Page 67 of Baby Duke

"Hold up, Princess, you arenotcoming with us."

"The fuck I'm not!"

"We don't know what we are walking into," West counters. "Strip club, fight club, underground drug ring? I won't put you into a position where I might not be able to protect you.”

"I can look after myself, thank you very much! You have no idea what my life has been like! While you have been sitting pretty in your castles, I have been sleeping rough on the streets, getting into fights, selling my body!"

West jumps to his feet and paces the room. "You have just named half the reasons why I can't let you come! You have been through enough, Roe! Besides, this isn't your fight."

I am about to show the entitled asshole just how capable a woman I am when East cuts in.

"Roe, I’m going to have to side with my brother on this one. Who knows what my father has cooked up?"

"What happened to hoes before bros? Come on, East. If it is really so dangerous, the guys might need backup!"

East was silent for a moment, contemplating.

"Ok, a compromise," she says after a moment. West scoffs as I fold my arms, awaiting her verdict. "Roe and I book a room at the hotel for the night. That way, if you need help, we will be close enough to do so."

West stands. "And put my sister in harm's way too? Hell fucking no!"

"No, she is right," I say, my mind buzzing as I think it through. "I'm not happy about missing the action, but I feel more comfortable knowing we are close enough to help if shit hits the fan."

"What about my comfort, Roe?" West hisses. "This is the safety of my sister and my girl we are talking about!"

"I am notyouranything!" I yell, stepping up into his personal space.

He matches my step with one of his own. "The fuck you aren't. Your body knows it, it's about damn time your thick skull does too."

"Asshole!" I spit.

"Princess," he counters.

"Go fuck it out, or whatever you need to do," East sighs dramatically, "but wearecoming, West. One way or another."

"The hotel does have some pretty solid security in place," Brett says quietly.

"I'm not leaving them alone so close to whatever the fuck this bullshit is!"

"We won't be alone!" I say, a brain wave crashing through the fog. "Trent and Felix will come with us."

West and East yell as one; East squeaky and nervous, West furious.

"What!"

"Fuck off!"

Law hesitantly cuts in. "It’s a good idea, mate. Think about it. The girls get what they want, being close to the action but not too close, and you have the assurance that they will be safe. Set them up in the penthouse for a spaand movie night. Chicks dig that shit. Back me up here, Brett."

Brett is frozen in his seat, my curiosity once again piqued.

"I'll message them now!" East says excitedly. She taps away at her phone and it's bare seconds before her phone chimes with a response. Her shoulders slump. "Felix can't. He has some family event out of town."

Brett visibly relaxes in his seat and West smirks.

"I guess the girl's night will have to be postponed then," he says smugly.

"Not so fast, Baby Duke," I say. "Trent hasn't replied."

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