Royal (Foster Bros #2)

Beginning

I never thought I’d see Saint have a boyfriend; his kind of kink is what I would call…intense. Others may say hard-core or even sadistic. But it’s not. Well, maybe a little, but he’s always cared for the subs he has scenes with.

Now he’s collaring not only his boyfriend, but his employee, Noah. Noah turned up out of the blue just over a year ago and all but demanded a job. He got himself a whole lot more.

I’m a big fan of physical displays; we are in a kink club after all, but I turn my head to talk to one of my brothers, Drake.

But his gaze is in the club. He frowns but continues to look. “Is that Memphis?”

I spin my head around so fast it’s like something out of a horror show, but I don’t see anyone. “Are you sure?” I look back at Drake.

“No, just got a glimpse of the guy. There was something familiar about him, that’s all.”

Should I go and look for him? I don’t bother; he left without a word, and none of us has seen or heard from him since.

My chest is burning as I try to slow my breathing down.

Fear and adrenaline have kept my legs pumping, forcing me to run faster and further away for too long.

With my hands braced on my knees, I bend over; I’ll tackle the stich in my side when I can breathe again.

I know they’re still behind me; I can hear them.

The smack talk gets louder as the three teenagers get closer to me.

As I look up, my hands still on my knees, they round the corner of the building.

“There you are, faggot. Not as fast as you think you are?” It’s Ben that speaks. I hate him with a passion that burns inside me. There’s not a single thing I can do to stop him. He throws something that hits my head, and fuck, stars burst in front of me as the pain shoots through me.

“Hey, kid, are you okay?” A deep voice comes from an open door.

I spring upright and look frantically to my right, hoping his voice carries to the fuckers chasing me.

They must have heard him. “Shit! Fuck! Run!” Footsteps rush away in another direction, and I wobble as the blood on my head drops to my feet. God, don’t let me faint.

“Jesus, what happened to you? Come over here, son. Let me take a look.”

I shake my head. Again, not a good idea since the dizziness returns. I take a couple of steps back. He only needs to take a couple of strides on his incredibly long and muscly legs to reach me. When he cups my chin, I cringe and turn away. “Stay still, let me look.”

The tone of his voice strikes a chord inside me.

It’s kind but determined, dominant even, and I can only acquiesce.

His gentle hand holds me still as he looks over my face.

I have no idea what it looks like, but I know my right eye is swollen and closing.

A tear slips through the puffy skin to slide down my cheek.

“You poor thing, come on. I’m going to get you fixed up, and you can tell me how this happened.” He drops his hand as I begin to shake. Instead of letting me leave, he supports me as we walk to the door. I have no clue where I am or what I’m walking into, but it feels safer than my home.

It turns out to be a gym, the huge is room full of weight stations and machinery. Most of the equipment is being used by huge, muscled men. It smells of clean sweat, and I don’t know what to call the other smell, it’s just masculine.

After I sit on a leather bench, another couple of men come over. “Jesus, Kip, what happened to him?”

Ah, I have a name for my saviour. “Looks like the kid was being chased, but the damage had already been done.” He looks to me. “What your name, kid? How old are you?”

“Royal, and I’m sixteen.” I know that has surprised them. I look younger because I’m small and thin.

He gives me a soft smile, his eyes crinkling at the sides, and for the first time since mum died, I feel safe. “Okay, Royal, can you tell me what happened? Who were they?”

The no bullshit voice was back. I knew I had no choice but to talk, and for once, I felt safe enough to tell the truth.

“It was the son of the family I’ve been placed with.

He and his friends are wankers, and this is their idea of fun.

” I sniffle. My nose is running, and I can’t stop the sob as more tears build and fall.

“No one gives a shit what they do to me. It wasn’t too bad before they found out; it was just pushing and shoving, some name calling. ”

“Found out what?” Kip asks, and I shake my head. I don’t want to talk about it; they’ll probably be disgusted too.

“You’ve told people, his parents?” another man asks as he passes me a folded towel.

“They believe him when he says it wasn’t him. That he saw me trip and fall. My social worker doesn’t want the hassle of having to move me again and says that I must try harder to fit in with the family.”

“That shit stops now,” Kip says vehemently, and the others nod. “You’re safe from them now, and you don’t have to go back there again.”

“You can’t do that; I have to go back. My things are there. I don’t have much, but it’s all I have left of before.”

“Before what?” the man who gave me the towel asks.

“Before my mum died.” I cry again, using the towel to cover my face.

“I’ll start making the calls,” he says.

I move the towel down as Kip sits next to me.

“I’m a registered foster parent. I already have one lad around the same age as you staying with us.

You can meet him later; he’s at home with Robin, my husband.

He works in social services. And Steve here will talk to social services now.

He’s a solicitor and specialises in child protection.

” He jerks his thumb at one of the huge men with him.

“No, no, they’ll make me go back.” I don’t know what to think. I want to believe him; he doesn’t look like he’s lying. Wait, he said husband. I look up at him. “Wait! You’re married to a man?”

“I am. Is that a problem for you?” His expression has hardened a little. I try to shake my head, but it hurts too much.

“No, I’m…um, I’m gay,” I whisper out the words. “That’s why those boys were chasing me—they think it’s fun to beat me up.”

“Listen, Royal. I promise you that stops they will never bother you again. There’s a reason you found yourself outside my gym, and it was the chance to change your life. Do you believe me?”

I don’t trust myself to believe in him. I don’t believe that saying that everything happens for a reason.

There’s no good reason for my mum dying.

Nor does being bullied and pushed around make me stronger.

“I don’t know. I get that you have no reason to lie, but I’ve not had many reasons to trust what any adult says to me lately. ”

“Okay, I understand that. I’ll just have to prove it to you. I think the first thing we need to do is get you checked out at the hospital. We can talk to the police while we’re there to report the attack.”

“No!” I stand up, and again, it’s too fast, and I feel dizzy again. “I’m not talking to the police. All they’ll do is force me to go back to them.” Panic rises inside me. “They did last time.”

Kip steadies me, stopping me from collapsing. “Okay, okay. Take a breath…and another one.” I copy him and feel a little better. “I’ll get Steve to talk to the police after he’s sorted everything else out. We can go and get your belongings too.”

“I don’t want to go back there.”

Steve came back to us. “It’s getting sorted. Your social worker is on his way here, but don’t worry, we’re here to sort that out for you. I’m going to take some photographs of your injuries if that’s okay. We can clean you up then.”

“I’ve already told Kip that I’m not going to the police.” I fold my arms across my chest but wince when they press against my ribs.

“Royal, I think we should go somewhere more private. I think you’re more hurt than you’re letting on.” Kip helps me to my feet and leads me to the side of the gym and a doorway. “My office is just through there.”

I give in. I’m exhausted, and I’ve had enough of fighting and being frightened.

I want to get clean and go to sleep. I don’t even care if I have to go back to the Watson’s.

Kip’s office is neat and tidy; there’s a sofa against the wall opposite his desk, and I’m relieved when he eases me down onto it.

The room is spinning—I think I’m going to throw up.

I try to lie down, but the room goes black.

I wake up with the smell of disinfectant in my nose.

My hand feels too heavy when I try to lift it up to my nose.

I try opening my eyes, but it’s too hard.

Slowly, I blink a couple of times, and even that is difficult.

When I can finally focus, all I can see is the mottled ceiling tiles and curtains around me. A beeping gets louder as I panic.

“Steady, Royal. You’re okay.” The voice seems familiar, but I’m not sure who it belongs to.

“No, no, no. I need to get out of here.” I try to sit up, but I don’t have the strength. “What’s going on? Why am I here?”

“You collapsed in my office last night. Do you remember what happened?”

“You’re Kip. I was in your gym after Ben chased me.” Why is he still here?

“Yes, that’s right. The stone he threw caused quite a blow to your head. You were wobbling a lot before. I’m sorry I didn’t recognise the concussion earlier.”

“Can I go home? I hate hospitals.” I bite my lip, and my chin wobbles when I remember that I probably don’t have a home to go to. “What’s going to happen to me? I can’t go back there.”

“No, it’s all been sorted. You can stay with me and Robin if you still want to?”

I nod my head but wince when it makes it throb. “My head hurts.”

“You’re going to have a horrible headache for a couple of days.

The doctor will be in later, and the police want to talk to you.

They had to get involved, the 999 call was enough to set the wheels in motion.

I believe they have already reprimanded the ones that attacked you, but I don’t know any more than that.

Your social worker will be able to help you through it all. ”

“I don’t want to see him again. He knew and did nothing. The police should be talking to him too.”

“I agree, and you have been appointed a new one. I think you’ll like her; she’s looking after the kids we have. She’ll be in to meet you soon.”

“What time is it?”

“About four-thirty. In the morning, that is.”

“Why are you here?”

“I wasn’t going to leave you alone here. I knew you would panic when you worked out where you were. You’ll learn quickly enough that when it comes to my kids, I’ll go to the moon and back to make them happy and safe.”

Tears poured freely again down my face and only got worse when Kip wiped them away for me. “Thank you.”

“Go back to sleep. You’ll feel much better in the morning.”

Kip was right, when the morning comes, I feel much better and will be allowed to go home once my social worker gets here. That’s any minute now. I’m waiting on the edge of my bed, wearing clothes Kip brought in for me. They aren’t mine, but they’re new, and he says I can keep them.

A woman pops her head around the curtain, her curly red hair seeming to escape from a plait. Her smile looks genuine, and her eyes sparkle. “Hey, Royal, right?”

“Um yeah, that’s me.”

“Good, I’m Ella, your new social worker, but I’d rather we didn’t put too many labels on us. I’d much rather be friends. I have a couple of things we need to run through before I can set you free from here. Are you feeling well enough to go through some paperwork?”

I nod and let her get it over with. She talks about what is happening with the Watsons and about my belongings; we are going to go and collect them together. Then she talks about Kip and his family. “Are you happy to be placed with them?”

“I’d rather them than some people I don’t know. The next lot could be just as bad as the Watsons.”

“I’m sorry you had such a dreadful time and that you weren’t listened to and taken seriously. You’ve been let down. I promise that won’t happen with me.”

Kip shows up just as we finish. “Is someone ready to break free?” he chuckles. His demeanour doesn’t match his bodybuilder physique. He’s so friendly and open. I have a good feeling about him and what will happen next.

It’s only Mrs Watson at the house, and she doesn’t even look at me. All she does is open the door to let us in and then slam it firmly shut when we leave.

“Good riddance to her.” Kip pats my back gently as he takes the large holdall from me.

We drive across the town together. Ella is going to meet us at the house. “Robin is looking forward to meeting you. He’s a hugger, but I’ve warned him to be gentle with you. I’m not sure if he’ll remember though.”

Kip pulls up on the wide drive of a big house. It’s a new house and is bigger than anywhere I’ve lived before. “I take up a lot of space.” He grins when he sees me take it all in.

“It’s lovely,” I say quietly. Then the front door opens and a man I guess is Robin stands there. He’s smaller than Kip but still looks like he knows his way around their gym.

“Ready?”

I nod, but I’m not sure I am. Too late now, I think.

“Oh, look at you, those animals should be strung up by their balls.” Robin holds my arms gently as he looks me over. “You’ll be beautiful again in no time. Come on in and meet our kids.” He kisses my cheek softly.

There are three boys inside and all are grinning at me. I didn’t know they had more than one foster kid. Maybe because only one is my age, maybe even a little older than me.

“Royal, this is Saint, Knox, and Drake.”

I only have to look at Saint to know I’ve found my person. My best friend.