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CHAPTER TWENTY

ELSIE

“Ricky, try and eat some more, honey,” I plead with my ten-year-old.

He shakes his head. “No, I’m not hungry anymore.” He hiccups. “When will Dad bring Ruthie home?”

“I don’t know, baby, but I know they are doing all they can to find her. Kane will not stop until he brings her home,okay?”

He nods, his eyes red from crying.

“Ricky, did you know that Solo, Dutch and Kink are not my sons by blood?” Nadine says to him, and he nods. “When their mum passed away many years ago, I stepped into their lives, but I will never take her place as their mother. That is her title only. But I love those three men like they do carry my blood. Solo will love you like you and Ruthie are his own, that I believe. He is strong and fierce and loves with his whole heart, plus he never makes a promise he cannot keep. So if he said he will bring Ruthie home, you can bet that he will, okay, sweetie?”

Ricky nods. “Okay.”

“Dutch and I are going to America soon, and we are travelling around a little. Is there an American sports team that you like, Ricky? Perhaps we can visit and get you something from their shop,” Una offers.

His eyes go wide when she says this. His mouth parts in shock.

“Are you serious?” She nods. “I love American football. My fave team is the Miami Dolphins. They are amazing and they have a dolphin on their team logo,” he rushes out to explain.

“Well, I will make sure we add that to our list of places to visit.”

“Isn’t there an MC close to Miami?” Nadine asks.

“There is,” Adele chimes in after chewing her food. “The Rugged Skulls MC. They are a good club. I’ve heard Kink speak about them. Magnum is their president, and they are based out of Fort Lauderdale.”

“Wow, that’s a cool name for a club. The Rugged Skulls. Skulls are so cool,” Ricky gushes.

“Our name is better.” We jump when Tag steps into the room. “Royal Bastards is way better than Rugged Skulls.” He mimics the club’s name in a weird voice, making us all giggle.

He steps to Nadine, ruffling Ricky’s hair along the way, then kisses his woman. I have to look away because the kiss gets heated.

“Heard what you said, baby. Still fucking gets me in the heart.” He kisses her once more, this time more PG friendly.

“Got news, Els.” His voice suddenly turns serious.

“Do they have her?” I push to my feet and close the gap between us.

“They do. They are ten minutes out.” The smile that spreads across his face makes me see just how much he feels for my family.

“Mum, they have my sister back. Ruthie is okay, right, Tag?”

The big, older man drops down to his knees so he is face level with my son. His hands go to Ricky’s shoulders. “She is perfectly okay. The man she was handed over to, made sure his wife took care of your sister. Solo has her, kiddo. She is almost here.”

I sob when my son throws his arms around Tag’s neck, holding him tight, and I swear I see a tear slip down Pres’ face. Stepping to them, I slip my arms around them, and I hear the other women cry softly too.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

“No thanks needed, sweetheart. We are family. Now, let’s go and wait for your man and your baby girl.”

I nod and step away, noticing that Ricky is still gripping on to Tag for dear life. He looks up at the tall, older man and asks: “If Solo is now my dad, does that make you my gramps?”

I swear I see Tag’s eyes glisten even more, then he clears his throat.

“It would be an honour to be a grandfather to both you and Ruthie. I also know that Nadine would love to be a grandma, too.” He looks across to his woman, who nods, tears running down her cheeks.

My heart swells to twice its size seeing the love the club has been giving me and my kids. Both sides of their families are shit. They deserve the fucking world, and I know the Royal Bastards MC can give that to them and then some.

“I think me and Ruthie would be cool with you being our grandparents. Our other ones were shit.”

“Language,” I snap, but I hold no malice to my warning.

Tag chuckles. “I hear you, kid. Come on, let’s go wait outside.”

We all walk outside, Ricky sticking close to Tag. Nadine takes my hand, offering her support and love. Giving her a smile, we step into the bright, sunny July day. We stand and wait for the brothers to arrive, my baby girl with them.

I will not be satisfied that she is here and okay until I see her and check her for any injuries, though I also know Tag wouldn’t lie to me about her being okay.

I jump when I hear the rumble of the motorcycles. My heart skips a few beats, and my hand tightens around Nadine’s.

“She is okay. She is strong like her mum,” she assures me.

The gates open and in they ride. I can’t help the sob that breaks free when I see my darling sweet Ruthie sitting on Kane’s bike, securely in front of him. She’s wearing a helmet and is waving at us like a loon. She doesn’t look like a child who was kidnapped by her deranged junkie uncle.

Kane stops right in front of me and I can’t help but giggle seeing how okay and happy Ruthie looks.

“Mummy, did you see me? Wow, that was so cool riding on Daddy’s bike.” She gasps seeing her brother. “Ricky!” she screams, as they run towards each other.

“Wow, look at your cast. Does it hurt?” she questions her brother.

“Not anymore. Are you okay, Ruthie?” he asks, all humour gone from his tone.

Her smile drops, and I step closer, bringing her into my arms, needing to hold her. I pull Ricky in and we cry softly. I let my kids cry, because they need this. They need to know that it is okay to feel what they are feeling.

No one should be forced to hide what they feel.

“She is fine, baby. They took care of her,” Kane murmurs while wrapping all three of us in his big, secure arms.

“The prick who took her?” I hear Tag ask, but I keep my head down, kissing the tops of my babies’ heads.

“In the van. I will explain in Church. We are good. No war.” My heart jerks at the word ‘war,’ but I keep quiet. I know what club business is.

“Take your family to your room and relax for a bit. We will have Church in a few hours. They need to rest,” Tag directs.

“Will do,” Kane says, helping us stand. I pick up Ruthie, her little body wrapping around my own while Kane carries Ricky.

We make it to our room, and I sit on the bed with Ruthie still attached to me.

“What did they do to you, sweetheart? Did they hurt you?” I ask, cupping her face, using my thumb to wipe away her tears.

“When Uncle Alan took me to the house, the man in the suit called his wife to take me into another room. I don’t know what they did to him, but the woman was nice and the man in the suit was. They gave me food and some ice cream and let me watch TV. They never hurt me,” she confirms.

I look to Kane, who nods.

“Adrian Dyer had no part in her being taken, so when Alan arrived at his home, he made sure she was removed from him, but he had no idea who she was until we arrived.”

“What will happen to him?” I ask, even though I know I will not be given all the details.

Kane’s face hardens, but I know it’s not directed at me.

“Club business, baby, but know that he will never hurt any of you again.”

I nod in understanding as Ruthie yawns.

Laying us both down, Ricky lays down on her other side and Kane behind him. He looks at me over the kids’ heads as they drift off to sleep, but my mind won’t let me sleep in case they get taken. I never want them out of my sight again.

“Thank you for bring her back to us,” I cry softly.

Kane reaches over, brushing the tears away. “You are mine, Elsie. I would do any-fucking-thing for you. The three of you. I fucking love you.”

“I love you too, Kane Huskins. Our kids love you also. We know you will love us and keep us safe. They are happy and so am I. You are a great father to them, even in the short time you have claimed us.”

“Good, baby, because I plan on putting a baby inside of you soon. I want our family to grow.” He winks.

Shaking my head at him with a grin on my face, I watch as his eyes grow heavy and he drifts off to sleep like the kids. I watch my family, thinking of how lucky I am to have this. Most do not.

Domestic violence is something people can’t control or predict, and it takes so much fucking courage to walk away. I just wish there was more support out there for men and women who suffer from it.

Looking at what is right in front of me, my heart feels full for the first time in my life. I plan to hold on tight to it all, and like Kane said, expand on what we have, because there is plenty of love to go around.

When I arrived here running towards safety for me and my kids, and I saw how Kane stepped in to protect us without hesitation, I knew that one day I would be seized by Solo.