Chapter 18
COPPER
My gut clenches, and my knee bounces as I watch the screens in the van with Ramzi.
Bee is sandwiched between Cai and Cahir. Realistically, I know she’s safer tonight than she’ll ever be, but I’m still anxious.
I understand why I’m in the van with Ramzi when I observe the way they move. They blend into the shadows so well that if it weren’t for Ramzi pointing them out, I’d be hard-pressed to see them.
While I’m worried about Bee, I’m also proud of how good she is at her job. I’m sure that as a little girl, she never dreamed that she’d be doing covert ops when she grew up.
It doesn’t take them long to enter the building, and they switch to body cams. Nobody speaks unless necessary.
“She’s fucking amazing at this,” I murmur. “I can see why I couldn’t go with. We’re not nearly as stealthy as you lot.”
“You’ll all get better the more you train,” Ramzi assures me, his attention never wavering from the screens.
“Bella’s been training since she was young.
I don’t even think her family realised how much she retained when she followed her brothers around and copied them when they were home on leave.
All we did was take what she already knew and improve on it. ”
“Have you always kept an eye on her? Is she from one of your bloodlines?” I’m curious about these all-seeing, all-knowing, centuries-old Viking-like men. Even with all they’ve seen, they’ve retained their humanity, showing care and concern for others.
Ramzi shakes his head. “No, we haven’t always known about her. She came to our attention when we rescued Kaleb. We put her through rigorous training those first few years, and she always passed with flying colours. That’s when she told us about watching her brothers and copying them.”
Ramzi goes silent for a bit, his attention on the screens, where we can see them clearly. We see them on their way out and relax as they exit the building.
Ramzi rearms the alarm and turns back to me with a grin. “None of us are related to Bella. No need to worry about bloodlines mixing.”
I huff out a laugh. “I hadn’t even thought of that.”
The side door of the van opens, and Bella appears. I breathe a sigh of relief, even though I knew she was perfectly safe the entire time. I prefer having her in my vicinity, preferably within reach.
Bella leans against me, threading her fingers through mine and squeezing. It’s not the first time she’s taken comfort from me without realising it, and I hope it won’t be the last.
I squeeze her hand, and we remain silent until we pull into an industrial area three miles from our apartment. Cai stops the van next to where I hid my bike. We’ll ride back to the flat.
Cahir and Cai turn towards us once we’re stationary. Silas and Ramzi are with us in the back. Ramzi is poised to act on the information Bella obtained, so he can start the search.
“What did you find, Bella?” Cahir asks.
“Two names,” she says, and I see the surprise on their faces.
“Confirmation of the name I already had. Miles Burres. But when I checked the other ledgers, another name stood out. Lloyd Eade. His name appeared in the last four ledgers I checked tonight. I don’t think he’s as big a player as Miles Burres, but he’s not far off.
Lloyd Eade’s name is familiar, but I can’t remember why. ”
Silas shares a look with Cahir.
“Nora,” Silas mumbles, a faraway look on his face.
Nora?
Bella looks as if she recognises the name but doesn’t say anything.
“I’ll start checking on both of them,” Ramzi says. “You did good, Bella. I know this has been tough on you.” He hesitates as he looks at me. “It’s been tough on both of you. Hopefully, this will speed things up now that we have names to work with.”
“It’s getting dangerous now,” Cahir warns, and the look in his eyes chills me. “Make sure your trackers are on at all times and stay armed. Both of you.” He aims that last part at me.
“We’re always armed,” I assure him. We never leave the house without our weapons.
“I added some bugs to Alan’s office,” Cahir informs us.
Bella tenses beside me. “He scans his office every morning.”
“We know,” Ramzi replies. “This is new tech I’ve been working on, and so far, the scanners haven’t picked them up. Since we’re hitting this so hard, I have a feeling he’ll be calling a meeting with his contacts soon. We need to listen in because if they suspect you, we’re pulling you out.”
“But we’re so close,” Bella protests. “We’ve come so far. Don’t stop me now.”
She looks devastated that they're thinking of pulling us off the operation after all the hard work and sacrifices we’ve made to reach this point.
“Bella,” Cahir says, his expression grim.
I recognise his clipped tone. It’s his ‘don’t fuck with me’ voice.
“You’re more important than any op,” he states. “We’ve shut down several rings with the information you’ve given us in the last year alone. And that’s not including those we shut down the previous year.”
“Yes, but they’re all small operations. We need to get the big ones shut down,” she huffs, clearly frustrated.
“And we will,” Cahir assures her, “but we’ll do it without putting you at further risk. We need you alive and well if we’re going to continue this work.”
“Bella,” Silas says softly. “It’s been a long time since we’ve had children to worry and care about. You’ve filled a hole in our lives. You aren’t just an operative. You’re a daughter, and your safety is our priority.”
Bella’s eyes gloss with tears. I know she’s never doubted that they care for her, but Silas’s words cement the depth of their affection.
I know she’s about to fall apart. I know it takes a lot for her to admit that she’s afraid. I am, too, not for myself but for her. I doubt she realises how many people would turn the world upside down if anything were to happen to her.
Between the Queens Wraiths, the Cursed Skulls, and the Crow MC, we’d raze the world to avenge her. I wouldn’t stop until those who hurt her were dead and buried.
The thought of her not making it out in one piece burns a hole in my gut.
Bella nods, and her throat works as she gets herself under control.
She moves to open the side door of the van so we can exit. “Okay, if we need to pull out, we pull out. I know I don’t often say it, but you all mean the world to me.”
They look surprised and humbled, and I know Bella needs to get out of here before her emotions get the better of her.
“Let me know as soon as you hear anything, and we can make plans,” she adds, turning to exit.
Cai stops her with a hand on her knee. He’s the quietest of all the brothers, with heartache in his eyes. “Be careful.”
My heart rate doubles at his warning. Cai never talks, so I wonder why he’s chosen to do so now. He’s not saying anything that the others haven’t told us, but those two words seem ominous coming from him.
Bella nods, clearing her throat. “I will.”
He holds her gaze for a second longer before he removes his hand from her knee.
Bella and I exit the van, and we watch as they pull away.
She turns towards me once they’re gone. “I’m afraid.”
My mouth tightens as I reach for her. “Me, too, baby,” I whisper against her temple. “Me, too.”
She squeezes my waist, holding me tight as if she never wants to let me go. “I had nothing to lose before I met you.”
She tilts my head back, meeting my gaze.
The emotions she can’t put into words are right there in her beautiful eyes.
I lower my head and take her mouth in a hard kiss, pouring all my emotions into it.
I know what she’s saying without her having to utter a word.
Our biggest fear since we started this relationship is that one of us wouldn’t make it to the end.
“Let’s go home,” I whisper against my lips. “I need to be inside you.”
“Hurry,” she urges huskily.
We barely make it through the door before I’m inside her, making us both feel whole. We make love hard and fast. Desperate.
We don’t sleep that night. We both feel it. A storm is coming; we just don’t know when it will hit.