Royally Bounded

Chapter 68

Hayden

"I realized how both of us are more similar than we believed. We grew up in a family with responsibilities. We have rules and traditions to follow. Both of us can never escape it, but I was lucky. I found freedom in you," Clara whispered, fumbling with my shirt collar.

I shut my eyes and pressed my lips against her head, taking in her floral scent that coated around my throat. Fuck, I was in love with Clara so damn much. We could lay in bed and talk about the most mundane parts of our lives. I fucking missed how easy we were with each other.

I kept my mouth shut, and Clara didn't say a word again. We held each other in silence, and I calmed myself from having her right in my arms. It was the fucking peace that I found as soon as she came to my life.

For years, I was trapped in my own world. I threw my anger out with violence. I punched walls and broke furniture because I had to release it out somewhere. I knew that Clara was never a fucking therapy to begin with, but she was someone I fucking love and the only person who never forced me to do anything. She gave me freedom like she said I was hers.

"Why don't we head for breakfast today?" Clara suggested, raising her head to look at me. "I think we can take some fresh air after what happened. I love being outside to relax."

I did a nod, and she smiled, kissing me on the lips. She went to wake up Xander and left me alone in the room. I rolled to my back, staring at the ceiling above me. I ran my tongue along my teeth as I thought about Jo and Zykov. My father used punishment to make Jo surrender. He must be out of his fucking mind if he was forcing me to give in.

I reached for my phone over on the nightstand and called Thomas. He answered instantly, ready to take a command. "I need you to find every person who has ever been connected to Zykov, including those that he secretly hidden."

* * *

Clara and I took Xander out to the downtown of Kledon. Emerson came with another body guard since Thomas was busy with the search. After we ordered our food, Clara looked around, almost as if she was searching for someone.

"Where's Thomas?" She asked, adding the sugar to both of our coffee. She stirred the spoon and waited for my answer. "He's usually here to protect us."

I glanced around, lowering down before I spoke in a quiet volume. "I ordered him to do a search to find people that were once linked with Zykov."

"What are you doing? Your father is going to be mad when he finds out. I don't want you in trouble."

"Trust me."

She pursed her lips, hesitating before nodding. I didn't plan on telling Clara, but we had enough secrets from the past. Our promise was to be open with each other about everything. I hated breaking more promises with her.

When the food came, Clara split some of the food for Xander first. She handed him a fork, and he hummed in satisfaction once he took a bite of the pancake. He added more syrup onto his. I switched my gaze over to Clara who was looking at our son with the motherly gaze. I knew nothing as a parent, but it was clear that she loved being a mum.

We fought about not having kids, but God played a fucking different game for us. We had our son, and I was still trying learn who to understand this shit. I hated responsibilities, but I fucking love her as the mother of my kids.

Clara stabbed a piece of waffle and guided to my lips. I stared at it, and she waited before I opened my mouth, tearing it off the fork.

"Open your mouth," I demanded when I tried to feed her my toast.