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“Look, just tell me that my daughter is okay. I’ve been calling her repeatedly and getting no answer.”
Danny’s expression softened as his head tilted. “She’s okay physically, but you know what you did, so I don’t think she’ll be okay emotionally and mentally for a while.”
Squeezing the back of his neck, Marcus bobbed his head as his heart broke. “Can you please just give her a message for me? Tell her I’ll leave her alone, but I really want to explain. If she doesn’t want me to, I understand, but I need her to know that I love her.”
Danny considered his words for a few seconds before agreeing with, “I’ll let her know.”
As much as he didn’t want to leave, Marcus did. It was clear Royalty didn’t want to have anything to do with him, and Marcus had no choice but to respect and accept that. What he’d done was unforgivable, but that wasn’t going to stop him from trying to earn her forgiveness.
When he first hatched the plan to take Royalty, Marcus didn’t have the purest intentions. He wanted to hurt her the way Cashmere had hurt him. She made him believe they had a future together, but Royalty’s conception changed her mind. Cashmere took that as a sign to make her relationship with Ace work. Marcus wanted to take Cashmere’s heart and future, just like she’d done with him. The moment he took Royalty out of the hospital that night, his desires changed. He didn’t care about hurting Cashmere; he just wanted to give Royalty the world. In the beginning, that seemed possible, but when Jennifer had Regal, the dynamic changed.
In a matter of seconds, Marcus grew to love Royalty more than he realized was possible and committed himself to protecting and loving her for the rest of her life. Unfortunately, he was the one responsible for filling her with more pain than any person should ever feel. Regal’s betrayal was now a blip on the radar. Cursing under his breath, Marcus made it to his car and fought the urge to try to find Royalty. He’d give her space… for now.
eight
Two WeeksLater
“Wow,”Royalty muttered, looking at the huge mansion in front of her. Mansion didn’t seem like the proper word. This was a true estate. From first glance, Royalty saw an area by the garage that looked like a car wash, a detached smaller home, and a glass room that was off to the back side that looked like an athletic area. Her awe turned into frustration at the thought of Marcus taking her from this lifestyle of opulence.
From the research she’d done on her parents, their wealth wasn’t new. Ace Lew was born into his riches, and technically, Royalty was too. As anxious as she’d been to meet them, Royalty had to force herself not to drive out of the circular driveway. It felt like she was in a completely different world.
It also felt like second nature to call Destiny or Simone, but this was something Royalty would need to handle on her own. Three days passed after finding out she was kidnapped before Royalty was looking up the names Jennifer had given her—Ace Lew and Cashmere Fifer.
Apparently, Ace ran a secret society along with four other men that was talked about by everyone, but only those involved knew the true inner workings. Outside of that, Ace also had several businesses in the medium-sized town of Rose Valley Hills. Cashmere was just as influential. Her family was responsible for all utilities and internet, and Cashmere was the town hall president, where both companies operated.
“What am I doing here?” she asked, staring at the front door. “They’ve lived twenty-six years without me. Am I really going to be able to fit into their lives here?”
At that point, leaving was her only option. Royalty had her entire apartment in Memphis packed up. Even if she didn’t stay in Rose Valley Hills, which was three hours outside of Memphis, she would have to gosomewhere. She’d left her job, friends, and the family she’d known all her life behind. Was Rose Valley Hills really the place where she’d have her new start?
As she was about to pull out of the driveway, the iron doors opened, and an older version of herself stepped out onto the porch. It wouldn’t have surprised her if the men at the security gate told her she was about to have a guest, since they’d asked her who she was there to see. Cutting off her car, Royalty cursed under her breath.
There was no turning back now.
After saying a quick, quiet prayer, Royalty got out of her car. Her hands trembled so much, she pulled them behind her back. They made their way to each other, stopping in the center of the driveway with just a few feet between them. Already, Cashmere had tears pouring from her eyes, and it forced Royalty to look away. Though she wasn’t responsible for Marcus taking her, a part of Royalty felt responsible for the pain that had been consuming Cashmere for years.
“Your dad is on his way. There was an emergency that demanded his attention. Otherwise, he’d already be here.”
With a nod, Royalty looked at her. Cashmere had nutmeg brown skin, slanted eyes, and heart-shaped lips… all features Royalty saw each time she looked in the mirror.
“You look… just like me,” Cashmere continued, head shaking in disbelief. “I always wondered if you would look like me or your father.” Her sob caused Royalty’s tears to fall. “You look just like me.”
“I never saw myself in their looks or attitudes, but you…” Royalty covered her mouth, briefly losing herself in how similar their features were. “I see me all in you.”
Cashmere chuckled, closing the space between them. “I’m sorry, but I have to hug you.” Royalty nodded adamantly, and as soon as her mother’s arms wrapped around her, Royalty melted. They cried harder, somehow finding strength in the other’s weakness. Royalty didn’t realize how long they’d been standing there hugging and crying, and honestly, she didn’t care. The only thing that forced her to pull away was the sound of tires screeching and a door slamming before large, strong arms were pulling her away from Cashmere.
Before she could even look into her father’s eyes, he was lifting her into the air and holding her as if she was a baby. Hearing loud sobs permeate from such a large man sent a shiver down her spine. Royalty held him close, wishing she could soothe him the way she ached to be soothed each time she cried as a child because she felt she didn’t belong. Now… she knew why. Now… there was no doubt in her mind that Rose Valley Hills would be exactly where she belonged.
??????
Hours later, Royalty was sitting in the first floor sitting room looking at photo albums. She’d taken a tour of the estate and talked to her parents on and off, but more than anything, Royalty just wanted to sit in their presence.
“Are you staying here?” Ace asked, standing next to her. “I have to make a run, but I want you here when I get back.”
Royalty nodded softly, agreeing with a smile. “I can stay. I didn’t really make any hotel arrangements because I wasn’t sure how long I’d be here, if I even stayed at all.”
“There’s absolutely no reason for you to stay at a hotel. There are nine empty bedrooms here, and if you want more privacy, you can stay in the smaller house outside.”
“Plus, Cade will be back home tomorrow morning and he wants to see you,” Ace added.
