Royal

My phone rings and it’s my lawyer, Jim, whose name flashes across the screen.

“Hey, Jim. Have some good news for me?”

“I wish I did, Royal. Unfortunately, Ray King isn’t signing the paperwork. We might have to take him to court, which could be long and messy.”

“Fuck,” I bring my fist to my forehead and tilt back in my chair.

Zade and Nash look over at me from across the table with matching concern.

“Ray isn’t cooperating,” I explain to them.

Zade frowns and then holds his hand out for the phone. I hand it over without protest.

“Hi, Jim, this is Zade. Can you do me a favor and get us Ray’s address and we’ll stop by to pick up a copy of the paperwork he needs to sign.” Zade’s tone is full of authority, impossible for Jim to argue with. It’s hot as fuck. “Thanks Jim, we’ll see you shortly.”

“That was hot,” Nash echoes my own thoughts when Zade hangs up the phone. Zade just winks at Nash and then hands me back my phone.

“Hey, Liam,” Zade calls out.

“Yeah?” Liam comes into the kitchen.

“We have a thing we need to go take care of. You okay here alone?”

Liam rolls his eyes.

“I think I’ll manage.”

I’m not sure what exactly Zade’s plan is as we head out, but I can make a guess. I’m a little surprised Jim just gave up Ray’s address like that.

We stop by Jim’s office and pick up the paperwork and get the address. It turns out Ray only lives a half  hour away. Come to think of it, we easily could’ve asked Liam for his address, but the less involved he is the better.

It feels weird to know how close Ray lives. When I was a kid and my mom kicked him out, I always imagined he went far away, like across an ocean or something.

“You going to be okay?” Nash asks, reaching from his spot in the passenger seat and taking my hand.

“I never thought I’d see Ray again, so that’s a little weird. But, I’ve got you guys with me, so I’ll be okay.”

Nash gives my hand a little squeeze and we all fall into silence.

When we turn into the driveway at the correct address, I’m not at all surprised by the house that we see. To put it bluntly, the place is a piece of shit. The lawn is overgrown, the paint is chipped, and the roof needs new shingles. Fucking Ray.

“Can you give me the papers?” I ask Zade. “I’m going to talk to him, and you guys can stand there and look intimidating, okay?”

They both nod in agreement and we all get out of the car.

I feel like a total badass with my two burly men trailing me as we walk up to the house. It’s like I have my own Secret Service.

I raise my fist and pound on the faded red front door.

The sound of a glass clinking and feet shuffling comes through the muffled door before it opens.

He looks pretty much the way I remember, adding an extra two decades and god knows how much alcohol.

“I don’t want to buy anything,” Ray says after surveying me for a second.

I put my hand out to stop him from closing the door.

“That’s good, cause I’m not selling anything.” I take a step forward, keeping my hand on the door, my gaze hard. “I’ve got some paperwork you need to sign, can I come in?”

Ray blinks in confusion and then squints at me.

“Son?”

“Yup. Now how about you sign the paperwork so I can takeover care of Liam and we’ll all be out of your hair,” I suggest.

“Who’s Liam?”

I grumble in irritation.

“Clara.”

Ray grunts in understanding.

“Why do you want that little freak?”

“What’s it to you? I do want him, you don’t. Sign the paper and you never have to worry about either of us ever again.” I hold up the paperwork and raise an eyebrow.

“And who’re they? Your bodyguards?” Ray sneers, looking over my shoulder.

“My boyfriends.” I take pleasure in the disgust that flashes across Ray’s face.

“So I should sign over my parental rights so you can fuck up my daughter even worse than she already is?”

I feel the press of Zade’s body heat as he steps closer, just behind my left shoulder.

“Listen, Ray, if you don’t sign these papers we’re going to have a problem. Believe me when I tell you, you really don’t want to have a problem with me.” Zade’s voice is dark and dangerous, and gives me an inopportune chub.

Ray glares at Zade. He looks like he’s considering arguing, but instead he holds his hand out expectantly. I hurry to place the papers in his hand, and then offer him a pen I brought with me as well.

“Give me a second.”

The door closes and we wait. I reach back and take Nash and Zade’s hands, and we stand in silence.

Less than two minutes later Ray reappears and hands over the necessary forms.

“Get the fuck off my property, now. I don’t want to see you or that freak again.”

“Gladly,” I mutter and then the three of us turn and head for the car.

This time, Nash climbs in the back with me and puts his arm over my shoulder. The adrenaline from the encounter has me shaking. But, more than anything I’m glad that we’re one step closer to making everything with Liam official.

“I’m proud of you,” Nash says, kissing my cheek.

“Thanks for being there for me.” I lean my head against his shoulder and let out a long breath. 

We head straight back to Jim’s office to hand the paperwork over to him.

When Zade offers him the forms Jim eyes them suspiciously.

“You guys know I’m not a criminal lawyer, right? Am I going to need to put you in contact with one?”

I chuckle at Jim’s concern.

“We didn’t do anything to him. We talked and he saw our point of view, that’s all.”

Jim doesn’t look convinced, but he takes the papers and puts them into a folder on his desk.

“I’ll get these filed and then you’ll be receiving a call about a visit from the state to determine that you’re fit to adopt.”

“Thanks, Jim.”

“I’m starving, let’s go get Liam and all go out for dinner,” Zade suggests as we exit the office.

“Sounds good,” I agree, linking my arm through his, my other hand holding Nash’s.