Page 16 of Wildcard's Wager

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 massivepaw for Colt to slap. Puma chuckles when Colt slaps it before retreating to Wildcard’s side.

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