Riggs looks up as I enter his office. “Pres,” I nod my head in greeting.
“Blu, how’s she doing?”
“No change,” I utter.
“And this must be Molly,” says Riggs, smiling at my girl. She hides her face in my neck.
“You sure this is okay?” I ask again.
“Brother,” says Riggs with a sigh, “you know you’re welcome with anyone you want to bring in. Your family is our family. She’ll be safe here.”
It was Alice’s idea to come to the club. The cops told her they think Hannah was targeted. Alice is blaming her job, thinking some criminal she’s upset has come for revenge. Until we know either way, Molly is staying here.
Chapter Eight
GIA
When Blu went off radar, and by that, I mean stopped coming back to the club, I thought he was avoiding me. So when I see him enter the club holding a little girl, relief floods me. I want to hug him I feel so happy, but when I see his grim expression, I stay seated, watching him breeze through the club straight into Riggs’ office. I keep my eyes glued to the closed office door, and when he finally reappears, he heads straight up to his room with the girl in his arms.
“He’s back,” says Frankie, joining me and Eva on the couch.
“Any idea where he’s been?” I ask, trying not to sound bothered. Frankie smirks. She’s on to me.
“His missus and kid were in a car accident,” she says.
Eva sits up, her expression horrified. “Gosh, are they okay?”
“They’re waiting for her to wake up. Think she’s in a coma. The kid’s okay, just cuts and bruises, broken collar bone.”
I feel bad for thinking I was the reason he wasn’t around, like I’m some damn catch. I shake my head in annoyance at myself for being so big headed. “I’m going to bed,” I say quietly.
I sit out on my balcony in the cold with a blanket around me. I knew he wouldn’t be out here, but a small part of me hoped. He has other things on his mind, rightly so, but I wanted to check he was okay.
Disturbing him by knocking on his door doesn’t feel right. Just when I’m about to give up hope, his door opens and he steps out. I suck in a breath. He’s handsome even when he’s tired and worried. He must hear my sudden intake because he looks over. He places his hands on the rail and hangs his head. “Frankie told me what happened,” I say quietly. “I just wanted to say sorry and if there’s anything I can do, just give me a shout.”
He remains still, but I stand. He’s clearly not in the right frame of mind to talk. I’m just about to step inside my room when he mumbles something and I turn back to him. He glances at me. “Sit with her,” he repeats. My eyes dart towards his room. He nods, confirming that he wants me to sit with his kid. I don’t question him—he needs this from me.
I head straight for his room and find the little girl sleeping soundly in his big bed. Her long hair is fanned across the pillow, the blankets tucked tightly around her. I take a seat in an old rocking chair in the corner of the room and watch her sleep. She’s a pretty little thing with heart-shaped lips and long, dark eyelashes.
I open my eyes and sit up with a start. There’s a blanket over me and it falls to the floor. I look around the dark room. I can just make out a shadow laying on the bed next to the sleeping girl. I must have nodded off. I quietly head for the door, trying not to wake them. “Where are you going?” whispers Blu.
“Sorry, did I wake you?”
“I can’t sleep.” He sits up and the moonlight illuminates his tired face. He turns on a lamp beside the bed and looks down at his sleeping girl.
“I’ll make you a hot drink,” I whisper.
I go downstairs and make us both a hot milk. When I return to his room, he’s sitting up staring at the opposite wall, deep in thought. I place the drink beside him and it breaks his trance-like state. “Thanks.”
“Is she going to be okay?” I ask, nodding towards his kid.
“Yeah. She’s a fighter like her mum.”
“And how’s she doing?” I ask.
“Not so good. We’re waiting for her to wake up. Doctors keep telling us that her body is keeping her asleep to help her recover.” He sighs. “I just want her to wake up.”
“I’m sure she will,” I say. “What’s her name?”
He smiles at his daughter. “Molly.”
“Suits her. She’s gorgeous.” I take a breath. “I know this is totally the wrong time, but it’s playing on my mind so I just need to ask.” I pause, looking at him cautiously. “Did you cheat on Molly’s mum with me? Because I hate cheaters and that would make me one and I can’t live with that—” I’m blabbering and he shushes me before I can finish.
“No. I don’t cheat,” he says firmly. “We’ve been over for a while.”
I feel a weight lift. Since Frankie mentioned the accident, I’d been worrying that I’d unknowingly been the other woman. I couldn’t live with that. “You don’t like cheating, but you fucked me when you were going on dates with Ricardo,” he points out and I feel my cheeks flush.
“I went on two dates because my brother asked me to for the family. I kissed him one time, but I’m not in a relationship with Ric.”
“You’ve told your brother and Ricardo that then?” he asks with a smirk.
“Not exactly. But I will. I’m just waiting for the right time.”
He sniggers, shaking his head. “Whatever you say, princess.”
“How long have you known Molly’s mum?” I ask, changing the subject from me.
“About six years. We split two years ago,” he says.
“Why?” I press my lips together the second the question leaves
