Page 7 of Chill’s Chance

He chuckles. “You couldn’t stop them from helping. That isn’t the problem. It’s her. Showtime. She’s a prospect, so she doesn’t think like a member yet. She won’t consider asking them for help, not until she becomes a member. Once she’s a member, she’ll know that asking for help is the only way to approach the situation.”

I frown as I consider his comment. I’ve only known Showtime for a few hours. We spent most of those hours sleeping in the same room, but I can agree that she’s spontaneous. She seems in tune with the entire club, aware of their needs before they are aware of them themselves. Hence her having breakfast and coffee ready for Chill just as she sat down this morning. I saw her do that with several members. “I get what you’re saying, but this could blow up in your face. You’re handling her. Women don’t like to be handled.” I remind him.

He flinches. “I know. Believe me, I’m aware of how pissed off she’ll be once she learns the truth, but I can’t do it. I can’t tell her until I know she’s ready to ask the club for help. I can’t lose her. Not again.”

I nod as I watch Chill maneuver her bike through traffic. I feel the same about Chill. My priority is to find my son, but I also want a chance to make things right with her. It’s then that I notice the neighborhood. Nicole and Slade moved to Vegas two years ago, so I’d only manage the one visit, but this wasn’t where she lived then. I kind of remember her mentioning moving, but this place feels wrong.

“Where are we going?” I ask Max, looking at the neighborhood, which is nothing like I expected.

“To Nicole’s apartment.” Max says, looking at me like I’d lost my mind as he pulls up in front of a four-story apartment building that has seen better days. The front door is swinging open on its hinges. Cracks and water marks trail down the sides like tears on a woman wearing caked-on makeup.

“But she didn’t live here.” I protest. “This place looks rundown.”

“This was the address Sterling gave us.” Max says before opening the door. We step out onto the cracked sidewalk and I’m busy staring at the building and don’t notice Puma and Chill have joined us.

“What’s wrong?” Chill asks. I turn to see she’s glancing between Max and me.

“He said she doesn’t live here.” Max says.

“When I came to visit, she had a pretty apartment in a friendly neighborhood. Not this. She told me she moved to a condo, one that had more room and a backyard for Slade.” I glance around. “She sent pictures with a view of the desert. I don’t understand. The place looked nothing like this.”

“Maybe she moved again?” Puma suggests.

I glance at the address, but it’s the one she gave me. I shake my head. “No, this is what she sent me. I never thought to check up on her. I just don’t understand.”

“Maybe she couldn’t afford anything nicer.” Puma suggests. “Vegas isn’t cheap.”

“I sent her most of my paycheck. I kept very little back. She worked. She never said that she was having trouble. I have money from a life insurance policy that I made available to her to use. She should have been able to afford better than this.”

Puma takes out his phone and makes a call. “Can you check on Nicole’s finances and her previous address?” He looks at me. “Spark is checking it out. We’ll know more when we get back to the clubhouse.”

I nod, but I don’t know what I’m agreeing to. Confusion sets in as I look around the neighborhood. I can’t imagine my boy growing up here. What was Nicole thinking? Before I can put my concern into words, a car pulls up and out comes the detective from the previous night. The one who warned Chill about my going AWOL.

CHAPTER FIVE: CHILL

When I see Detective Sterling step out of his car, I curse. I knew we were meeting a cop. But I wasn’t expecting it to be him. I glance at Puma and see the tightness around his eyes, the only sign that he’s unhappy.

“Sterling.” Puma greets him. “Guess the crime rate is down. You’re giving tours now?” They shake hands and I smirk, knowing he is trying to distract the man.

With his prospect kutte on and his longer hair and short beard, he doesn’t look like an AWOL Marine, but Sterling isn’t stupid. I consider telling Hunter to get back into the SUV, but know that will only raise Sterling’s suspicions. Instead, I face the prospects, forcing them to turn their backs on Sterling. “You guys grab the supplies.” I order them.

Sterling glances at us and I feel a sense of relief when his eyes roll over Hunter and Max before returning his attention to Puma. “Heard you’re packing up the victim’s things.” He says to Puma, who nods.

“Chill was friends with the victim’s husband, as you know. We’re hoping to find something that leads us to the boy. Figure we’ll pack everything up since we’re here.” Puma tells him. “We cleared it with your lieutenant.”

“I know. The crime scene techs are done with the place. I thought I’d come and see if you had questions. I figured you’d have some, especially about the kid and our progress in locating him.” Sterling asks. He turns his head back to the SUV and I have a feeling he knows exactly who our new prospect is.

I hear a commotion behind me and know that Hunter reacted in some ways to Sterling’s words. I want to roll my eyes, but I keep my focus on Sterling as he turns back and opens the door for Puma.

We follow him to a first-floor apartment. I hear Hunter let out a swear word and know what he’s thinking. For a single woman with a child, the first-floor apartment in a neighborhood like this one is almost as bad as sleeping on a park bench. Maybe worse, because if someone broke in, the two would be on their own.

“I don’t think we’ve met.” Sterling says as Hunter drops the empty boxes on the floor. He holds his hand out to Hunter, who shakes it.

“He’s a new prospect.” I say, smirking. “We call him Cheats.” I feel Hunter’s glare as Puma smirks.

“He hasn’t been with you long.” Sterling says, glancing between Hunter and me.

“Less than two weeks.” Puma chimes in.

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