Page 55 of Dukes of Peril

I feel their eyes on me as I stroll to the kitchen, but still take a quick peek over my shoulder to see both of their blue-eyed gazes glued firmly to my ass.

The garlic bread is made in batches throughout dinner. Otherwise, as Mama B has made quite clear, the boys would feast on nothing else. As a result, I’m fully anticipating being cub-piled the moment I walk out with it.

But before I even get that far, I hear a voice.

Haley’svoice. “This whole thing is such a joke.” Her and Laura are lingering just outside. Through the crack in the door, I catch a peek of Haley’s arm as she passes Laura a vape pen.

“What’s a joke?” Laura asks, hitting the vape. “The poker game?”

“No,” Haley says, scoffing. “Her. TheDuchess. She’s the worst person to lead the cutsluts.” Haley snatches the vape pen back, voice sharp and bitter. “I don’t care what anyone says, she’s not one of us. She’s a fucking viper, not a bruin.”

“I think she’s nice.” There’s a short, awkward pause before Laura warns, “And you better not let the guys hear you say that. Dillon said there was a whole dust-up during that meeting because Bruce questioned her loyalty.”

She flips her hair back. “Please. That’s all Nick and his obsessive personality. A chance at owning some Count cunt was the only thing in this town off-limits to him. He just wants what he can’t have.” She hits the vape pen, nodding confidently. “Once he’s gotten her out of his system, he’ll come back to us. She obviously has no idea how to please a man.” My hands are already shaking with rage before the next sentence comes spewing out of her smirking mouth. “Else Remy wouldn’t have come to me after the match.”

White-hot fury surges through me, and even if I wanted to hold back, I couldn’t. I storm through the door. The sound makes them both jump, whirling around to gape at me.

“You would need a dick in your mouth, wouldn’t you, Haley?” I fist the tray, heart pumping like an inferno. “Apparently that and my sloppy seconds are the only things that keep it from flapping.”

Haley’s eyes flash angrily, even though she laughs, straightening her shoulders. “Don’t you meanmysloppy seconds? Or have you forgotten who had him first? What can I say? When it comes to pleasing your boys, I’m the Royal.”

“At what?” I snap, “Taking advantage of guys who are sick and wasted? I guess that’s the only way you can get it.”

Haley plants her hands on her hips. “Is that what you call it, sweetie?Wasted? Because he was ‘wasted’ all over my tongue until you walked in.”

I throw the tray of bread aside, the clatter ringing noisily enough that I know all eyes in the room are swinging on us. “My foot is about to be wasted all over your face.”

The room falls to a silent hush.

She surges forward, arms out. “Try me, snake! I’m not some pampered little North Side bitch.”

Over the sound of scraping chairs and girls rushing forward, I say, “No. You’re just a bottom-feeding slut who doesn’t know her place.” And then I slam my palm into her shoulder.

Eyes filling with fire, Haley’s hand jerks back and flings out, slapping me hard.

Across the tit.

A sharp sting of pain runs along my nerves.

Laura gasps, “Haley! What the–”

But I’m already lunging at her, hand grabbing a thick fistful of her hair, and yanking hard enough that she stumbles. I jam my knee into her crotch, filled with a sick sense of satisfaction at the resulting yelp.

The other girls rush around us, screaming as the fight escalates. Louder, male voices–half of them amused–grow closer.

“Oh, shit!”

“Chick fight!”

“Anyone got their phone to record this shit?!”

“Kick her ass, Duchess!”

Soon we’re surrounded, but my eyes are focused on the bitch in front of me. “You don’t get to touch my man—ever.I’mthe Duchess.”

She shoves me back. “He didn’t care you were his Duchess when he stuck his dick in my mouth.” Her lips curve upward. “I’ve tasted all your men, and one day they’ll all come back for more.”

This time when I go for her, I don’t hold back, slamming full force into her. She falls back, crashing into the table. Her arms flail out, nails sharp, slicing down my cheek. I growl and reach for her throat, but don’t make it before I’m yanked back against a hard, solid chest.

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