Page 89 of Baby Duke

"Thank you," she whispers. Two simple words with so much depth to them. "So, what happens now? With The Den? The boys and girls…"

"The franchise is up for sale," I say, and Roe looks at me with wide eyes. "I know, the hotels are a huge source ofincome for our family, well, I guess for me now, seeing as Vincent’s out of the picture. But I have no interest in keeping a business that turned so toxic under my own name. I will be losing money, of course, what with all the bad media about it, but money has never been an issue for us.

"As for the boys and girls my father had abducted, I have purchased land on the outskirts of each major city and have turned them into rehabilitation centers for those affected by not just my father and his businesses but for anyone who has experienced rape, sexual abuse, degradation, domestic abuse; the list goes on. They will have 5-star accommodation at zero cost to them or their families, access to the best doctors and psychologists in Australia, and access to anything they need to set them up in the real world after they have recovered. If they wish to leave, of course. There is no expiration date on their stay."

Roe is crying softly, but her face is alight with hope. My heart swells uncomfortably in my chest.

I clear my throat and continue. "I have also sold a bunch of my father's other businesses that have little interest to me. I have used that money and a whole lot from our savings to purchase shares in a large mining company and a large percentage of shares in a new Australian airlinecompany." I shrug at the raised brows of my friends around me. "Have to keep the money coming in somehow."

"They are both very smart investments," Trent says.

"Fuck yeah," Law adds.

East is nodding along with the others, but I can see the small amount of disappointment in her eyes.

"I also dumped a lot of money into a separate business account under your name, East," I grin at her shocked expression. "You know I never believed in our father's plans for you. You are your own woman, East, and I want you to have the opportunity to build your own empire. A final big fuck you to the old guy, huh?"

"West, I-" East stumbles over her words in her excitement. "I can't thank you enough!"

"No need," I smile. "I am your big brother. It's my job to look out for you."

She jumps up from her seat on Trent's lap and jumps onto mine. She wraps her arms around me, and after a moment of hesitation, I do the same. I can't remember the last time I hugged my sister. It feels… good.

"Alright," she says, pushing herself off me and brushing her hands down her front. "That was awkward as fuck."

"Language," I say, but I am smiling and really don’t give a fuck.

She returns to her seat, but sits beside Trent rather than on his lap, which I am silently grateful for.

"Um," Roe croaks from her chair, looking serious again. "The live export…"

She trails off, but I cut in before she can continue.

"I have severed ties with them," I say gently, not that I cared so much about cows being transported by ships to other countries. I mean, we all needed to eat. I supposed there could be nicer ways to go about it all, but I had no interest in pursuing it. "The contract had not been finalized, so I tore it to shreds and told them we had no interest in doing business with them after all."

"No, that's not-" Roe stutters, "-I mean, that is great and all, but there is more to the export than what you are thinking. Mr. Foster…" she pauses, the color in her face draining before she takes a deep breath and continues, "he told me about the export plans. It was a cover-up. Vincent and him were expanding their sex trafficking to international waters."

My blood boils, and I stand quickly. I clench my fists and begin pacing. Brett surges from his seat, too, and leaves the room. His anger, like mine, is a rapid-fire of hot lava and stupid decisions. He will deal with this news in his own way.

"Oh God," East whispers, clutching her stomach.

"What the actual fuck is wrong with that piece of shit?" Law screams, outraged.

"Jesus, fuck," Trent says in a hushed tone. He leans his elbows on his knees and stares at the ground as if he is going to be sick.

My mind is running a million miles a second as I process this new information about the man who raised me. My stomach is in knots, and my chest is tight. How could I have lived under the same roof as this man my entire life and not know what a terrible monster he was?

"Ok," Roe says suddenly, standing. "I think we need to pause this little get-together. Everyone is spiraling. West, take me home, please?”

I mentally shake off my bitter thoughts and nod. Roe gives East a firm hug but skirts away as Law opens his arm for her too. She smiles apologetically at him, but he waves it off with a shit-eating grin.

"Baby girl, soon enough, you will be running into my arms and pleading for me to never let you go," he says, leaping out of the way with a yelp as I reach for him. Asshole.

Roe rolls her eyes, but she is smiling and seems so light and carefree in this moment that I am secretly grateful for Law's shitty remark and sense of humor.

"Let's get out of here," I say, smacking Captain on the rump as he trots past us all and takes the lead.

Chapter Thirty-One

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