She tilts her head to look at me. “I’m not. I’m happy to go home with you. I made my decisions years ago, knowing I’d probably never live there again. I’m at peace with the way things have turned out, and I’m looking forward to the next part of our lives.”
I search her eyes, and all I see is absolute certainty. I relax. She’ll be okay. I won’t allow her to be anything else.
“You got it right this time, Bells,” Ellie speaks up, her eyes meeting Bee’s in the rearview mirror.
“I did?”
“Yeah. It’s a gorgeous copper colour. It surrounds all three of you.” Ellie smiles, and all the tension seems to flow out of Bee. I’m lost, but Bee seems to know what Ellie is talking about.
“Copper, huh?” Bee grins.
“Yep. Kind of fitting, don’t you think?”
“All three of us?”
“Mmhm.” Ellie’s eyes flit to the road, then back to Bee. “All three of you.”
“That’s perfect,” Bee murmurs. “Thanks, Ells.”
“Welcome. Happy to have you home in one piece. Time to finish this and come back to the fold. You’ve done the hard bit. Now it’s time to reap the rewards.”
“The job’s not done yet.”
I’m silent as I listen to their conversation. I’m not sure what their comments mean. It’s like listening to another language.
“No,” Ellie agrees, “this job won’t be done for a long time.”
Ellie is silent for a couple of minutes as she navigates traffic, then starts up the conversation again as if she’d never stopped. “But,” she continues, flicking on the indicator for our turning, “your part will be done once you get this guy. And I have every faith that you will. The bigger players will be found when the time is right.”
“God, I’ve missed you, Ells,” Bee admits. “I missed everyone.”
“We know. It’ll take time, but bridges will be rebuilt. Time heals all wounds, eventually. Your folks might move in with you and Copper for a bit. The last few years have been rough on Dog and Maggie.”
“I’m sure we can fit another mobile home somewhere for them,” I say.
Ellie approaches the security gate, which opens as soon as she looks into the camera. “Welcome home, you three.”
Home.
Fuck, it feels good to be back here. I didn’t realise how much I missed the club.
I left a single man with one thought in mind—making the woman of my dreams mine.
I’ve accomplished that.
Now, I’m home and ready to take the next step—making her my Old Lady. Officially. Then, we’ll see about getting married.
First things first, though. Allowing Bee to heal so we can go after the motherfucker who hurt her and Noah.
Everything else will come in time.
CHAPTER 25
BEE
We’ve been at Queens Wraiths for three days, and I’m feeling so much better. Still bruised as fuck, but I’m no longer peeing blood, and I’m moving easier.
Ellie wasn’t joking about Mum and Dad; they literally moved in. Copper’s mobile home is pretty small, so they’re staying with his parents, who don’t seem to mind the company.
