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“Merry early Christmas, pup.”
“You had me come out for that? I had to Uber. You know I can’t come here. Is Jax in on this?”
“A little, but we won’t stay long. It’s okay.” I spread my arms, expecting a hug, but I didn’t get one.
Royce circled around the bike. “What is this?”
“A Ducati. It’s for you. Because, you know, the car.” I shrugged, doubtful of my actions. Had I screwed up? “Don’t you like it?”
Royce exhaled unhappily. “Yes and no. Damn it, Quinn. I love the bike. Of course, I love it. And I love the gesture. But I can’t have this. And it’s like…dangling a carrot I can’t ever reach.” His delicate hands flew through the air, motioning as he spoke.
“No. It’s in my name so no way can it get taken from you. And we can figure out how to do switch-ups with your other car so you can get around without your father knowing. At least some of the time.”
Royce tilted his head, looking at me like I’d lost my mind. “Doubtful. My father’s spies are everywhere. They’re probably watching us now.” He looked around as if he expected to find someone lurking. “And it-it’s not really mine if it’s in your name, is it?”
“No. But.”
“I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but I have to play by the rules right now.”
“I don’t think you’re ungrateful. I understand the circumstances.”
“Then why did you do this? Is this like the toy event?” He looked confused, maybe angry, but his eyes flashed with something else. Maybe it was the fire and passion I loved seeing in him that always revved me up along with him. That was the look I wanted to see. “A prank?”
“What? No. Maybe. I wanted to make you smile. To give you one little piece of something. A Christmas surprise. To help get you through this.”
Royce sighed and let all the tension go, then stepped closer to me and reached up to wrap his arms around my neck. “Oh, Daddy. I do love it. And I’m glad you wanted to make me happy. But…” He pressed his face into my neck for a moment, then looked into my eyes. “…it doesn’t. It makes me feel like, like there’s one more thing I want that I can’t have.”
“Mm…but you want it.”
“I want.” He brushed his lips across mine. “It’s so unfair.” He pulled back unexpectedly, moods shifting faster than the motorcycle could go. “My stupid father.” He planted his hands on his hips. “You know I’m an only child.”
“Uh, okay, yeah.” We didn’t discuss his family often since it normally upset him, but I did know that much. His mother had a hard time with childbirth, unable to have another. But Royce suspected his father hadn’t wanted any more children, so his mother made sure, in her own way, that they didn’t have any.
“That means he has nothing else to focus on. Me. That’s it. And he won’t let go. Ever.”
I pulled him back to me, wrapping my arms around him and shaking him a little, until he wrapped his around me, too. “Don’t feel sorry for yourself. Let daddy take care of his pup. I want to make you happy. Please enjoy this, even if it’s only for a moment.” I reached down and grabbed the helmet I’d left beside the bike and handed it to him. It was the same red on the trim of the bike with a bright neon yellow stripe running down both sides.
Royce smiled, finally a little happier about the bike and put it on his head. “I’m sure it’s too late anyway, so…” With a laugh, he mounted the bike. “Once around the block.”
“You know how to ride one of these things?” I asked, wondering if I should have found that out before handing it over. Did he need lessons? I’d be happy to spring for those too, but no. Not my pup.
In the end, he hollered, “Hell yeah!” and started the bike up, taking off like a pro.
Chapter nine
Leaving Everything Behind
Royce
That damn motorcycle. I loved it. Loved Quinn for it, but it only made me realize, like Drew said, that in order to beat my father at this game, I was going to have to do what Father wanted. For a while. Until we could take him back to court and win.
That meant walking away from Quinn.
And Jax. My pup brothers. Everyone but Drew. I needed his help. And I had to stand there and watch Quinn take the bike away. He agreed to store it at his place until we could sort this shit out, but it had been as heartbreaking as it had been exhilarating. Then I went home, had dinner alone, and crawled into an empty-fucking-bed. At least it made it easier to get up early the next morning. I had other business to take care of.
Instead of the car my dad wanted me to drive, I took an Uber to Drew’s office and went inside for the meeting we’d scheduled. I didn’t want him to know where I was going, though he probably would anyway.
Drew’s entire office screamed wealth with its dark wood paneling, lush potted plants, and exquisite art on the walls. Even the chairs in the waiting room spoke to that—they were comfortable. He led me down the hall to a smaller room, decorated in a similar fashion. I thought I’d stepped into an old English study, expecting to see a large globe set up in the corner and for Drew to pass around cigars and brandy. But no, he gestured for me to sit in one of the chairs in front of his desk. “I invited Bruno to join us. He’ll be right in.”
