I had nothing to hide from them. They’re working with the Skulls, and I’m sure Nora has been placed in their path for a reason, so I tell them everything I know.
“She’s ex-military. Works as an assassin for the Skulls. If they need a honey trap and want someone discreet, they use Nora. She works alone for that reason. She’s deadly to the wrong people, but if she likes you and she’s in your corner, you never have to worry about anything bad touching you. If it does, she takes care of it. She’s one of the best people I know, but she’s seen the worst of humanity. Nora has dealt with more heartache than one person should, which is why she’s closed off. Her reason for being here is personal, so you’ll have to ask her about it yourself. She may be an assassin, but she’s a good person.”
Copper intertwines his fingers with mine. He opted to sit with me in the back, even though there was more room in the front with Coal. I’m glad because I love having him close.
Coal sighs and rubs a hand over his face. “Why couldn’t one of you find a nice, non-deadly woman to fall for?”
Laughter bursts from me, and Copper’s shoulders shake as he joins in at the disgruntlement in Coal’s voice.
I know Coal’s not serious when his laughter joins ours. “Fuck me,” he mumbles. “Maybe it’s a Tin thing. Maybe the rest of the brothers will pick nice, normal women.”
“Ah, fuck, Coal. Now you’ve done it.” Copper smirks. “You’ve jinxed us.”
“Think of the advantages,” I point out. “All our kids will be safe as houses if we ever go into lockdown.”
“True,” Coal agrees, then changes the subject. “What do you think we need for a wet room?”
We spend the rest of the journey discussing various options, only stopping once to give Eade more drugs to keep him knocked out until we get him to the O’Sheas.
Mid-afternoon finds us at the O’Sheas, taking a lesser-known road after Coal calls Adam to let him know we’ve arrived. I’ve heard of The Hole but never seen it. It’s buried underground and soundproofed, with its electricity, water, drainage, and cells.
“Call me when you’re done,” Adam tells Coal, handing him the keys. “These keys open the cell where the woman is being held. Jeanie was down here earlier, so I have a feeling she won’t be in there, but if she is…” He trails off as if he thinks it’s highly unlikely. Knowing Jeanie, she probably isn’t. “I’ll show you where to take the bodies when you’re done. Did you bring the trees?”
“Bolt is bringing them,” Coal reassures him.
I’m not sure why Adam asked for those specific trees or trees at all, but I guess he’ll let us know why when the time comes.
Adam eyes us, and I wonder what he’s thinking. We’re all dressed in black, and although we’ve cleaned up, we still have traces of the camo face paint and blood staining our clothes. We look like soldiers. In a way, we are, just not the regular kind.
Adam’s gaze stops on me. His eyebrows rise when he sees the bruises on my face, but he doesn’t comment. I know the O'Sheas will have filled him in on my hospital stay. The Crows and the O'Sheas are close, and news travels fast between the two families.
“It’s good to have you home, Bella.”
“It’s good to be home, Adam,” I reply with a small smile.
He nods, and his gaze moves to Copper, whose arm is wrapped around my waist. He doesn’t say a word, but I see the relief in his eyes when he notices the way Copper holds me. Ally ishis daughter, so I'm sure he had concerns about my return. He doesn’t need to worry, though.
I was home, but my home is no longer with the Crow MC.
I’m a Wraith now, and I find that suits me perfectly.
CHAPTER 29
COAL
Fucking hell. My brothers’ choice of women will give me ulcers. But Bee is right. We’ll never have to worry about our children. Somehow, each of us has found an Old Lady that brings something special to the club, and every one of them is deadly in her own right.
I didn’t miss Adam’s relief at seeing Bee with Copper. I’m happy to welcome her into our family. She’s a Wraith now, and we protect our own.
Adam leaves us to it. Brass, our Enforcer, and Iron, our Sergeant at Arms, unload Eade and tie him to the purpose-built metal chair in The Hole.
The rest of the brotherhood and the Old Ladies follow us down. I halt halfway down the stairs when Brass laughs and shouts up to us.
“Bee, it looks like Jeanie left you a present.”
“She did?” Bee claps her hands excitedly, pushing at my shoulder. “Hurry up, Coal, I want to see.”
“Fucking hell,” I mumble as I continue down the steps and into the room.
