Page 59 of Royal

He chuckles. “Darlin’, I was just looking for an excuse, and I think this is it. I can adopt Donovan officially, and you can adopt Penny.”

What do I do?

I sob.

Because he wants me to be his daughter’s mom, and I love her so much. “I love her. Penny accidentally called me Mommy earlier,” I say through tears.

He kisses me, the tears mingling between our lips. “Don’t cry, angel, this is the beginning of our lives together.”

“I love you,” I say to him, running my hands down his face.

“And I love you, angel.”

Chapter 13

Naomi

Today is Donovan’s birthday. It’s been a week since our life got turned upside down, once again, with Presley.

We’re having his party at the park because it’s his favorite place. All of the MC is here, and the prospects are helping to wrangle all of the kids because they’re wild.

Annie, Penny, and Presley became close friends immediately. Presley has flourished over the last week. She accepts her new life and is not as scared as she was when we first found her.

She is not in school, but the therapist suggested it’s not a good idea to enroll her yet because she is adjusting to her new life and she has triggers.

Her biggest fear is being abandoned. Presley always needs a schedule, she likes having a routine because she went so long without having one.

She moved out of Penny’s room into the guest room I decorated just as she wanted, but I added a mini fridge. She is scared to ask for snacks or drinks because her mom used to hit her when she asked.

Her mother is still at the clubhouse. I haven’t seen her yet, but I will soon. We have not heard anything from Selene or Sabrina.

Maybe they’re giving up? God, we can only hope. But I will not give up on Sabrina, because of how she hurt Royal and Penny.

For the tenth time in the last thirty minutes, Presley runs over and hugs me like she is reassuring herself that I’m still here. Then she goes to Royal for one, and he picks her up.

She then goes to my brother. Presley is getting attached to him, and my brother dotes on the girls.

Since killing Earl, he has a light in his eyes that he hasn’t had in a very long time. I’m so thankful he is finally healing.

I was shocked when he decided he didn’t want to join the club, instead he is looking into opening a security company with a section dedicated to the girls in my house for young women, to protect them if needed. He wants to hire his buddies from the military to be a part of it. I wired him money that he could use to get it started, even though he hated the idea of taking my money.

Royal eventually stepped in and told him to pick his battles—this isn’t one of them.

River walks over to me. She is just a few weeks postpartum and she’s already so tiny. “How is it going?”

I look down at the cups I’m filling for the kids, my ring shining in the light. Tomorrow, Royal is dragging me to the courthouse so we can get married, and then we are having the big wedding later in the year when the timing is better.

“Her mom still at the clubhouse?” she asks me.

I nod. “Yeah, I’m letting her sweat it out a bit. She practically starved Presley, so I’m giving her a taste of her own medicine with just enough food to survive.”

River smirks at that. “I knew you were meant for the MC life past all that sweetness.”

I laugh. “I’m just a momma bear that will kill someone over her babies.”

She hugs my side. “Trust me, I get it. I will destroy the whole world to make sure these kids have the best life possible, at any cost.”

It is true, all of the kids have a special place in my heart.

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