Page 31 of When You Stayed
“You’re in your fucking underwear, Royce. I told you that menfrom the club were completely off-limits. These were the conditions you agreed to when you refused to leave Rose Ridge. I told you this place wasn’t safe anymore. I told you it didn’t have to be college, but it had to be something. Anything to get away from here, and you agreed. You agreed to all of my terms.”
This view I had where I was essentially dragged behind Killian allowed me the perfect view of Royce running down the stairs after us, clutching Gus to her chest. Her tits bounced like in the video, and for once I didn’t look away, and I didn’t try to hide it. I watched, and I smiled.
“I’m in my pajamas!”
Killian laughed sardonically. “Royce, you’ve created enough of an issue for me, if you could put on some fucking clothes and keep them on, that would be helpful.”
“You don’t get to treat me like I’m a child. I may have agreed to your terms after you forced my boyfriend to propose to me, by the way!” Royce shrieked at Killian who had finally released me.
“I get to treat you how I see fit. I’m your father, and this is not a normal family or a normal situation. You can’t simply rebel and come out unscathed. You’re going to get yourself killed.”
“What is going on here?” Laura walked in through the kitchen, holding a paper bag of groceries.
Taryn pointed. “Ford devastated Royce, she was a wreck when I found her.”
Laura let out a small gasp while cutting her gaze to Royce.
“It wasn’t that serious, T.”
Her younger sister made some sort of sound. “You were in the onesie with the heated battery pack, Royce. You weren’t even searching for bands on Tik Tok, you were watching funny pet videos.”
“I got him back by stealing Gus…and not telling him that Dad would be home within minutes,” Royce clarified quickly as if she wanted to move on from what her sister had revealed, with a slight flush to her neck and face. Apparently, her sobbing with a blanket onesie was a big deal.
Gus was still purring as I finally gathered myself enough to swipe at the blood on my lip.
Laura set her bag on the counter and moved to the sink, coming back with a wet rag. “And who did this to you, Ford?”
I didn’t respond, so Taryn decided to. “Dad punched him twice then drug him down here by the back of the cut.”
Laura’s blue eyes scanned my face, her brow puckered the smallest bit, and then she released another sigh as she dabbed at my lip. “Need I remind you, Killian, that you are Ford’s godfather?”
“Daisy, don’t start. He was in Royce’s room while she was in her?—”
“Pajamas?” Laura cut him off with a raised brow. The two stood staring at one another in a silent battle. I took that as my cue to leave.
“Can I take him?” I held my hands out for my cat, and Royce handed him over with a guilty expression.
“Ford, we’ll talk about this later.” Killian said softly, still staring at his wife.
I shook my head, my jaw was bruised as shit, and I didn’t want to look at him. “You said everything that needed to be said, Killian. I heard you loud and clear.” With Gus in my arms, I didn’t look back as I exited the house and descended the porch steps.
I was nearly to my truck when the door opened, and someone’s feet moved behind me. Taryn caught up to me with her arms crossed over her chest.
“My sister feels guilty about this, but you should know it was my idea.”
Once I secured Gus into his carrier, I shut the passenger side door and made my way around the front.
She wanted a reply, and I knew she was nervous about how this would impact poor Royce who had a heart of gold and a conscience that couldn’t bear the thought of injustice. I used to love that about her, but now it was a bit insufferable. “Understood.”
“You going to keep being a dick to her?”
My eyes slid up, taking in what she was wearing for the first time, and then I smirked while closing the distance between us. “You going to explain to her why you’re wearing that?” I flicked my hand toward the thick, black sweatshirt she wore.
Her face flushed pink as she took a step back.
“Don’t go to war with me, wolf cub, and I won’t bring war to you.”
Her mouth twisted to the side before she tucked her arms in close. “You made her cry. I took that seriously. I can’t see her like that over you anymore.”
