Page 9 of Chill’s Chance

“Did you ever check your accounts?” I ask him. He shakes his head.

“I trusted her. I know that’s probably stupid, because of how we got together. We didn’t love each other, but she promised to care for Slade. It’s the only reason we got married.” Hunter says, his eyes on the ceiling so he doesn’t see me share a look with Puma.

“One more thing.” Spark says. “I checked that address you gave me, the one where she was living when you came out for your last visit?” Hunter nods. “Turns out the place belongs to a woman who was out of the country on a world cruise for six months. When she returned, she discovered that someone had been living in her home during that time. I found a police report she filed.”

“What the hell did I marry?” Hunter explodes.

“Maybe you should start at the beginning.” Puma suggests. “Maybe it can help us figure out what happened to Nicole and Slade.”

Hunter nods as he leans against the wall. “Fuck. I met Nicole when I was in boot camp at a bar one night. We hooked up. It was a one-night stand. She contacted me a few weeks later and told me she was pregnant. We used protection, but the condom broke. We got married before I shipped out.”

“You married her without finding out for sure he was your kid?” Spark asks.

Hunter shrugs. “I thought about getting a DNA test, but I realized it didn’t matter that much. By getting married, she’d have access to my insurance and she and the baby would have my income. I didn’t need it, she did. I figured even if the kid wasn’t mine. It wasn’t his fault. I didn’t have anyone I cared about, and I liked Nicole. I didn’t want her or the child to suffer, not if I could do something about it.”

“So you got married?” I ask, and he nods.

“We weren’t in love. Neither of us went into it with that expectation. But we were friends, and we both loved Slade.” Hunter continues. “Nicole and I had an agreement. If either of us found someone else, we’d divorce, amicably. We’d share custody of Slade.” He looks at me. “When I came home after we met, I told Nicole that I found someone. You. She agreed to a divorce.”

I stare at him, stunned. “Why didn’t you tell me before you left?”

He shrugged. “I thought I owed it to her to tell her first. I didn’t know you’d find out while I was gone. That was the worst-case scenario. I thought you’d at least give me a chance to explain, but you left.”

I take a deep breath, because I’m very much tempted to shoot his ass. Worst case. Yeah, it was the worst case for him, but he does not know how much worse it was for me.

CHAPTER SIX: HUNTER

When Chill goes pale, I glance at Puma. He and Spark are watching her as if she’s a bomb ready to go off. I open my mouth to speak, but I don’t know what to say because I don’t know what I said that caused her reaction.

Puma turns to me, I’m sure to give Chill time to compose herself. “We need to find your son. Is there anybody he would go to for help? Did his mother ever say anything about the people she knew here in Vegas?”

“Puma, you’re a genius.” Chill says as she rushes out the room. Puma and I rush after her.

“Showtime!” Chill calls out when she hits the common room. Showtime ducks out of the kitchen when she hears her name. “Where’s Mal? Are they back yet?” Chill asks her.

“Game room.” Showtimes says. “I’m making them a snack.”

“Why are you looking for Mal?” Puma asks as we catch up to Chill.

“Who better to ask what a kid would do than another kid?” Chill says.

We enter a room that is the coolest kids’ room ever created. In one corner is a two-story castle and in the other is a tent filled with sleeping bags and cushions. The room boasts a massive television with game consoles and various gaming chairs. There are also couches and several tables. On the floor, near the couch, sit two kids who are a couple of years younger than Slade. One of them is an adorable little girl with long black hair and warm brown eyes. The other is a mini-Puma.

“Puma!” the little girl calls out, jumping to her feet and running over to Puma. He catches her and lifts her high in the air before attacking her neck with loud kisses. He plops her down on the couch before lifting the boy and hugging him close. Puma sets him down next to the girl.

“Mal, Elina. I want you to meet a friend of Chill’s, Hunter. Hunter, these are my kids. Mal and Elina. Hunter is looking for his son, and I’m hoping you two can help us.”

The little girl, Elina, sends me a look so full of sadness and concern, I have to swallow past the lump in my throat. She scoots over and pats the seat between her and Mal.

“Sit.” She directs. When I take the seat, she pats me on the arm. “Don’t worry, we’ll find your son. Puma never fails.” She assures me.

I glance at Puma, who is smiling at the little girl. You can see nothing but love in both their eyes.

“Mal?” Chill says to the boy as she squats in front of him. “When you were living in the condo with your mom, before you met Puma, did your mom ever tell you what to do if you needed help and she wasn’t around?”

Mal, who was leaning against me, offering his support, nods slowly. “If we were in public, like in a store, she told me to find an employee or a cop. But only if the cop was in a place with other people nearby, especially if he was white.”

I frown at his statement. “Why?”

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