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“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.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN: WILDCARD

I take Brigit’s hand as we follow Preacher and Colt outside. Colt’s chattering to his grandfather about all the things he wants to do with him. Things that his friend back in Boston does with his grandfather. His list has me considering all the things I want to do with my son. My son. I never imagined being a father and yet, here I am. I’d spent the last several months watching Puma and Chill turn into parents. Now, it’s my turn. I study Colt, my heart filling with pride and love as I think of all the things we get to do together. As father and son. Brigit squeezes my hand to draw my attention.

“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” She asks, nodding at Colt. “How quickly a child embeds himself into your heart?”

I nod as I fight to regain control of my emotions. “Thank you for bringing him to me. For trusting me to protect you both.”

“You will always be the person I trust most with my life and, more importantly, with Colt’s life. I hope you know that? And that you can’t get rid of us now that we’re here?”

With a whoop, I lift her up and twirl her around. She’s laughing when I put her back on her feet so I can capture a kiss. The sound of two distinct voices spluttering ‘ew’ interrupts our kiss. We turn to look at the culprits. Preacher and my son.

“Ew?” I ask with a smirk at Preacher. He just shrugs.

“She’s still my little girl.”

“And my mom,” Colt chimes in.