The Wild Wolf Pup (Zoe's Rescue Zoo #9)(85)

“Are you in some kind of trouble?”

That’s how much he knew about me. Trouble didn’t find me; it wasn’t something I stumbled upon by mistake, it was my fucking name. He wouldn’t get it though and it wasn’t worth my spit explaining.

“Nothing I can’t handle. I just need to get away with my family for a little bit and figured if you had a genuine bone in your body, this would be the perfect time for you to prove it.”

Silence.

How did this guy make multimillion dollar deals when he didn’t fucking speak?

“Your mother and I left the city, we’re in Martha’s Vineyard on a holiday. I will send a car for you, Lisa, and the child.”

“Lauren. Her name is Lauren and your grandchild has a name too. In fact, I want you to grab one of your fancy pens and scribble their names on your palm. You know what? Forget it. I’m bringing a fucking Sharpie with me,” I snarl.

“Very well…I’m glad you called. I know you didn’t want to and whatever is pushing you to do so must be very troublesome to you or you wouldn’t have reached out. Still, let’s try to make the best of it. I’m excited to spend time with my grandson.”

I think about his words for a moment, wonder if they’re sincere as a part of me wishes they were. Not for my sake, but for Lauren’s. Family is everything to her and even though she doesn’t bust my balls to give my folks a second chance, she secretly wishes I do. She thinks I’m missing something, she hasn’t realized that the only thing I was missing in life was her and Eric.

“I’ll have the car pick you up this afternoon, say, three?”

“Fine, see you,” I say, disconnecting the call abruptly, having had enough of the conversation and the thoughts that came along with it.

I step closer to the stone marking Bones’ grave and rest my hand on top of it.

“Looks like I’m headed on another detour,” I mutter, recalling the day I left my parents’ swanky mansion. Bones was sitting in his old beaten and worn pickup truck when I stormed out of the house. His eyes found mine, and he jumped out of the truck, lowered the lift-gate and helped me shove my shit into the bed of the truck.

“You ready?”

I stared at him expectantly, unsure what I was ready for, feeling like a fish out of water.

“Come on, time for you to take a detour,” he said with a grin, patting me on the back.

That detour changed my life and took me to the Satan’s Knight’s clubhouse. The next detour I went on would lead me to my Kitten and Eric. Facing another detour, I couldn’t help but wonder what I’d find but, whatever it is I find, I pray it’s not grief.





“The itsy bitsy spider crawled up the water spout,” I sing to Eric as he sits in my lap trying to mimic my hands. “Down came the rain and washed the spider out,” I continue watching him drop his hands and shake his head.

“Uh oh, mama!”

Smiling, I stare at my little man in awe, his laugh is intoxicating and I wonder how I ever lived without him. Watching him turn his head to look at me, I don’t understand how being a mom was never part of my plan. I always thought I needed a plan, a calculated course of action but the unexpected detour was so much more rewarding. It gave me purpose. Riggs talks about finding heart since he’s found me but he’s not the only one who found their heart.

“Again, mama!” Eric demands, clapping his chubby hands excitedly.

I laugh, squeezing him a little too tight before I sing again. The door opens and I lift my eyes to see Riggs, watching as he leans his back against the door and stares back at me and our son. The grin I love so much spreads across his lips while his eyes focus on Eric as he tries to make his hands climb the imaginary spout.

Eric’s hands drop to his lap as he spots his daddy and scrambles off my lap.

“Dada,” he cheers, wobbling his way to Riggs.

“Hey, buddy,” Riggs says, bending down to swoop Eric off his feet and raise him high above his head. “How’s my boy?”

I love watching them together. An overwhelming sense of pride envelopes me knowing I gave them to one another. Me, I did that, and that’s better than any nursing gig I ever could’ve dreamt of.

“Did you hear me, Kitten?”

Drawing him into focus I lift my eyes and shake my head.

“What did you say?”

“I said,” he starts, holding his free hand for me to take and pulls me to my feet. “Pack a bag we’re going on a mini vacation.”

He laughs when I stare at him like he’s lost his mind, for real this time.

“Hurry up, the car will be here within an hour to pick us up.”

I stare at him, watching as he calmly strolls around the apartment, pulling the phone charges from the outlet by the counter all the while holding Eric. He moves to the cabinet and pulls out sippy cups, toddler spoons and forks, Eric’s favorite Mickey Mouse bowl and places everything alongside the chargers.

“Where is your contact solution and case?”

“You’re serious,” I accuse.

“Kitten, don’t make me light a fire under that tight ass. I won’t have you ruining the surprise.”

“The surprise,” I repeat. He places Eric on his feet and closes the distance between us, cupping my chin with his hand and tilting my head so my eyes are level with his.