”

“I won’t.”

“Then we’re done.” The finality in Joey’s tone was heartbreaking. “Stay away from me. Stay away from my parents. And when you destroy my sister’s life, know that I’m going to come for you.”

“That’s not going to happen,” Dante said to Joey’s retreating back.

Joey didn’t look back as he got into his car and drove away.

Dante knew this could have been the consequence of being with Emma. He had warned himself of it and tried to stay away. But he couldn’t when Emma had shown that she had wanted him too. Would Joey come around? Dante hoped so. Maybe after he saw that Dante was serious about being with Emma, it would soften Joey’s opinion.

He knew, though, that if it hadn’t been for Kiki outing him as a Dom, this could have had a chance to have ended differently than it did. The old Dante would have tracked Kiki down for revenge, but the only thing he wanted to do now was go back to Couture and tell Emma what had happened.

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