Page 51 of Bad Duke

“I’m going to go struggle into something pretty.” She kisses me again before she walks out, leaving me with a grin on my face that quickly fades when I think about the fact there's still someone out there who wants to hurt her. I’ve spent the past three months obsessing over who it could be. I don’t know who I can trust enough to help me. The only person I’ve confided in up to now is Barnaby.

My staff must think I’m crazy. Olivia must think it too. But everyone plays along because I’m Alex Stanley and people do as I say.

I get up from my desk to go in search of Levi, he’s going to need to come up with a plan of action so I can take my wife to dinner tonight.

I’m nearly at the front door when I hear the gravel outside skid up and when one of the younger guys Trent employs at the gym, rushes through my door covered in blood I freeze in my tracks.

“Mr Stan…Your Grace.” He looks really shaken up.

“What the fuck are you doing here? I made it clear that you never bring that kind of business to this house.” I start ushering him back the way he came. I don’t know what the fuck’s gone down but I won’t have Olivia hearing about it.

“Sir, it’s Trent. I found him at the gym, in the back room. He had a knife in his chest, there was blood all over the floor, and…” His eyes strike with a new fear when he stops himself from talking.

“And what?” I grab him up and try to rattle the rest of the words out of him. His hand slides into his pocket and takes out his phone, then when he holds it out to show me the photo, I feel the walls close in on me.

I see Trent lying on the floor in a pool of his own blood and written on the wall next to him, in what looks like his blood are the words…

SHE’S NEXT

I release the kid and shove him away trying to catch my breath as I wrap my head around what’s going on here. Trent is dead. He’s fucking dead. This person has taken out one of the best fighters I know.

“What the…” I hear a voice and when I spin around I see Will staring at the blood-covered boy in shock. Moving fast, I quickly grab him and drag him around the side of the house.

“Someone killed Trent,” I tell him sliding my hand over my face and feeling sick to my fucking stomach.

“Trent?” He laughs at me as if I’m telling some kind of joke.

“Yes, Trent!” I whisper-yell back at him.

“Who the fuck managed to kill Trent?” He’s looking at me like I’m crazy.

“I don’t know, but I need to tell you something.” Will’s been like a brother to me since we were kids. I know I can trust him.

“I found something when I killed Nicolas Talbot.” I lower my voice.

“I knew it was you that ended that old bastard.” He speaks through his teeth at me.

“Will, will you fucking get serious here? This is important. I found details at his house about Olivia, plans, and ideas of how she could be taken. There was research into drugs that would keep her immobile.”

“What?” His expression switches instantly. I know how much he’s come to like Olivia since she’s been here. He’s always telling me that she’s good for me.

“Alex, that was all months ago.” Will shakes his head.

“I know, but there was someone else involved. Someone who's still out there. I’ve been trying to figure out who it is, and now Trent’s dead.…” I show him the phone that's still in my hand so he can see for himself.

“Holy fuck!” He shakes his head as he takes in the image.

“I need to get to the gym. You stay here with Olivia. You and Barnaby are the only people I can trust.”

“Whoah.” Will tugs me back when I start making my way towards my car. “You're going nowhere. That is a crime scene and the last thing you want to do is incriminate yourself. You let the police deal with that, because who knows what an investigation involving you, could drag up.”

“I’m good, I’ve got DCS Winslow on the inside,” I assure him.

“Do you?” Will looks doubtful.

“Right now, Alex, you don’t know what you’ve got.”

I hate that he’s right. I hate that I can’t protect my wife because I don’t know what’s coming for her.

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