Chapter 15
COAL
“What the fuck was I thinking when I let them talk me into this?” I groan.
I scrape my fingers through my hair in exasperation as I watch my brothers lift a dead body from the back of our communications van and place it on the ground near the car we stole.
I frown as laughter fills my ears. “Fuckers.”
“Um, because you knew they were right,” Sterling states matter-of-factly. “We need a few hours to set it up to look like he’s done a runner, and this will cause confusion.”
“And you’ve done that?” I demand. “Dotted all the i’s and crossed all the t’s?”
“Pres.” He looks at me and shakes his head as if he can’t believe I’m questioning him.
I glower at him. “Humour me.”
“Okay.” Sterling turns back to his computers. “From the time we left home and dropped you at the hotel to now?”
“No.” I wave my hand dismissively. “From arrival at the hotel until now.”
“Okay,” he agrees as the rest of our brothers carry the cadaver towards the car we situated in an industrial park not far from one of Burres’ shell companies near the docks.
“So, I put the cameras on a loop when we arrived at the hotel and dropped you off near the car park until you left. By the way, Pres”—Sterling smirks—“good job on the hotwire. Didn’t realise you had those types of skills. ”
“Ex-one percenter,” I remind him.
“True.” He nods and continues. “I didn’t have to do anything until we arrived here, as we wanted them to be able to track the vehicle.
Glad he’s got tinted glass, though it made my job easier.
Cameras are now on a loop showing him parked here while we set it all up.
When our brothers at the ball let me know they’ve got him, I’ll send a threatening text from a burner demanding a meet here.
Then we’ll blow up the car and head home to interrogate the man.
But in the meantime, I’ll make it look like Miles Burres has done a runner. ”
Sterling pauses to make sure I’m keeping up.
“The authorities will think he’s taken a flight to Turkey, where they’ll lose him.
Bolt has the phone to plant on the DB in the car to make it look like he sent the message.
Looks like a meet-up that went bad. I’ll keep these cameras on a loop until we’re done.
Should take no more than ten minutes, as Cross has already made the bomb and is fitting it as we speak. ”
“Okay.” I nod.
I should’ve known better than to question Sterling. He’s been working with Ramzi for over a year, learning all the ways to go undetected.
Gagging sounds have us turning to look at our brothers.
“Jesus, Sterling, where did this body come from?” Bolt asks, looking green under his mask.
Now I know why Sterling insisted that those working with the body be covered from head to toe in disposable overalls, gloves, and masks. The stench is enough to knock you to your knees.
Sterling clambers down from the van to look at the body in the bag. “Got a friend who works admin at one of the body farms. She helped me out. He’s a John Doe and fits Burres’ height and weight.”
“A woman?” I bark out.
“Yeah, Pres. We served together, but she got hurt pretty bad. Don’t worry, she owes me.”
“Jesus,” I mutter, pressing my fingers to the bridge of my nose for a minute before returning my attention to Sterling. “You’d better be right, Sterling. We can't have this blow back on us.”
“Trust me, Pres. I promise Charlie won’t be a problem. She only told me where the body could be found. I’m the one who went into the system and altered the records so he was never there.”
I’m aware we’re wasting time, so I nod. “Okay, we’ll leave it for now. Let’s get him in the car so we can blow him up. Jesus, fuck.” I sigh. “That is not something I ever thought I’d say.”
“Oh, how our lives have changed.” Bolt chuckles as he comes to stand next to me, stripping off his gloves.
Brass and Iron lift the cadaver from the body bag and place him in the car.
Bolt nudges my shoulder. “Changed for the better, though, Pres.”
I turn to look at my little brother. He’s always been the wildest, but he’s grown up a lot in the last few years. More so since he married Jeanie and they’re expecting their first baby. She was the best thing that ever happened to him.
“Yeah, Bolt. Definitely for the better.”
“Okay, everyone strip,” Sterling orders, holding out a bag. “Put your overalls, gloves, and footies in here. I’ll burn them once we’re back at the club. You won’t need me until we have the information we need from Burres.”
We all strip off the overalls and put everything in the bag before climbing into the van. It’s a tight squeeze, but it’s only a short trip to where we parked our vehicle and sleds.
Copper lets us know that we’re a go.
We’re leaving the site when Cross presses the button on the device in his hand. An explosion lights up the night sky, and a few minutes later, we hear the sirens.
It’s done.
Now comes the important part—getting information from Burres. Not that I’m worried. Between my brethren’s Old Ladies and the truth serum, it shouldn’t take long.
Why humans choose to be cruel to one another is beyond me, but it feels good to be on the side that’s taking them down one trafficker at a time.
I’m relieved when we drive through our gates, and I see the van we left at the hotel for our brothers at the ball. We’re all home and safe.
I feel even better when I see Thea and Jeanie waiting for us near the QD with bags and relieved smiles.
Parking my bike, I get off and stride to my Old Lady, taking her in my arms and kissing her like I haven’t seen her for days.
This operation has been fairly easy, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t worry about all my brothers and their women.
We break apart, and I run a hand over Thea’s belly where our baby rests.
“Glad you’re back, aghrá mo chroí,” Thea murmurs, cupping my cheeks, her eyes searching mine. She was worried. I hate that, but it’s the life we’ve chosen to live.
“Me too, sweetheart. Everything okay here? Shea?”
“She’s fine, aghrá. All the kids are. We left them at home with Opal so we could bring you clothes to change into before you get information from the gobshite. And we figured that Nora and Bee would be more comfortable in leggings and t-shirts under their coveralls rather than ball gowns.”
This woman. She’s the best Old Lady I could’ve wished for. The best thing that’s ever happened to me. Did she take me by surprise? Hell, yes, she did. Marrying her is still the best decision I’ve ever made.
Enfolding her in my arms, I hold her close, burying my face in her hair. “God, I love you, Thea Tin.”
Thea tightens her arms around me. “Love you too, a chroí.”
She hugs me close one more time before releasing me and stepping back. “Now go and do what needs to be done, then come home. I’ll be waiting.”
With one last smile, she turns and walks towards our home.
I whistle to get everyone’s attention. “Wraiths, Thea and Jeanie brought clothing for us to change into. Put them on under your coveralls. Everything gets burned at the end. One bag is for the brothers, and the other is for Nora and Bee. We’ll take it in turns.
Tinman, take Mom back to mine. Make sure you burn your clothes from this evening.
Thank you for helping tonight, Momma. I know this isn’t usually your thing. ”
Mom waves a hand at me dismissively. “Protecting my family is what I do, Coal, you know that. Maybe I’m not as tough as my daughters, but that doesn’t mean I’m weak.
Nora is my daughter, the same as Opal, Bee, Jeanie, and Thea.
This man hurt her through his connections, so as far as I’m concerned, he has to pay.
It’s what a mom does. But you’re right, I don’t have the stomach for the next part, so I’ll leave you all to it and go and have a cup of tea with my other girls.
We’ll see you for brunch at the clubhouse. ”
Mom turns to Tinman, who’s smiling proudly at her. “Always knew you were meant for this life, Maggie. Come on, I’m with you. I’d rather see my babies than be here.”
He’s still a brother through and through, so it’s no surprise when he turns to me and says, “Shout if you need help with clean-up, Coal.”
“Will do.”
I wait until they’ve gone before turning to Nora and Bee. “Ladies, if you’d like to get dressed behind the van, and we’ll get everything sorted. Shout when you’re done.”
“No problem.” Nora scoops up a bag, and she and Bee disappear behind the van.
Copper and Nickel found gems when they met their women.
And that became clearer with each bit of information Nora extracts from Burres after we’ve had our turn at softening the fucker up for her.