AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Turning away, I wrap an arm around Magnolia’s shoulders and lead her toward the house. I’m pissed that I’m too fucked up to think straight, and even more pissed that of all the Dolces and their minions, it’s Duke who knows where to land the blows that fuck me up the worst. Baron with his evil brilliance and his sadistic mind games hasn’t figured it out, and Royal with his brute strength can’t touch what Duke can. It’s Duke who always hits closest to home.
“What was that about?” Magnolia asks as I step inside the house. Dad went up to help Devlin’s dad pack up for their move back to Faulkner, so the house is mine alone tonight.
“Nothing,” I say. “Just stay away from that guy.”
“I’m not a kid,” she says, rolling her eyes. “I can handle myself.”
“The fact that you’re anywhere near Duke Dolce says otherwise.”
“You’re worse than Preston,” she fumes, stomping up the stairs in front of me, her platform boots thudding heavily.“Duke’s fun. And now that our families aren’t at war, I should be able to get to know him.”
“I already know him, so let me make it easy for you,” I say. “There’s a lot more to him than the fun guy you see in public—and it’s all rotten. Trust me, he makes Preston look like an angel.”
“That was before,” she says. “When he hated you. He won’t hurt me now.”
“Don’t be naïve,” I say. “It’s not cute on you. Now go to bed.”
“Ugh, I hate you,” she says, pouting as she stomps to the guest room. “And you’re not my dad. You don’t have to put me to bed.”
“Since your dad ditched you, that’s exactly what I have to do. Now, you have a gun in here?” I stop in the doorway, and she drops onto the bed and bounces up and down.
“Yes, Daddy,” she says, batting her lashes at me.
“Where the fuck did you learn to do that?” I grumble.
She laughs and leans over, pulling open the drawer beside the bed and pulling out a pistol. She checks the chamber and then sets it on top, within easy reach. “Got it,” she says, reaching down her cleavage and pulling out a tube of pepper spray. Then she unzips her boot and pulls out a long, wicked blade. “And a knife under my pillow, and pepper spray in my hand all night. Am I forgetting anything?”
“You’re doing good,” I tell her, impressed by her hidden preparedness. She may not have the best judgment yet, but she’s fucking fourteen. She’s a hell of a lot smarter than I was at that age, and the fact that she’s had to be kills me a little.
“I know you’re just trying to protect me,” she grumbles. “Now go away.”
I shake my head and turn away. “Don’t forget to lock the door.”
“All three locks,” she agrees.
I wait in the hallway outside until I hear them all click into place. Then I head back downstairs. I’m halfway down the back hall when the door swings open and Duke Dolce steps inside. He stops short when he sees me, having the decency to look ashamed.
“Couldn’t wait half an hour before you came skulking after my underage cousin?” I ask.
“That’s not what I was doing,” he says, fixing me with a stoned, resentful gaze that I’ve seen one too many times in the mirror.
“I might have believed that if I hadn’t just caught you grinding your dick into her ass.”
“What do you care? You jealous?” he taunts. “You want me to rub my dick all up in your ass?”
“Fuck off, Duke.” I start down the hall again, making to push past him and drag him outside.
“That’s it, isn’t it?” he asks, grabbing me before I reach the door. “You want to suck my dick again, don’t you, little pussy boy? You can’t get enough.”
I don’t fight his hold. Instead, I lean into it, letting my lids lower halfway as I stare into his deep, dark eyes. “Was it enough for you?”
He shoves me away from him, hard. “Get off me, you fucking queer. I’m straight.”
“I know,” I say, tipping my head back to look up at him. “And you know I’m not, right?”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“I’m not straight,” I say. “I fuck men. You’re not just calling me that as the worst random insult your tiny brain can come up with. Did you not know that?”
