NICKEL
It’s the early hours of the morning by the time we head home from the O’Sheas. We’ve cleaned up The Hole where Nora tortured Lloyd Eade, buried the bodies of him and his accomplice, and planted the trees on top of them as instructed by Adam.
Nora’s arms tighten around me as I take a corner. When we straighten, I cup her calf and give it a little squeeze. She has nothing to worry about while she’s on the back of my sled. I’ll take care of her. I can’t wait to get her home so she can meet the rest of my family. I know they’llwelcome her with open arms. Nora needs someone like my mom more than anything, especially after what she’s been through.
My heart aches for Nora and all that she’s lost. I understand her anger and her need for revenge.
While the other brothers watched her extract information, my attention was focused solely on her and the pain in her eyes when she described how they tortured and killed her little sister. But Nora also expressed pride at how her sister fought them and did as much damage as she could before they murdered her.
I can’t imagine the sheer agony she must be dealing with after losing her entire family to Lloyd Eade’s greed. Anger fills me on her behalf in a way I’ve never felt.
But what surprises me the most is my desire for Nora.
I’m not one to be led around by my cock. The women in my past have always been carefully selected and always knew the score—one and done. No expectations.
But I’m also a one-woman guy. It’s how we Tins are built. Until I met Nora, I hadn’t found a woman interesting enough to hold my attention.
I was as hard as fucking rock the entire time she’d tortured Eade. I wondered if something was wrong with me. Then I saw Copper and Bee making out like they were on a romantic walk on the beach.
Based on my brothers’ Old Ladies, maybe it was that Tin men have a type. We’re turned on by strong, hard-arsed, take-no-shit, loyal, protective women. Hard enough to get the job done, with soft hearts they hide under layers of steel.
Nora walked straight into my arms when she was done torturing Eade, taking comfort fromme in a way that surprised me. It means more to me than she’ll ever realise that she turned to me. She could’ve turned to Bee; they have history and know each other, but she chose me.
Me. The Tin who’s completely different from my brothers, not as easy with affection or as loud and brash as they are.
That was the moment I knew I’d move heaven and earth to ensure that she always knew I would be her soft place to land.
She can be herself with me. No judgment. I’ll hold her if she falls apart and be there when she needs someone to lean on.
I’m not sure if she understands the protective instincts she’s invoked in me or what it means for her going forward.
I’ll take a page from Copper’s book and be patient. I’ll wait for her to make the moves because something tells me if I come on too strong, she’ll run... and I need herto stay.
Because she’s mine. Mine to protect, mine to love, and mine to hold, even when she doesn’t realise she needs it.
The turnoff for our club is coming up. For the first time in days, I take a deep breath and relax, knowing we’ll soon be safely behind our gates. Then I can take care of Nora in the way she deserves—something I don’t think she’s had for a long time.
CHAPTER 3
NORA
I’m not sure what it is about Nickel that had me turning to him for comfort. It isn’t like me. I’m rationalising it as finally being able to put my sister’s memory to rest and taking out the animal who put her in that position.
It hurt me deeply when I discovered it was Lloyd Eade.
I’ve carried vengeance in my heart for years. He was like a brother, treated like family, and his betrayal hurt more than I allowed myself to comprehend.
Now he’s gone. Dead and buried. Willow and my parents can rest in peace. There’s still more to be done, but that can wait for another day.
Exhaustion pulls at me as we ride towards Southampton. I’m wrapped around Nickel, holding him tightly. My thoughts are scattered when it comes to him. Instinct. Some part of me knew he was what I needed. He didn’t utter a word as he enfolded me in his big arms and held me tightly to his muscular body. And he was hard all over. No way I could’ve missed the length of his hard cock as it nestled against my belly.
Adrenaline, high-stakes situations, and torture make me horny. I’ve always believed it’s nature’s way of ensuring we know we’re alive. God knows, Bee and Copper didn’t hide how hot they were for each other.
I expected Nickel to make a comment or push the moment, but he didn’t. He seemed content to hold me until I pushed away from him.It was natural to follow him to his bike so I could ride with him to his home.
I’m curious about the Queens Wraiths. The Skulls seem closer to them than most, and I wondered about their history. That’s something for another day, because I’m exhausted and fighting to keep my eyes open as we turn into a property with security out the wazoo.
Nickel gestures to Coal, who raises a hand and nods, and we veer away from them. They head for what I assume is the clubhouse, while we continue toward the mobile homes.
