Page 78 of Last Boy

“Consider yourself fired, Hercules,” Beckett says to Hudson, venom dripping from each word. “And see yourself out.”

“Nah, think I’ll stay.” He smirks. “My friend here isn’t leaving without cake.” He waves to Poppy, who slowly pops out from behind the cake. “After all, we went through all the trouble of toting the fucking thing here.”

“Motherfucker,” Beckett huffs out, glancing nervously at Marco. “Sorry about this. I’ll get him sorted out. Nothing to worry about.”

“Nah, I don’t think you will though.” Hudson’s voice is deep and calculated. He’s completely unfazed as he holds out his phone to Beckett’s face. “See, Dr. Boobie, I have dirt on you. Loads and loads of dirt. So much that I could bury your ass alive right now if I wanted.”

He turns toward Marco. “And don’t think you’re getting off scot-free, my friend.” He tsks him, grinning. “I have videos of your business receiving pretty large drug shipments. You know, Mr. Romano, I figured you were smarter than that. Turns out, you’re just like this clown.” He jerks his thumb toward my uncle.

“Now, here’s what’s going to happen. This whole insane fucking wedding is called off. Beckett, you’re going to leave your nephew and your niece alone. If that’s what she wants.” He looks at Briar for a moment, seeming almost lost and leaving me really fucking confused before, finally, he looks at me. “I already know this kid wants to sever all ties with you.

“And, Marco, you’re going to let Gia live her life and leave her the fuck alone and keep her out of your twisted little games.” His gaze sweeps over everyone standing around him. “And if you don’t, then you can kiss everything you’ve both worked for good-bye because this is just a drop in the bucket of the shit I have on both of you.”

Marco sighs, rolling his eyes to the sky. “Fine. Gia, let’s go.” Jerking his head toward his wife, he looks less than impressed. “What are you standing around for? Let’s go.”

Reluctantly, she begins to turn, but Hudson’s voice stops her.

“Oh, and, Marco? If Mrs. Romano wants away from you, your ass is going to give her a divorce and a big lump sum of money.” He winks at her. “It’s all in the body language, ma’am. I wouldn’t want to be married to a dick like him either. Even if he is filthy rich.”

“And has good hair,” I add, pointing to Marco’s head.

Hudson nods. “Really good fucking hair. So unlike Dr. Boobie.”

“Yeah, it’s pretty obvious those are hair plugs, Unc.” I wave my hand toward him.

“Oh, yes, and that goes for you too, Natasha. If you want to leave his obnoxious, heavy-breathing ass…you go ahead. He won’t make it hard for you.” Hudson nods toward Beckett. “Right, Boobie Man?”

My uncle has always been a heavy breather, but right now, as pissed off as he is, it’s about ten times louder, making my skin crawl. I never gave it a thought that maybe Natasha was in the same boat as my sister and stuck with him because of his power.

Now, we’re all free.

She gives Hudson a tiny smile. “Thank you, Mr. Bailey.”

Gia’s hand touches my arm. “Go get your girl,” she whispers, grinning at me.

I smile. “You headed home to get your guy?”

“Damn straight.” She hugs me, patting me on the back before moving to Hudson and throwing her arms around him. “Thank you, Hudson. I could never repay you. But I appreciate all you just did so much.”

“It’s all good,” he drawls as she releases him before reaching into his pocket and pulling a card from his wallet. “If your old man tries anything stupid, just give me a call. I’ll straighten it out.”

She giggles, glancing over his shoulder at her father. “Will do.”

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a girl to get to,” I say, looking at Poppy, who awkwardly stands next to the cake, still in full baker’s gear. And then I run to her because there’s nothing right now that could keep us apart.

Well, other than the fact that in a few months, I’ll be moving across the country.

Poppy

Cupping my cheeks, Walker looks highly amused as the corner of his lips turns up in a crooked grin. “Nice hat, Poppyseed,” he utters. “I might have you keep it on for some role-play later. Maybe I can butter your biscuits or something.”

I try my best to keep an unimpressed, annoyed look on my face before rolling my eyes. “That’s not funny.”

“You can cream my Twinkie,” he mutters, keeping his voice low. “Or I can frost your pound cake.”

“I’m about to crush your éclair if you don’t cut it out.” I give him my best look of warning. “Or maybe stomp on your cream puffs.”

“That second one kind of sounds fun.” He winks before tugging on my hat. “Were you planning on, like, baking them to death or what?” he says with a chuckle. “Out of all the disguises, how’d this one become the one you went with?”

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