"Make sure you repeat yourself until Hunter nods." She looped the leash around his neck. "You know he only listens when he wants."
He cradled the dog under his arm and kissed Roma. That was the easiest way to get her to calm down and relax.
"I got this, baby girl." He kissed her again before walking to the clubhouse.
Inside, he found his MC brother. Hunter was the only one Roma trusted with the dog.
Waving his hand, he got Hunter's attention and then said, "Keep her alive."
Hunter nodded, setting Alanis on his lap. To his surprise, the puppy curled up and put her head down on Hunter's stomach with a deep sigh. He shook his head in wonder. Maybe dogs could sense where they were needed.
The low hum of engines grew louder. He grabbed a beer from Baker as the door flung open and everyone poured into the room. Halfway done with the bottle, he caught sight of Roma. She passed out drinks and bantered with the men with the ease only time and trust could bring. When he saw her mid-laugh and her head thrown back, cheeks flushed, he grunted in approval.
She wasn't only surviving anymore. She was blooming.
Rusty, who once refused to deal with Roma in the garage, now waved his hand in a heated debate over the difference between Jack Daniel and Benchmark. Vein called her "Sis" like they were raised together. And Flash, hard-edged as he was, gave her a nod of respect that only a few received from him.
She belonged. To them. To him. To Royalla.
Not staying away from him for long, she wandered off, first finding Alanis and then finding him. She waved before she reached him and then disappeared down the hallway. It wasn't like her to miss out on a get-together that she organized. She enjoyed when families showed up at the clubhouse because it gave her other women and children to talk to. Living with a bunch of men often bored her.
Baker approached, leaned against the wall beside Kodiak, and peered in the same direction. "Where'd she go?"
"Room. Maybe." He kept his gaze on the hallway.
He'd give her two minutes and then he'd check on her. She was looking forward to tonight, so it was unlike her to leave.
"All she's talked about this week was the get-together." Baker tipped back his glass. "You'd think she never had a birthday party before."
Every year, Baker made her a cake. The guys hanging out would gather in the clubhouse to sing her Happy Birthday. However, for some reason, this year, Roma declared that turning nineteen was a special occasion. And maybe it was. Ever since Chopper was killed, Roma kept her birthday low-key as if it wasn't the same with her dad gone.
Roma walked out of the hallway in her leather jacket and walked straight to him with determined steps.
She leaned against him and whispered, "Will you come outside with me?"
"Don't you want to blow out your candles first?" he asked.
She shook her head and tugged on his hand, leading him toward the door. "I have something to show you."
Rocco held the door open for them. He stepped outside, unsurprised when she led him toward the first picnic table. She stepped onto the bench and sat cross-legged on top, patting the wood, urging him to sit.
She slipped her hand into his. "I did something."
He raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"I accidentally overheard—no, it wasn't an accident. I eavesdropped on you." She wrinkled her nose. "It wasn't hard, you were talking to Hunter and practically yelling."
He cocked his head, playing through all the conversations she might've overheard. She inhaled swiftly and shook her head. He squeezed her hand, encouraging her to go on with what she had to confess.
"I knew what you were getting me for my birthday," she whispered.
"Figures." He chuckled. "Not much is secret around here with you."
"Where did you get it?" She inched closer. "Can I see it?"
Yesterday, he'd spent all morning hiding out in one of the spare rooms with Hunter while Baker kept Roma busy organizing the kitchen in the clubhouse. Then, last night, he had to be careful when he fucked her, to make sure she wouldn't see the surprise. He should've known she'd find out about it before he could show her.
He leaned back, pulled up his shirt, and showed her his stomach. She gasped, peering closer and then snapping her gaze up to meet his eyes.
