Page 88 of Judging Duke

“You had a lot to contend with. You were young and naive. Not saying I’d have done the same, but you weren’t to know how anyone would react to the news of Robbie and of Uncle Bill. He always did give me the fucking creeps.”

“It was horrible, Isla, but there was nothing I could do. It haunts me still now.” I shuddered remembering again those sweaty hands that spread me wide, the puny cock that almost tore me in two.

“Hey, you made it, though, and look at you now.”

“It was touch and go at times.” I debated telling her what had happened after I left Aunt Debbie’s, in the end deciding she should know.

“I’ll always listen and never judge, Duke.” Had she sensed my reluctance to talk?

“I was a prostitute. I sold sex for money. For years, not just a few months, Isla. I sold myself to men and women alike. I could have returned home, but shame and guilt at what I’d done ate me from the inside. I deserved nothing better.”

“Oh, my God, Duke. You had nothing to be ashamed of. None of anything that happened to you was your fault. Not Robbie, not Uncle Bill…nothing. Do you understand me?”

I took a deep breath, raising my eyes to the ceiling, and shook my head.

“I know that now, but seventeen-year-old Duke thought it was the only way out.”

“But look at you now. You’ve come so far, and now you’ve snagged your own personal porn star. Way to go, bro.”

We both laughed, and I’m glad we did. I felt better for having told her, but before I could make her promise not to tell, she spoke again.

“Mum and Dad can never know what happened. You know this,” she said, now serious.

“I do. It would break their hearts.” I was surprised she’d taken it so well, to be honest.

“I’ll never tell. Your secrets are safe with me. Now, tell me all about Simon Fletcher aka Simon Stroker.”

“Oh, no. It’s far too new to jinx it, but shouldn’t you be getting ready too?”

She checked her watch and jumped up from her seat.

“Shit and fuck. I’d best go.”

“You’d best put some fucking money in the jar too. You talk to your mama with that mouth?”

“You kiss Simon Stroker with that one?”

“Touché. I’m going to head out. Tell Mum and Dad I’ll be in touch.”

“You betcha, and don’t leave it so long next time.”

“Thanks Isla, for being there, but one question. Why didn’t you tell me what Mum and Dad did to find me? I thought they’d washed their hands off me.”

“I could see you were already torturing yourself about what you’d done. You didn’t need to hurt any more. Maybe I should have told you, but I was afraid you would go deeper underground if you knew. It was my decision, and I’d do it all over again.”

With that, she ran upstairs, leaving me alone in the kitchen.

We’d all made mistakes, but hopefully, we could put them behind us and move on.

I drove home feeling lighter than I had in a long time. Getting it off my chest, finally admitting what had happened to me, went some way to easing the shame I felt.

Yes, it’d been hard for us all, but it was time to mend our relationship.

I called Simon, hoping to see him later.

“Duke. Where are you?”

“I just left Mum and Dad’s. Where are you?”

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