Chapter 6 Paul
SIX
PAUL
Nicole stayed in her room for most of the next day, only coming out to see if Chase was up, which he wasn’t, and to have a quick bite. I missed her because I was in a meeting with Blackstone.
The following day, Savi said she needed more sleep.
I couldn’t help but wonder if she was avoiding the house.
We needed to do damage control, as much as I wanted to believe Nicole didn’t try to sell my son’s story to advance her career, the fact that she was holding on to secrets bothered all of us.
We were a house built on trust and love.
It seemed we had another version of what I assumed Lexi was like here, and it didn’t sit well with anyone.
I rubbed my bottom lip as I stood on the porch and watched the dogs chase each around the property.
A big stick hung from Wellington’s mouth.
The pup was our newest addition, a huge golden retriever Mark had fallen in love with after Butters passed.
I thought of that old dog and had to shake my head and smile.
How he’d lived for as long as he had was amazing.
Wellington’s antics made me laugh out loud as he dropped his stick and barked at Captain. He’d been found on the side of a road somewhere and had been taken to the local shelter by a tourist. No one ever came for him, and when Mark got wind of it, the rest was history.
I missed Tripper the most. He was such a sweet boy.
I only had the pleasure of knowing him for two months before he got sick and passed.
John was heartbroken, but I thought Sloane took it the hardest. She was near tears half the time.
One day I heard a border collie had a litter in town, and I took a chance and brought one home for her.
Captain was nothing like old Tripper, but he was a sweet little guy with crazy energy, and Sloane loved him immediately.
He and Wellington were best friends in no time.
Chase’s scream snapped me out of my thoughts, and I rushed for the door and up the stairs.
“Sorry, Paul,” Savannah’s face was sweaty as she knelt by Chase’s bed, “he woke up, and still has a fever. I gave him his medicine. It wasn’t easy, and now I can’t get him to stop crying.”
“It’s okay. It’s just that he’s seen so many strange people lately.” I gathered him in my arms and felt how small he was. He took one look at me and screamed louder. Savannah reached up and rubbed his back as I pressed him against my chest. “I can get Mia to come and help. I just need a minute.”
“It’s fine, I’ve got him. I didn’t even know he was awake.” I hadn’t seen him since we got back, and I missed the little crier.
She gave me a sympathetic look. “Poor guy. He’ll come around. He just needs time and patience.”
“I know.” I smiled at her. “Thanks Savi. I know it’s an adjustment for all of us.”
“A great adjustment,” she nodded, “especially for you. He’ll soon learn to trust us.”
After she left, I tried to bounce him in my arms as I walked around the room.
“It’s okay, big guy. Look at the puppy dogs, el perrito.
Can you see?” I said the word in Spanish and English as I held him so he could see out the window, but his bottom lip poked out and he hiccupped as he caught a breath.
“Mama,” he said in the most heartbreaking voice. It nearly brought me to my knees. Christ, I fought back the tears that threatened to show just how much that one word could break me. I knew he loved his mother, Talya, but I also knew he was referring to Nicole.
“Fuck,” I muttered and walked to Nicole’s door. I’d do anything for my son, and if that meant taking him to her, I’d do it.
I knocked, and Chase, who was still very upset, copied me and did the same action with his fist. I smiled at him and knocked again, and this time he tried with me.
“Look at you.” I beamed with pride and patted his shoulder gently.
“Mama,” he whimpered again, and I saw more tears start to form.
Screw it. I opened the door and poked my head in.
Nicole looked to be asleep in bed, so I stepped inside and closed the door behind us.
When Chase caught sight of her, he wiggled like a wet noodle, and I quickly put him down on the bed next to her in fear I might drop him.
“Mama!” he cried, and her eyes popped open. She reached out and pulled him into her arms with a deep intake of breath and kissed his head.
“Hey, buddy, I’ve missed you.” She smiled down at him.
“Oh, my, are you upset?” The little guy let out a loud sob, and she pressed him to her.
She glanced up at me standing there and then pulled the blanket up over her thin top.
We both knew I could see she was braless under it.
It was hard not to see how pretty she was with her messy hair and sleepy eyes.
“He was crying and wanted you. It’s the first time I’ve seen him up.” I cleared my throat and felt uncomfortable. “Sorry to wake you.”
She hooked the blanket and moved up to sit against the headboard with Chase in her arms. “He’s still very warm. Did he get his antibiotics?” Chase pressed his head under her chin and settled in, so she tucked the blanket over him as well.
“Savannah was with him when I went in. She managed to get it in him, but then he wouldn’t settle.”
“It’s fine.” She looked at the clock on the nightstand. “I don’t remember the last time I slept in like this, let alone two days in a row.”
“It’s good that you did.” I tried to sound friendly, but I knew we were far from all right. “I think he missed you.”
“At least someone does,” she blurted, then her eyes went wide when she heard herself.
I shifted my weight and the floorboards outed me.
“Is Frank here?” She changed the topic, but before I could answer, Chase’s hand moved to her plump breast, and I sucked in a gulp of air.
Her face went pink as she eased his hand away.
“Ah, Frank, yes, he is, and, ah, he said he wanted to meet you tomorrow afternoon.” I hated that my words were jumbled. “I think he wanted to give you some time to rest.”
“That was nice, but I need to figure out when I can get back into the field.”
Internally, I rolled my eyes and wondered when she’d figure out that wasn’t going to happen. Not unless she planned on returning to Mexico with a body bag in hand.
“Don’t hold your breath.” I shrugged, and the lines deepened around her mouth as she pressed her lips tightly together.
“Paul, despite how much you hate me, I’ve been working on something for the past five years.
It’s an important story, and all the Perez and the Canos shit that’s been happening tells me it probably runs deep into the Ruiz family.
I’m going to be the one who tells the story, and I hope it will take down several tiers of the Cartel. ”
“Well, we all know what you’ll do for a story.” I glared at her. “What will this one cost? Your life?”
“Maybe.” She glared back at me while I stared at her like she had three heads.
“Our jobs aren’t that different, you know,” she went on.
“I may not carry a gun or rescue kidnapped victims, but I’m there to help the people too.
I do whatever I can in my own way, and this story will give them hope to maybe be able to live without the threat of violence. ”
I folded my arms and watched as Chase moved restlessly for a moment then reached up to hold a piece of her hair. He coughed but seemed content, and it screwed with my head even more. “And if you ever do get to tell your story, what exactly do you think is going to happen then?”
She looked away. “I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.”
“Because it seems to me you’ll be hunted down like a dog.” I made a face. “Oh, wait, much like you are now.”
“Paul, don’t exaggerate.”
“I’m not, Nicole. The only difference is Bruno wants you for himself, at least at this point. What happens when he learns you were working with us to get the boy over the border?”
“He already knows.” She didn’t miss a beat, and my face fell. “Oh, yeah, right before I shot him in the foot, I told him I was working with Blackstone.”
I covered my face with my hands and let out a long breath. “Nicole,” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, “now you really can’t go back.”
“That’s up for debate.” She kissed Chase on the head again when he stirred and gave a little cry. “I don’t know why you care so much. You’ve made it abundantly clear that whatever happened between us is over. So, no loss for you if I go back.”
I opened my mouth but clamped it shut. Am I done with her?
Chase reached for her breast and took a nosedive toward it.
Quickly, she pulled him back. “Oh, no, those girls are out of commission for you, sir.” She giggled.
“But you know what that tells me? Your tummy is finally hungry, and that’s a good sign.
” She swung her legs over the bed and got up with him in her arms then moved toward me in her shirt and panties.
“You go with Paul.” She held him out, but Chase scowled at me.
I got it. I didn’t have breasts or smell like she did.
I took him from her, and he let out a loud cry of protest.
“Just let me get dressed. I’ll be right back.
” She grabbed some clothes and headed into the bathroom.
He wiggled to get down, and I scanned the room for anything he could get into, then set him on the floor.
He, of course, bolted for the bathroom door.
I scooped him up and tossed him over my shoulder. To my utter surprise, he giggled.
“You like that?” I carefully turned him around in my arms then threw him over my other shoulder.
His feet kicked out as he let out the best belly laugh I’d ever heard.
“I knew you were one of us.” I did it again, and pure joy erupted from him.
Then a small cough started, and I stopped, not wanting to set off his lungs.
I lowered him down my front and admired his happy smile. “You’re so cute.”