Page 5 of The Duke's Hellion

“Sadly, no. Sally and Jacob are getting married, and they’ve invited everyone to a house party before the wedding.”

“And you’re going?”

“James insists we go. He claims he’s the mastermind behind the two getting together.”

“I heard it was Joan?”

“It probably was,” Sam said and the two laughed. It felt good to relieve some of the tension in his face. He could still feel hisclenched jaw, but it wasn’t ticking anymore. “Either way, I’m attending the house party, which means Rudolph will have too much time here all by himself. I don’t trust him.”

“So you want me to take these?” Chris pointed to the wooden box. The action was just as intense as Sam would want. He knew he had chosen the right man for the job.

“Guard them with your life. I know you have the safest place for them.”

Chris nodded solemnly, not asking the question that Sam knew he wanted to pose. Sam answered it for him anyway, “I can’t relinquish them to Wes yet.”

“Understood.”

“I know I lost the bet, but…something doesn’t feel right. I have to sort it out before I can pay up.”

“He doesn’t care.”

Sam let his head fall into his hands. “It doesn’t matter. I made the bet and lost. I owe him.”

“He wouldn’t make you pay up.”

“I’m an honorable man, Chris.” Sam could feel the heat racing from his heart center all the way through his limbs. “Even if I would never duel, I have my honor.”

“I never questioned it.” Chris’s voice was placating, as though speaking with a raging bear.

And in a second, Sam might get there, to be the raging bear that is. But, no, he wouldn’t. Not today. Not ever, if he could help it. He knew the stakes. He knew what it meant to keep himself in check and manage his emotions. He would not accept the fate of his father. If nothing else in life, Sam would not live like him.

It was just another way he competed. He made himself the polar opposite of his father. Always in control. Always reaching for his best. And more often than not attaining it.

When Chris spoke, it stirred Sam to realize that they had been sitting in silence. “I can’t believe that bastard is coming here.”

“He doesn’t know that I suspect anything.”

Chris scoffed. “He is truly that unaware? He doesn’t know that you suspect him of wanting to kill you? He thinks he is that discreet? You must be joking.”

“Unless he’s a better actor than most, he knows nothing. He thinks we’re on friendly terms. I know it’s hard to believe, but I don’t want him to know that I know.”

“For obvious reasons.”

“Exactly.” Sam brought two fingers to his cheek and held his jaw up with his thumb. His lips rested against the knuckle of his fourth finger. If there was a way to think long enough and hard enough to predict the future, he would be attempting to do so now.

“Why is he coming here?” That was precisely the question Sam wanted to answer in his attempts to be a seer.

“I wish I knew. He says he wants to visit.” Chris laughed knowingly and Sam continued. “We both know that’s a lie. But I can’t figure out why he would be here now, other than to make another attempt on my life.”

“Perhaps it’s best that you do attend the house party.”

Sam nodded in agreement. “At the very least, it buys me time to secure more protection.”

“That shouldn’t be too hard.”

“It’s always a challenge to know who to trust. I can pay several men to protect me, but if even one leaks out some information, even unwittingly, that could be it.”

“At least you have Bixly.”

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