Page 24 of Chill’s Chance

“Because the club is family?” I ask, looking at her. She nods. “This club, Puma, and the others. They’re your family?” She nods again. “I felt it, felt the connection when we were at the casino. One reason I never considered leaving the service before now was because I couldn’t imagine how I’d ever replace that sense of brotherhood.”

Chill turns away, but not before I see the sadness in her eyes. Again, I wonder why she left the Marines. I’m getting a feeling that it wasn’t just because of me.

“Are you ever going to tell me why you really left the corps?” I ask her.

She shakes her head. “Goodnight.” She strolls off before I can stop her. I consider going after her, but I don’t. I need to spend time with my son and I recognize the futility of chasing her down. She won’t tell me until she’s ready. If she’s ever ready is a whole other question.

Puma comes up behind me, just as the credits roll on the movie the kids are watching. “Bed time!” Puma booms out, which has the kids whipping their head around to us. Elina and Mal slide off the couch and run to Puma. He lifts them both up as if they are cushions rather than five-year-olds.

“Story!” Elina begs. “Please?” She has her chin tucked down to her chest and flutters her eyelashes at him.

“I don’t know. Have you guys behaved yourself today?” He asks them as he walks away. I hear both Mal and Elina assuring him they were perfect angels.

I glance at Slade. “Did you want to go with them?” I ask him, but he shakes his head. “How about we go to your room and talk?”

He nods and takes my hand as I lead him down the hall to his room. I wait for him to brush his teeth and get ready for bed. Once I have him tucked in, I pull a chair up next to the bed. Taking a deep breath, I start. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you when you needed me. I thought I was doing the right thing, staying in the service.”

“You did. You’re a hero.” Slade says, his green eyes so much like mine. He’s my mini me. I barely see any of Nicole in him, and that makes me sad. “Mom was proud of you and she told me I should be proud of you, too.”

“Really?” I ask and he nods. “What happened?” I ask. “The last time I was home, you guys were living in a nicer place.”

Slade frowns. “Don’t get mad at her. She had a problem.”

“Drugs?”

He shakes his head. “Gambling. I have friends at school who have parents with a gambling addiction. They told me the signs to look for and when I found them, I confronted her.”

Closing my eyes in shame, I take a deep breath. If I had stuck around long enough, I might have seen the signs. But I didn’t. Instead, I left my seven-year-old son to deal with it alone. I open my eyes when I feel Slade touch my knee.

“It isn’t your fault. I don’t blame mom, either. She was trying to stop, but it was too late. She owed too much money. At least that’s what she told me before they showed up.”

“A cop is coming tomorrow to talk with you. He’s a detective and someone that the club trusts.” I rush on when I see the worry in his eyes. “You won’t be alone with him, I promise. I’ve met him. He seems like a good guy. We told him about the cop working with the man who hurt your mom. The detective agreed to come here by himself to get your statement. He promises not to tell anyone where you are.”

“Is he Showtime’s boyfriend?” He asks. I nod. He takes a deep breath. “Ok, I’ll talk to him. Showtime said he was one of the good ones and I trust her because Elina said so.”

I tuck him in and kiss his forehead. “I think you can trust everyone here. And I’m not leaving you again. I promise.”

I sit with him until his breathing even outs and I know he’s asleep. Outside his room, I find Puma coming down the hall towards me.

“Sleeping?” He asks and I nod.

“I have something to talk with you about.” I say. “Would it be possible to stay on as a prospect? Make it official?”

“Have you talked with Chill about this?” Puma asks and I nod. “And she’s ok with it?” I nod again. “It’s fine by me. We can always use prospects. But if you hurt Chill…”

“You’ll kill me. Got it.”

Puma barks out a laugh. “Fuck, I won’t kill you. She can do that herself. Maybe you should come with me, see Chill in action. See if you’re willing to risk it.”

I nod and follow him. He’s piqued my interest.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: CHILL

I enter The Pit to find my new ‘friend’ ready to play. Dice has stripped him to his boxers before placing him in a narrow box that is barely wide enough to hold his girth. The box is waterproof and made of plexiglass. This is important because we’re playing with water today. Ice water.

One of the first things I added to The Pit when I became SOA was an industrial ice machine, like the ones you see in hotels. I feel Alberto’s eyes on me when I move over to the ice maker and, using a scoop, fill a bucket full of ice. I can almost hear his mind working it out. Puma promised him an example of how I got my name, so I imagine he knows what I plan to do with the ice. I turn to see a puzzled expression on his face. Ok, maybe he hasn’t figured it out yet. But he will. Soon.

As I carry the bucket over to our prisoner, the door opens and Puma enters with Hunter. I raise my eyebrow at Puma, questioning this move. I think Hunter was honest when he said he wanted to join us and that he is loyal to the club after everything we did to find his son. But this is trial by fire. Or in this case, ice. I shrug off my concern. If he turns on us, I’ll kill him. That’s my job. And hell, maybe it will be a good idea for him to see what I’m capable of before we take our relationship further.

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