Chapter Ten Brigit

CHAPTER TEN: brIGIT

Seeing Wildcard tear up as he holds his son has me doing the same. I've dreamed of the two of them connecting ever since I held Colt for the first time. I wasn't completely honest with Wildcard about why I didn't call him when I discovered I was pregnant. The biggest reason was the potential danger of Squiggy discovering my location, but it wasn't the only reason. The fear of Wildcard rejecting me and my child kept me from making that call. However, watching them together makes me feel like I failed them both.

Pushing away from the table, I fast walk back to my bedroom and duck into the bathroom. After turning on the sink to cover my sobs, I slide to the floor. All my pent-up emotions burst through. I try to stop when I hear the door open and close. Wildcard slides down next to me and pulls me close. He says nothing until I get my sobs under control.

"What's wrong?"

"Everything?" I reply, making him chuckle. "I kept you from your son and kept my son from his father. Seeing Mike murdered and seeing you shot. Knowing my father is the one who shot you, and knowing that he's out of jail, but no one told me. I'm so scared. Scared you and Colt will hate me. Scared that the mob will find me or the cops will arrest me. It's just too much."

He rubs my arm as I list my grievances. "Okay, let's start with the easiest. You explained why you didn't reach out to me about Colt. While I would have loved to have been there for his first five years, we can't change the past. I just want to be part of his life from now on. So, I'm hoping you plan on sticking around Vegas. If not, we'll figure it out. Together."

I open my mouth to speak, but he places his finger over my lips. "We're not talking about it right now. Let's work on the other problems first." When I nod in agreement, he removes his finger. "Don't worry about Colt right now. He's fine. He's happy and seems excited about getting to know me. If he wants to know more when he's older, we'll deal with it then. As for the rest, let's get you and Colt packed so we can head over to the clubhouse. Puma needs to hear what happened in Boston. You have us in your corner and we will make sure no one gets to you. Not even the cops."

Closing my eyes, I lean against Wildcard and let myself relax. For the first time since Wildcard left me in Boston, I don't feel alone. Wildcard doesn't let me wallow. He stands up and takes me with him. "I'll help Colt pack, You grab your stuff."

Wildcard leaves me to gather my belongings. I smile when I hear him and Colt chattering away. Carrying my bag, I walk into the sitting area to find my two men patiently waiting, although Colt's legs are bouncing with youthful energy.

"Did you get everything?" I asked him. Colt nods.

"I did a quick scan," Wildcard says. "Don't worry. If we left anything, the cleaning staff will put it in my office."

"You work here?" Colt asks.

"I manage the hotel."

"Mommy works in a hotel," Colt informs him.

"I heard," Wildcard says, giving me a sympathetic look when I wince at the reminder. "You worked in HR, right?"

"I was the HR Manager."

His grin widens. "Really? That might come in handy. Our current HR Manager is not suited for the job. Maybe I can talk your mommy into coming to work for me?"

I smirk at Wildcard when Colt offers his enthusiastic support for the idea with a cheer.

"Then we can stay here with you, right daddy?" Colt asks him.

Seeing the expression on Wildcard's face confirms I made the right decision coming here. If I was honest with myself, my goal has always been to come back here. Back to Wildcard.

As we get closer to the clubhouse, my nerves grow. By the time we're standing at the front door, I'm shaking. Wildcard notices and takes my hands in his after tilting my chin up.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't know. For some reason, I'm freaking out."

"Because you saw me get … hurt?" Wildcard says with a glance at Colt.

I close my eyes and shake my head. It isn't the image of Wildcard that flits behind my eyes. It's the image of the clubhouse the last time I was here. "I'm thinking of when I was seventeen…" Wildcard squeezes my hands in acknowledgment. No reason for me to continue.

"Then, let's dispel that image," Wildcard says, opening the door and pulling me inside. My eyes fly open at the sound of laughter. Squiggy and his men were laughing that day, too, but their laughter was different. Darker. Meaner. This laughter is light and full of joy. I don't just hear men laughing, but I hear women, too. The scene in front of me could be that of a regular bar. Women and men sit together talking and drinking. Many of the women sit on men's laps, snuggling into them. They're obviously comfortable and no one appears forced into their position. There aren't any women writhing on the floor or kneeling in front of the men. Everyone is wearing all their clothes.

"Brigit," calls a voice I haven't heard in over six years. Turning, I see my dad hurrying towards us. He gives Wildcard an apologetic look before enveloping me in his arms. God, I missed this. Missed hugging my dad and hearing his voice. I revel in the feel of being home before backing away and turning to Colt.

"Dad, there is someone I want you to meet. This is your grandson, Colt. Colt, this is your grandfather."

My dad kneels in front of my son and places his hand on Colt's shoulder.

"Are you really my grandpa?" Colt whispers.

"I am. Why don't you call me Gramps?"

"My friend Jeff has a grandpa. He takes Jeff fishing. Will you take me fishing?"

"I've never been fishing. But I'd be willing to learn. Maybe we can learn together?"

"Okay!" Colt says before giving his newfound grandfather a hug. From my position, I can see my father's face. He has his eyes squeezed shut, but that doesn't stop the tears from tracing down his grizzled cheeks.

When Colt releases him, my dad rises and stares holes through Wildcard. "She was barely 18," he growls. "I trusted you and …"

"Enough!" The shout makes us all jump. I see Colt's eyes widen in fear as he watches the mountain walk toward us. "Don't start that sh… feud up again." My dad nods in apology.

"I'm Puma, President of the club. You're Brigit and this young man has to be Colt?" Puma flattens out his massive paw for Colt to slap. Puma chuckles when Colt slaps it before retreating to Wildcard's side.

"Daddy, is he a giant?" Colt loudly whispers to Wildcard, which has Puma belting out a laugh that I swear shakes the walls.

"He looks like one, doesn't he?" Wildcard says. "He used to be a professional basketball player."

Colt's eyes widen. "Really? I love basketball."

"Me too," Puma says. "Maybe we can talk your dad into playing with us sometime."

Colt sends a pleading look up to his father, who nods.

"You owe me five dollars," says a little girl who stands next to Puma.

He reaches down and scoops her up so they're eye-to-eye. "Why do I owe you five dollars?"

"You almost said a bad word," the adorable little girl replies. She has dark brown hair and eyes the color of rich milk chocolate.

"But I didn't. Almost doesn't count. That was the deal."

She sighs. "Might as well pay me now. You know you'll have to later."

He chuckles and tickles her. "Who taught you to shake me down?"

She shrugs and looks down at Colt. She shifts in Puma's arms until he lowers her to the ground. Elina sticks her hand out to Colt. "I'm Elina. Who are you?"

"I'm Colt."

Elina studies Colt and then Wildcard. "Mission accomplished," she says to Wildcard before shifting her attention back to Colt. "Want to go outside and play with us?"

"I'll go with you," my dad offers. The objection is on my lips. I don't want to be a helicopter parent, but I don't know anyone here or how safe their equipment is.

"They're safe outside. We have several adults watching them, but I'll give you a tour," says a beautiful woman of Mexican descent. Her hair is the same shade as Elina's, but her eyes are a darker brown. "I'm Elina's mom and this guy's woman." She hip bumps Puma in his thigh. Puma places his arm around the woman's shoulder and draws her close before leaning to kiss her.

"You must be Alisa," I blurt out.

Alisa smiles at me. "I am."

"Sorry, it's just that I checked into the hotel as a guest of Alisa's. Wildcard mentioned how it came to be."

"This club saved my life, and the life of my daughter. They'll help you, too."

"We should talk," Puma says. "Give Brigit the tour and then bring her to my office. I'll grab Spark."