Page 67 of Royal

I close my eyes, my lips trembling. The tears fall and I sob into his shoulder, the fear, the pain, and the realization that I was almost raped washing over me.

“He was going to rape me. Sabrina and Selene were going to help him or do it themselves if he wouldn’t.” My voice is ragged, my fingers digging into his arms. “I would have fought and do what I could to get back to you and our babies.” His jaw is clenched, and I hate that I’m hurting him.

But I have something for him to add a bit of happiness to this shitty day. “Along with the one in my belly right now.”

His face turns to mine in shock. “Wait! You’re pregnant?”

I smile. “I took a test this morning. I wanted to show you tonight once we returned from the party.”

He laughs, the light slowly slipping back into his eyes, and I know he needed this, something to fight back against the darkness.

“We might need a bigger house. There’s nothing hotter than you being a mom.” He winks at me, and I laugh, throwing my head back, finally feeling like myself.

“I love being a mom. I love being your woman. I love you.” I run my hands down his face, feeling the roughness of his cheeks since he didn’t shave this morning.

“I love the life you’ve given me, woman. You are the glue that shaped it, angel.”

Is it possible to fall in love with someone all over again? Because I think I just did.

Two Hours Later

After Knight had thoroughly checked me over, I had to take another pregnancy test at Royal’s insistence. It came back with the same result.

Royal practically fed me to ensure that I ate every bite of food on my plate, and I won’t lie by saying that I don’t enjoy the attention.

It’s hanging over everyone in the room that we have a basement full of people that have hurt us in one way or another.

The girls are standing by my side. I know they want to join me down there. “You girls ready?” I ask them, standing, and River slips my cut over my shoulder, showing that I belong to Royal.

The guys follow us down. I’ve never been here before, and River shows me the way.

In the center of the room, they are tied to chairs bolted to the floor, zip-tied to the arms of the metal.

They look like hell. I guess it’s fitting since that is where I intend to put them. All of the girls are wearing their cuts, showing that we belong to the club.

“So, these are the bitches, huh?” River is the president’s ole lady, the leader of us girls.

“The farthest on the left is Donna, she tried to sell her daughter for a debt, drugs.” I step before her, smiling. “I hope you’ve enjoyed your stay and detox.” I wink at her, and she barely flinches she is so out of it. We have been giving her enough food to keep her alive because she starved her daughter, so she is not going to live in comfort while I’m around.

Twister is on the other side of the room. I know he is for Royal to take care of. He is awake and watching us, staying silent.

Next to Donna is Selene. “Well, it seems that you’ve lost. How does it feel knowing I have all of that money you wanted so desperately? All of the trouble you’ve been through to fail,” I boast, laughing in her face. She glares at me. “Don’t worry, we will talk more.” I turn to the girls. “Selene is Donovan’s biological dad’s mom. She treated him like shit, and since he left me his money, she had a hard-on for me because I got the money and not her. Isn’t that right? You could have made it on your own, but you’re too big of a rampant bitch to consider that.”

I can see the flash of anger in her eyes. “You will always be trash, opening your legs for anyone that will have you. You trapped my son.”

I laugh, but it stops short when Royal makes himself known. She screams, trying to kick herself back and away from him. His large hand wraps around her throat, hard. I can see her eyes trying to bulge out of her skull.

“You call her one more fucking name, and I will stick this blowtorch up your nasty cunt and set you on fire.” He lets her go, and she falls back into the chair, trying to catch her breath.

I think I’m fucked up in the head, because it turned me on seeing him go that dark for me.

He pats my ass as he goes back to where he was standing by my brother. All of the men are standing around and watching us.

Lastly is Sabrina. “Oh, you’re the one that I want. I have been waiting for this day to come for so fucking long to end your life.”

“Why are you so obsessed with me, bitch?” She glares at me. Mascara has run down her face from all her tears.

“Because you have made the worst mistake of our life. You have hurt those I love, my man, my daughter. That is unforgivable.”

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