Page 22 of Royal

They nod. “We can do that because it’s obvious she wanted to cause trouble for you,” the older officers tell me, and we go through the process of filing charges against Selene before they leave.

I look at the clock and note it’s just after two o’clock. I know Royal needs to collect Penny from school.

“Let’s just get out of here. I will have a prospect pack all of your stuff and Donovan’s.”

I sit down on the couch and rub my eyes, exhausted. This whole day has been a whirlwind with so many bombs being dropped on my lap.

Royal sits beside me, dragging me into his lap and holding me tight. “I’m so fucking sorry that all of this shit has been happening,” he whispers into my ear. I hear Donovan playing with his toys in the corner.

My head rests in the crook of his neck. Royal’s scent is intoxicating, creating a cocoon of safety.

“Look at me.”

I lift my head and look at Royal, and he cups my face. “I will protect you and Donovan from anything and everything. No one will touch you. All this shit needs to go in one ear and out the other. I will handle this bitch for you. Okay?”

“Okay,” I reply, giving him the reins to my life to take control of this situation. “Do you know how big of a deal this is for me? I have taken care of everything by myself for as long as I can remember. I don’t trust people, but you… I just met and gave you everything.”

He licks his lips. “Darlin’, I will cherish you for everything you have given me. Every single part. I won’t fail you as so many others have done.”

I lean forward, kissing him deeply. I can’t explain what his words have done to me. He takes over the kiss, my whole body tingling. Royal pulls back and smiles, his eyes shining. “Now, let’s get you out of this town and somewhere she can’t find you.”

“I like the sound of that.” I kiss his cheek and stand up. “I’m going to go get a couple of changes of clothes, toddlers tend to make a mess of their clothes.”

He laughs at that. “I had stashes of clothes for Penny everywhere when she was tiny.”

I gather the bundle of clothes, wipes, and snacks just in case. Hungry toddlers are menaces.

Royal takes the small bag and carries Donovan with his free arm. “It’s hard for me to get used to you doing everything,” I tell him.

He puts Donovan in his seat and shuts the car door to face me. “Darlin’, I have two years of this sort of stuff to make up to you.” He kisses my hand, smiles, and opens the passenger door for me.

I’m in big trouble, no doubt.

Selene

I scream and smash my hands into the steering wheel. The police left her trailer without the boy, and I know I have failed yet again.

I look at her place with disgust. My son downgraded when he dated her and, worse, got her pregnant.

She has ruined everything.

That money was meant to be mine, but now it’s gone to hell.

We have spent our fortune because we thought for sure that we could get my son's inheritance after he died.

But no, that fucker had to make sure it was all sealed shut.

The only thing that I can do now is take that bastard son of hers and make her sign everything over to me, and only then will I give the brat back.

My son was a failure and a disgrace to our family’s name. He never did anything right, and it was almost a relief when he died in that car crash.

Of course, I had to put on a show for the other societal families to keep up my reputation.

My parents gave everything to my siblings and James. I thought my worries were over because I gave them an heir. After all, I had a son.

But he was the opposite of what he needed to be to fit in with the family, and then he decided to knock up that bitch, ruining everything again.

I have tried with the courts to get this shit worked out, but they weren’t on my side. So, I will try to pay off a judge, and if that doesn’t work, I will do whatever it takes to get my hands on this money that should’ve be mine in the first place.

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