Page 38 of Ronny

I never thought turning the corner of the kitchen would be half of Ronny’s family. My eyes are wide, then I look down to make sure I’m clothed.

Bell has Madeline snuggled against her chest, she is in heaven. Maverick is hovering behind her, watching her and the baby.

My guess is Ronny’s siblings are at school since it’s a weekday. Elle is here with her baby, smiling adorably, and her parents are here too. Christopher, Lane, and Amelia, along with Wilder and Joslyn’s kids Mason, Cole, and Harlan.

My whole entire kitchen is filled, everyone hovering over Madeline.

“She is so gorgeous.” Elle walks over to me, giving me a hug.

“Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for us, you made this transition so much easier.”

She grins, I can tell it makes her happy that she is able to help us. She has had such a tough go of it herself but I can tell she is flourishing now.

Christopher, I feel, is a huge part of that, his eyes never leaving her. Her daughter reaches over her shoulder, opening and closing her hand toward him so he will pick her up.

He grins and takes her, then she lays her head on his shoulder, snuggling into him. I sigh because there is nothing more beautiful than the sight of a huge-ass man that is a tattooed badass turning to mush by the hands of a baby.

Derek lets out a grunting sound. He eyes the two of them and Elle rolls her eyes. “Dad will never get over the fact that I’m old enough to have a baby or a man.” She looks from the corner of her eye to Christopher.

He gives her a wicked smile that even I have to turn away because, holy shit. “I will pray for you,” I whisper, and she giggles.

“Trust me, I think he might break me.”

I laugh under my breath with her. “Girls’ night soon?” I ask her, and she winks before walking back across the room to stand beside her daughter.

There is a knock at the front door before it’s opened, and it’s my dad along with Maci. “Did I hear the news that I’m a grandfather?”

I run over to my dad. Doesn’t matter how old I am, I will always need my dad. “You are,” I say against his chest, my face smooshed into him. “We adopted a little angel.” I lean back, grinning up at him, and right on cue Ronny walks over holding the tiny bundle.

“Fuck me,” he says under his breath before he takes Madeline from Ronny, holding her expertly. “God, I forget how tiny these babies are.” I lean my head on my dad’s shoulder, looking down at Madeline. “My baby has a baby.” He sounds like he is seconds away from getting choked up.

“You said you wanted to be a grandfather,” I point out, and he tilts his head back, sighing. “I thought you would wait a few years.”

“Dad, I could be forty years old and you’d still think of me as a teenager.”

He laughs. “That is right, you’re my baby. I will protect my baby at all costs, even kill for you.” He looks pointedly at Ronny at the last part.

Ronny is used to the threats, my dad has made subtle hints throughout the years and it just slides over his back now.

Maverick, on the other hand? He doesn’t like my dad threatening Ronny in any sort of way.

Maverick walks into the living room, eyeing my dad. The room turns intense and I suck in my lips, trying to not show how it’s suffocating me.

Ronny straightens his shoulders. “Dad, what will you do when sis tries to date?” he points out to Maverick about his younger sister.

Maverick shrugs. “I don’t fucking care, no one threatens my boy.” His voice is rough, ragged, and my dad straightens his shoulders before turning to face Maverick.

I take my daughter from him, and Ronny backs me out of the way in case this is the time they actually go to blows.

Over the years it’s come close.

“I was just making sure he was treating my daughter right, Maverick,” my dad tells him.

I rub my eyes, over this shit.

My dad is terrified of something happening to me again. I was kidnapped for years and he assumed I was dead. But the alternative was worse—I was getting abused every day of my life.

Maverick splits the distance between them, getting in my dad’s face. My eyes widen, scared there’s really going to be a fight this time.

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