Page 352 of The Morally Grey Billionaires Boxset

Knight

"It’s going to be okay." She places her hand over my joined ones.

We’re at the social services’ office, waiting to meet Adam’s daughter Bianca.

She’s been staying with a foster family the last few months.

All of my money hadn’t helped me fast-track the process of adopting her.

I suppose that says something positive about the foster care system—they won't allow just anyone to adopt, regardless of how much money they have.

On the other hand, it can't be healthy to delay the placement of children with their adoptive families.

In the end, Bobbie's passing away accelerated the process. She went to sleep and never woke up. The nurse at the hospital told us she passed peacefully. The call I received was from the hospital, and when we arrived, they told us the news. They mentioned she’d had lucid moments over the past few months, when she was aware I wasn’t her husband, but her husband’s friend.

Unfortunately, she flitted in and out of reality.

Luckily, one of those lucid moments also resulted in a letter to child protective services specifying her wishes that Penny and I be permitted to adopt her child.

She said she couldn’t think of a better couple to step in for her and Adam.

She also said she hadn’t wanted her daughter to see her in the state she was in, so she’d made the decision not to see Bianca, even though it broke her heart. This was right for her daughter. She was leaving the stage wide open for Penny and me to walk into Bianca’s life as her parents.

The letter gutted me. I’m not ashamed to say I found a tear running down my cheek. Thankfully, my wife was there to console me. We held onto each other, and I allowed myself to absorb comfort from her. After all, that’s what marriage is about, right?

I'm not hiding my weaknesses from her anymore. I now realize there's courage in sharing. There’s bravery in baring my deepest fears. Leaning on her doesn’t take away from my manhood; it adds to my grit, my guts, and my depth.

And allowing her to comfort me, to recognize the man I truly am, is the most satisfying sensation.

Almost as fulfilling as making her happy in every way.

As fulfilling as allowing her to hold my hand as we wait for the three-year-old who’s going to change our lives to join us.

We'd arranged for a small private burial for Bobbie and came to the social services office from the cemetery. I threw all of my power and influence at the system, and also took Sinclair’s help in moving the paperwork along.

I didn’t want my daughter to be spending another night away from her family.

I hear footsteps approaching, then the voice of a little girl exclaiming, " Are we going to meet my… new parents? Do you think they’ll be okay for me to take my little Kitty along?" She walks in with her foster caregiver, a middle-aged woman with a kind face.

When Bianca spots us, her blue eyes grow round.

She has dark blonde hair which has been braided on either side of her cherubic face.

She’s wearing a pink dress that falls above her knees, and on her feet, she has sparkly, pink ballet pumps.

She’s holding a soft toy in the shape of a kitten in her hand. Her footsteps slow and she trails back.

Her foster mom turns to her and says, "It’s okay, honey; they were friends of your mummy and daddy. They're going to take care of you now. Do you remember what we talked about?"

She nods slowly, as she takes in both of us.

Her foster mum comes to a stop in front of us. "Do you want to say hello to your new mommy and daddy?"

Her lower lip trembles. She looks from Penny to me, then back to Penny, and her big eyes grow teary. "They don't look like mommy and daddy."

"Oh, sweetheart, don’t cry." Penny drops to her knees and holds out her arms. "Your mommy and daddy asked us to take care of you because they can't be here anymore. We love you so much, darling."

She sniffs, then takes a step forward, another. She releases her hold on her foster mother, and instead, grips the kitten with both of her hands. She walks toward Penny. "Are you my new mommy?"

"I am, baby."

"And you won't leave?"

Penny's chin quivers. "No, we won't leave you. We'll be here for you forever and ever and—"

She throws herself at Penny, who hugs her close.

Penny buries her face in Bianca’s hair. "I have you, baby, I have you."

I look down at the two shiny blonde heads, so similar to each other, and my heart expands in my chest. I blink back tears as a warmth fills me, and a tingling shivers up my spine.

It’s a sensation that tells me I have everything I want.

Everything I didn’t realize I was looking for, and it’s been given to me.

This time, I’m not going to screw it up.

This time, I’m going to ensure I hold onto it and be grateful for it every day that I’m alive.

This is why I came back. This is why my life was spared.

So I can do my best, every single moment, for the rest of my life, to become the kind of human who makes them proud.

I squat down until I’m on eye level with both of them.

"I’m Knight. I was your daddy's best friend."

Bianca steps back, one hand now gripping Penny’s. "You’re my new daddy?" She looks at me with those big blue eyes, and for the second time in my life, I’m a goner.

"I am, honey. And I’ll make sure you’re always cared for. I’m here to take care of you from now on."

She slowly closes the distance to me, then reaches up and touches the scar on my cheek, the one I almost forgot about. "Did it hurt?"

I nod. "But I’m okay now, thanks to your mama."

Penny smiles at me. A real smile. No more fake smiles from my woman.

I plan to give her every reason to mean each one of them.

Bianca looks at me from under her eyelashes, a shy expression on her features.

"My kitty also has a scar." She holds up her ragged, soft toy and sure enough, there’s a tear on her face that was stitched up.

"Do you want me to kiss it better for her?" I ask.

When she nods, I lower my head and carefully, and with utmost seriousness, press a kiss to the kitten’s forehead.

She brings her kitten to her ear and pretends to listen to it. "Kitty says she’s feeling much better now."

My lips quirk. "What else does she say?"

"That I’m going to be very happy."

"Is she asleep?"

"Out like a light." Penny sinks down onto the sofa next to me. "She couldn’t stop telling me how much she loves her room and her new toys. I’m sure she’d have loved Tiny, too, if he were here."

"It would have hurt her when he moved back with Isla and Liam. We did the right thing in asking Rick to dog sit him until they return."

"That’s true." She cuddles into my side. "That little girl has seen enough loss in her life. She needs stability and routine."

It’s why we moved out of the penthouse and into a townhouse before bringing Bianca home.

No more glass and chrome, this place is wooden floors, high ceilings, and sunshine pouring in through the big bay windows.

And there are no hidden rooms. I don’t need one.

I’d be lying if I said I don’t wake up with nightmares about my ordeal, but their frequency has decreased.

The sessions with the psychologist have helped, and curling my body around my wife’s in our bed at night ensures I sleep well most nights.

She supplies the comfort I seek. As for the control I’m searching for?

Isn't it obvious? I get it when I dominate her.

This compulsion to keep her safe and secure, and above all else, to care for her feeds my need to stay in charge.

From the moment Penny entered my life, it began changing for the better.

It’s thanks to her, and now, Bianca that this place feels like home.

We chose a house with a big back garden with a swing-set and a slide so Bianca can keep herself entertained.

And the bonus? It’s next-door to Cade and Abby’s.

And it's within walking distance of the Seven—who've all purchased homes in the neighborhood—and Michael’s, as well as JJ’s—on Primrose Hill.

When Abby told us this place was going on the market, it was a no-brainer.

She lifts my arm, then nestles in under it. "It’s nice to be close to everyone. And with so many of us here, it feels like we own all of the Hill."

I laugh. "Today Primrose Hill; tomorrow the world," I laugh, do my best impression of a comic book villain.

Penny joins my laughter. "That reminds me, has Rick accepted his role as the Captain of the London Ice Kings?"

"Not yet, but he’s considering it.”

"I have to say, it came as a surprise. I didn’t realize he played ice hockey professionally."

I nod, "For the NHL, no less. But he had a falling out with his manager. Lost his temper, beat up the guy, and was expelled from the team."

"Rick?" She frowns. "You mean the same Rick who barely speaks, and went on to join the Royal Marines?"

"Guess he grew up. He was drafted in at seventeen, amongst the youngest ever, played until he was twenty-one, until this unfortunate incident, then quit, returned to the UK, joined the Marines, and went on to serve with me. He’s older than me and was a captain when I joined. "

"Why did he leave?"

I frown. "That’s not my story to tell."

"Was he injured?"

I shake my head. "Can’t reveal that. What I can say is that he was awarded the Victorian Cross, the highest decoration in the British honor system, and then he retired."

"Wow, how old is he?"

"Not too old to lead the team, and with Finn on there, as well, he has all the support he needs."

"Not to mention Gio."

I nod. "Your friend is perfect for the role of Marketing and PR Director for the London Ice Kings.”

"Hmm." She scowls up at me. "You realize, she and Rick don’t get along, right?"