Page 17 of Judging Duke

“Anyway. Please come see us, Duke, and if I find out anything else about Simon, I’ll give you a call.”

“I miss you.” Where did that come from?

“I know you do, and when you’re ready to tell me everything, I’ll be here to listen. I don’t care how bad it is, Duke. I’m your sister…always.”

There was no more to be said, and we ended the call.

Shame stopped me from revealing all to Isla and my parents. Would they ever forgive me for the things I’d done?

I didn’t have the answer to that. Seeing Simon had brought a lot of old emotions to the surface. Perhaps it was time to put them to rest.

I slept fitfully, constantly waking every two hours until the alarm, and when I arrived at work, I was irritable and grouchy.

No amount of coffee was going to make it any better, but I had to try.

I drank two cups before heading to my first appointment. A massage with one of my regulars.

Without any thought, I entered the dining room, spotting my client sitting by the window. She was middle-aged, retired, andhad been a bit of a celebrity model back in the day. She still looked good.

“Ah, there he is. The lovely Duke.” She beamed, and I walked towards her, putting a smile on my face.

If I’d been in a better mood, if I’d have just checked the room before entering, I might have seen Simon sitting in the alcove he’d been in last night.

Instead, I’d strode into the room as I normally did.

A firm hand gripped my arm, whirling me around.

“You.” I looked into the dark, hatred-filled eyes of the man I’d avoided for fifteen years.

Simon Fletcher.

CHAPTER FOUR

SIMON

I’d had to look twice, but it was definitely him. He’d filled out, and the scrawny look he’d had all those years ago was gone. He was obviously older, bigger, and he’d lost his long hair. But here he was, the object of my hatred for the past fifteen years.

Because of him, my brother couldn’t walk. Because of him, my brother had spent years in rehab. Because of him, my brother had spent most of his life in a wheelchair.

How could I ever forgive him?

I took hold of his arm and spun him around, making sure, but when I saw the resignation on his face, he knew it was me. He knew I was here.

“You,” I said through gritted teeth. “You bastard.”

“Let go of me,” he whispered, tearing his arm from my grasp. “You’re making a scene.”

“I don’t care.” I spat out the words. Years I’d waited to confront the fucking coward. He’d run that night, never once returning to see how his best friend was.

“Mr Fletcher,” he hissed. I could see the anger burning in his eyes. “I have a client, and I’ll be more than happy to meet with you after I’m done. Now if you don’t mind.”

Shocked by his calm demeanour, I stepped back as he turned to his client.

“Shall we go?” He held out his arm, and the woman, who had observed the exchange with shock, stood and took it.

She leant heavily on him, and he glared at me as he walked past, clearly not happy with the situation. I guess I could have handled it better, but years of pent-up emotions had taken over.

“Who was that man?” I heard her ask.

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