Thea and I spend a companionable hour cleaning and reassembling all the weapons. I like Thea. We have things in common, like not filling the silence with useless conversation.
I finish breakfast and put it in the warmer while Shea continues to play happily in the travel cot.
I’m surprised and delighted to learn that the boots Noni bought for each girl when she turned eighteen came from Thea. Her mum designed the boots with hidden knife compartments, and Thea turned it into a business.
“Da!”
Shea’s shout interrupts our discussion about our preferred weapon, and we turn to see Copper and Coal enter the kitchen.Copper raises an eyebrow as he takes in the guns scattered across the kitchen table.
“Fuck me, Cop, is there anything hotter than a woman who knows her way around weapons?” Coal remarks.
I blush. Thea smirks.
“Nothing, brother,” Copper agrees.
His gaze is fixed on mine as he stalks towards me. He tugs on my ponytail, tilting my head back, and drops a quick kiss on my lips. Turning to the coffeepot, he fills a mug and sits next to me.
It seems he’s done waiting for me to make up my mind and is now taking charge.
“Here.” Thea opens a side pocket on the weapons bag, pulls out a few boxes, and hands them to Copper.
My eyes widen as he takes them and flips the lids open. “Oh, wow, Thea. These are so beautiful,” I whisper, looking at the exquisite array of jewellery. I gently touch the blue stone inset in a ring mounted with diamonds.
“Thank you. I enjoy making them.” Thea grins. “Makes a change from designing weapons. And they’re not just pretty—each one has a built-in tracker. If you pass me your phones, I’ll sync them so you can always find each other. They’re not real diamonds, by the way—zirconias. Copper’s ring has black zirconia stones.”
We pass our phones to Thea so she can set up the apps. Copper takes the ring, and I expect him to slip it onto my right ring finger, but he puts it on my left ring finger. My breath hitches as I stare at it on my hand, wondering if it means what I think it means.
I look up at him to find him watching me.
“One day, I’ll ask you, and I’ll get you a proper ring. Until then, this will be a reminder that you’re wanted and loved,” he whispers in my ear.
Tears prick my eyes as I pick up his ring and slip it onto his left ring finger. I’m aware that Thea and Coal are in the kitchen with us, but I ignore them. This moment is for Copper and me.
I lean into him and whisper, “One day, I’ll say yes, and I’ll claim you with a ring of my own because you are loved, even if I haven’t said the words.”
I pull back slightly, needing to see his face. His eyes are soft, and a small smile plays on his lips. A second later, those lips are on mine. I sink into the kiss. It’s not the first time we’ve kissed, but this one is different. Hot, possessive, and filled with the promise of what’s to come. It’s a kiss that makes me feel cherished, wanted, and loved—things I never thought I’d feel again.
Copper rests his forehead against mine as we break apart. “You don’t need to say the words until you’re ready.”
My lips curve in a smile, and I kiss him quickly as I return to reality. Shea is perched on Coal’s knee, and his arm is wrapped around Thea. Their expressions are soft, and I know they’re happy with whatever is building between Copper and me.
My heart is happy, too, and I ignore the pang of hurt that I won’t be able to tell my family.
“I also had Thea make these as extra security in case you’re taken,” Copper says, picking up a bracelet and snapping it closed around my wrist. He then fastens a matching necklace around my neck.
“Let me show you the secret hidden in your bracelet,” Thea says, pushing away from Coal and sitting opposite us.
I give her my wrist so she can remove the bracelet. She tugs at the clasp, and a thin wire emerges from the centre of the silver tube.
“Oh,” I whisper. “A garotte. That’s so cool, Thea.”
“If you open the locket, you’ll find another surprise.”
I flick the clasp and open the locket, smiling when I see what’s hidden there. “You thought of everything.” I show Copper the lock-picking set hidden in the tiny compartment. No wonder the locket is heavy. The tools are small and fiddly, but I’ll practice with them.
“Cahir said you can pick any lock they’ve thrown at you. I figured the more help you had should the shite hit the fan, the better. “
“Shite,” a little voice pipes up.
