Riding the Line (Devil's Knights 2nd Generation 2)

“You’re right, okay? Can we leave it at that?”

Royal grabbed my hand and laid it on her stomach. “Yeah, we can move on to the fact you can feel my baby move right…now.”

“Holy shit!” I jumped up but kept my hand on her stomach. “Jesus, Royal. You actually have a baby in there.”

“Yeah,” she giggled. “It’s still pretty c

razy for me to think about.”

I sat up and looked down at her.

“It’s my turn now, isn’t it?” she asked.

I nodded. “What in the hell were you thinking hooking up with Rider Meeks?” I demanded.

Royal shrugged. “Uh, I don’t think I was thinking at all. At least, not with my brain.”

“Royal! I don’t care if he was Jason Mamoa’s twin brother. His last name was Meeks!” I didn’t know what Rider looked like, but I knew he wasn’t worthy enough to throw your whole life away on.

“I messed up, Indy. It was good in the beginning, and then it all just went south really quick.” She rubbed her stomach. “Then, this little peanut complicated things even more.”

“So, are we going to tell my niece or nephew their daddy was a dick who kidnapped mommy?”

Royal laughed. “I think I’ll leave that out of the baby book.”

“He didn’t hurt you or anything, right?” I held my breath and tried to restrain my rage that was bubbling under the surface.

“Not any more than he ever did. He didn’t want me anymore.”

“Then what in the hell did he kidnap you for?”

Royal closed her eyes and sighed. “Before Marco called, I was seventeen hours away from being boarded onto a plane and shipped off to Mexico to the highest bidder.”

“Jesus Christ, Royal. He was gonna sell you and his baby?”

Royal shrugged. “Yeah. He really was a bad guy, Indy. That glimmer of hope I had that everything was going to be hunky dory was stomped out pretty damn quick.”

“Well, that’s over now. Thanks to my biker and mafia connections,” I winked, “Rider Meeks is nothing but a memory now.”

“Yeah,” Royal whispered.

I squeezed her hand. “I know it doesn’t seem like it right now, Royal, but everything is going to be okay. You’re here now. This is where you told me to go two years ago, and maybe you should have come, too.”

“You were running from Grit, Indy. Anywhere but Destin was better for you.”

I curled my lip. “I know he’s your brother, but let’s not bring him up for a little bit, yeah?”

“He has changed, Indy. I mean, he still has a temper and just an overall shitty attitude, but he is trying.”

“Well, I’m happy for him. I wish he would have made those changes before I ever met him.”

Royal shook her head. “No, you don’t because if he had been a better guy, you would have never left Destin, and this amazing life you’re building in Rockton would never have happened.”

I rolled my eyes. “I really hate when you’re right,” I grumbled.

“You’ve got your life figured out, Indy.” A tear rolled down her cheek. “You, Grit, and this baby are all I have left.”

“Then let’s get started on getting your life figured out.”