Colt spent the majority of his day working on a casefile. He was reading over it’s contents and going over what needed to be done and where it would best be taken care of. While he did do side jobs for the Vipers and the enemies of the gang, he wasn’t only in their service. Colt was a contract killer. He had contracts with governments as well as private companies. However, he wasn’t doing it at home. Colt owned a building down on the south side of town where most of the rundown buildings were. He had tenants in the housing that could pay low rents and honestly? He didn’t care about the rent.
Yes, it brought in some money, but it was a front for him to use the building for business. The whole top floor was his to use. It was his office space where he conducted business, it was also an area where he kept the majority of his weapons, his passports, name change documents, everything. It was, in effect, the whole operation center. He wasn’t about to bring that home to where his children were. He learned well enough after his wife’s murder how dangerous it was to keep things too close to home.
As he closed the folder of what he was working on, he leaned back in his chair. “I want double.” He said, finality in his voice as he stared forward and despite him not looking at anything in particular, he was in fact paying attention to everything said on the other end of the line. “I appreciate your position, but I’m not wavering. Double your request, or you can find someone else to do your dirty work and pray that they don’t get you caught….uh huh….good. I’m glad we can come to an agreement. It will be done.”
Colt hung up the phone and after moving the folder off his desk and into a locked drawer, stood from his desk and began to close up. A light beeping caught his attention and he looked down at his watch. It was beyond time to leave. This was his ‘you’re late’ alarm and it took to closing up a little faster, before he left his building, getting into his car and heading home. He knew his kids would get anxious if he wasn’t home soon. Or at least Colton would.
When he pulled up to the house, he took time to fix his suit, making sure he looked perfect, before heading inside in time to hear ‘DADDY’ screamed and both boys running into him at the same time. A smile formed on his lips as he lifted both into a hug, before lifting Cole into his arms and holding him, as Colton held into his legs, demanding – and tantruming to get Zoe to stay with them a little longer.
He knew his son was very attached to her and he’d be lying if he tried to say he wasn’t. Colt was quite attached to her as well. The last few weeks had become something of a breath of fresh air. Having someone around that was so good with his children and quite enjoyable as private company, was something he missed. There was nothing like coming home to a woman playing with your children, nothing like the laughter she got out of them even if only for a little while. They needed her….and maybe he did too.
“Colt, she needs to go home, she’ll come back and visit you and you’ll see her tomorrow at school.” But he wasn’t having it and continued having his tantrum, ending in Colt looking over at her apologetically. “He’s having a rough time right now. It’s coming up on the anniversary and he’s always worse around that date.” He tried explaining although he knew she knew it, he still felt the need to explain his son’s reaction. Especially since he knew it wasn’t really Colton’s fault. He didn’t react that way for fun, he was hurting and he had no other way to express it.
“Come on,” He said looking down at his son, his tone gentle as he tried calming him. “We’ll go play while Miss Rosie makes dinner.” But again, he wasn’t having it and he sighed at his son and looked up at her. Zoe was already making deals with him and honestly Colt did feel guilty that she felt the need to do that. That she couldn’t just leave when she wanted to. She wasn’t their prisoner, after all. But, at the same time, he did appreciate that she was willing to give up her time for his children. Especially Colton right now while he was struggling.