Page 13 of Royal

Her trailer comes into view, and I glare at the fucker that is too close to her home for my liking. I grit my teeth, pissed off that she is living in this place.

I glance at Naomi, her eyes gliding over the scene before us like it doesn’t faze her. I don’t want her to be used to this shit.

She goes to open her door, and I put my hand on her arm to stop her. “Wait for me to come get you.” I look out of the windows, the hair on the back of my neck standing on end. It feels like eyes are on us.

Naomi watches as I reach into the back seat and take out Donovan, who is half asleep now. He rests his head on my shoulder.

My fucking heart melts that he trusts me enough to rest on my shoulder like this. I open the passenger door for Naomi and I take her hand, helping her out.

She smiles at the both of us, rubbing her son's back, and he peeks down at her. She retrieves her keys and walks up the short deck that creaks under my feet. I try not to wince at the images of them falling through the boards.

When she opens the door, I usher her inside, shutting and locking it behind me.

Her place is homey, all white and gold with a corner filled with toys. The kitchen is filled with baby bowls, cups, and other things toddlers need.

She looks at me like she is confused about why I’m still here, but I want to ensure they’re settled and safe first.

An idea hits me.

I take out my phone and text one of our prospects. He is a newer one and is showing a lot of promise. We call him Monster because he is fucking huge—like a monster.

I must get back with Penny tonight, or I would have stayed. Taking them both home with me wouldn’t fly with Naomi.

Soon, I will have them in my house and protected.

She enters the fridge with a sippy cup, saying, “Let’s put this baby to bed.” She claps her hands together, and Donovan reaches for her to hold him.

I hand him off, but he doesn’t let go of my hand. “I think he wants you to go with him.” She laughs. “He likes you.”

It fucking pleases me that he likes me. His bedroom is a kid’s heaven filled with toys, but I can tell immediately that his favorite are motorcycles.

Naomi changes him into pajamas, brushes his teeth, and sets him in bed. “Do you want to stay while I read to him?” she asks me over her shoulder.

I sit beside the small toddler bed. “Penny used to be in a little bed like this.” Fuck, my baby is growing up, and it’s shattering my heart.

She gives me a knowing look. “I cried a whole day when I moved Donovan from his crib for the first time and out of my bedroom.”

I chuckle. “I had Penny so spoiled she slept on my chest most of the time. I was terrified she would stop breathing because she had such a struggle when she was born. Her lungs weren’t developed because of the drugs.”

Naomi

It pisses me the fuck off that her biological mother was so selfish that she took drugs and it hurt his daughter.

I can’t fathom doing anything like that to Donovan when I was pregnant. I made sure I had the best care I could afford.

I rub his chubby cheek, and he grins. “Which book do you want me to read?” I ask Donovan and hold up a couple that are his favorite.

He places his tiny finger on one of the monster trucks, and I giggle because he is such a boy.

He looks at Royal, pointing his finger at him before muttering, “Read.”

I laugh at his demanding tone. Royal takes the book he picked and starts reading to him, ensuring he gets all the voices correct for the characters.

I lean on the floor against Donovan’s bed and listen to Royal read. Donovan is out within minutes. He had a long day and is not used to staying late at day care.

I turn on his night-light next to the bed so he doesn’t get scared of the dark, then Royal helps me off the ground and sets the book back on the shelf.

I leave the door slightly ajar so Donovan can come to me in the middle of the night if he needs me.

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