Page 74 of Baby Duke

A horrifying smile splits across his usually so carefully constructed face.

"Call me Sir," he says.

Something hard hits me across the back of my head, and everything goes dark.

Chapter Twenty-Four

West

"Dude! Chill out," Law groans for the dozenth time. "They are fine! They are sipping tea with the most sought-after male teacher at our school. The worst that could happen is your girl,oryour sister, might fall in love with the sleazy fucker."

I glare at the asshole who is doing absolutely nothing to calm my nerves.

"You’re making it worse, Law," Brett growls under his breath.

"Fuck," I swear, collapsing onto the recliner beside Brett's. Law is lazing on the bed, legs spread with his suit pants unbuttoned and chest bare. "Get dressed."

Law sighs. "They said they would collect us after 10."

"It's 10 now!"

"Exactly!" he sits up, arms flung out to the sides. "Who the hell turns up at the exact time they said they would? I give it another hour before a knock sounds."

No sooner than the words leave his mouth, someone taps at the door in a practiced tune.

Law's eyes widen as I raise a brow at him.

"Fuck!" he curses, jumping into action. My lips curl into a smile as he tugs his shirt on back to front to start with before cursing again and fixing it. He has opted for a baby blue button-down shirt. Brett wears black on black, while I went for a classic white.

Brett gets the door while I enjoy the Lawson show. His socks are on, and he is searching frantically for his shoes.

"Next to the door," Brett says as he returns, an absurdly muscular fella with a bald head and full-faced black mask follows.

"Cheers, my brother," Law says, brushing shoulders with the incredible hulk. With his face fully covered, it's hard to get a read on him, but from the thinning of his eyes at the casual brush-by from Law, he is not a fan of unsolicited touches.

The hulk turns to face me, nodding his head in acknowledgment of my status.

"Master Mazzuchelli," he mumbles in a voice as burly as his being. "We have been wondering when you would grace us with your presence."

I stare down the big fella from my relaxed position on the recliner. "And what exactlyisthis establishment I will be gracing?" I ask eventually.

His eyes widen a fraction. "Mr. Mazzuchelli has not discussed the, ah… specifics of The Den with you?"

I fold my arms. "Nope. Care to enlighten me?"

The giant shuffles nervously, his eyes shifting from me to Brett. He gulps, returning to face me.

"Perhaps it is wiser to see for yourself, Master Mazzuchelli."

"Then let's get going," I stand abruptly. "What did you say your name was?"

"You may call me Brute," he says, eyes down. "Code names are essential in the Den. Yours have been decided by Boss… your father."

I sigh. This would be good. "Let's have it then."

Brute clears his throat. "Master Leacher will be known as Spider," he inclines his head at Brett. "Master Hawthorn, you are Joker."

Law nods as he returns to the room, shoes on and somehow presentable despite his mad dash moments before.

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