I meet Coal’s eyes in the rearview mirror. He looks concerned. He’s driving, with Nickel riding shotgun and Bee and me in the back. We’re towing a trailer with our sleds in case we need them tonight.
“Everything okay, Cop?”
“Yeah, Pres, everything’s good. Or it will be when we’re done with this, and Bee, Noah, and I can take time to heal, and Noah can get to know us.”
Coal nods. He understands. He went from being single to married and a father in the blink of an eye. “How do you feel about being an instant father?”
I smile when I think of the terrified little boy I met, who now trusts me to make sure he’s safe and cared for. “It feels right. Something clicked from the moment I saw him and Bee in that warehouse. We’ll make sure he knows about his parents, but he’s ours now.”
I think carefully about how to word my next thoughts because I’m not sure what they’ll think. But they’re my brothers first and foremost, so even if they don’t believe me, they’ll never disregard what I have to say.
“I know we aren’t a very religious family, but we also know this world contains unexplained things. Hell, we’re related to four of them. But it feels almost like Noah’s parents are still watching over him, that they knew he’d need a woman who would protect him with her last breath and a family to ensure he’d never be alone again.” I fall silent, looking out of the window into the darkness. We left at four this morning, and we’ve been on the road for an hour.
“I like the idea of that,” Nickel admits quietly. “That those who loved and left us are still looking out for us.”
We fall silent then, lost in our own thoughts until we stop for a break. I swap with Coal and take over the driving. None of us has much to say, and when we pull into the motel that Sterling booked for us, I can’t wait to catch up on some sleep before tonight.
Cahir is waiting for us in the parking lot. He, Cai, and Silas rode ahead, leaving Ramzi to drive the surveillance van in the convoy with us.
“Thanks, Sugar.” Bee yawns as I help her out. She rests her forehead on my chest with a groan. “Sick of being so tired. I slept most of the way and still feel like I could sleep for hours.”
I press my lips to the top of her head, inhaling her vanilla and cinnamon scent. “You’re still healing, Spice. Give your body time to catch up with your mind.”
“You’re right,” she agrees, tilting her head back.
I take her lips in a soft kiss. I’d love nothing more than to deepen it, but her lips are still pretty fucked up, and I don’t want to aggravate their healing.
Breaking apart, I rest my forehead on hers. “Let’s grab our room key and crash for a few hours. I’m beat.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
We get our stuff from the vehicle and join the brothers, some of whom are still in the parking lot. The others have already checked in and left to get some rest.
“This one’s yours,” Cahir says, handing us a key. I’ve no idea how the Cursed Skulls got us into a motel this early. They always seem to find a way to achieve the impossible.
Coal leans against the surveillance van, watching us. My brother is a worrier, which is what makes him a damn good leader. Right now, he’s taking cues from Cahir, learning the ropes before he takes over for good. Most Presidents are too arrogant to listen, but not Coal. It’s why I’ve followed him all my life—he knows when to shut up and learn from the right people.
Oh, don’t get me wrong; he can be a complete asshole, and often butts heads with Maestro, but underneath all that, he’s the perfect man for the president’s position.
“Thanks,” I answer, taking the key with my free hand, the other wrapped around Bee’s shoulders. “What time do you need us to be ready?”
Cahir looks at Coal in question, waiting for him to take the lead.
“Let’s meet back here at six-ish,” my brother says. “We’ll get something to eat, go over the plan, and catch a few more hours of sleep if we need it. We’ll head out to the asshole’s place at one in the morning.”
“Sounds good to me. See you both later.”
Turning, we leave them to it and find our room. Half an hour later, we’re both showered and in bed. I’m asleep before my head hits the pillow.
***
I’m not sure what time it is when I’m woken by the warmth of Bee’s mouth on my cock.
“Fuck, Bee.” I let out a rumbling sigh, tunnelling my fingers through her hair.
I look down the length of my body at the woman who was born for me. Her mouth is stretched wide around my cock, cheeks flushed, and eyes raised to mine. She lowers them and goes back to sucking my cock. It’s been days since I was inside her. It won’t take me long to blow if she keeps this up.
I gently tug her hair to get her attention, and her eyes lift to mine again. “I’m about to blow, baby, and I don’t want to come in your mouth.”
