Chapter 23
BEE
My entire body aches. My face feels twice its normal size from Lloyd and Samson’s punches. My ribs throb from the hits I took while tied up. I’m surprised they’re not broken. And to top it all off, a little gremlin is pounding an anvil in my head.
I wonder if I look as bad as I feel. Considering everything, I got off lightly.
All I want to do is sleep, but there are too many people in my hospital room.
People who care about me, but not the one person I want—no, need.
The one man I know will protect me no matter what and never judge me.
He’s flitted in and out of my room since I woke the first time.
We’ve been up each other’s arses for nearly a year, and now that he isn’t with me, I feel like I’ve lost a limb.
God, I’m dramatic when I’m in pain.
My mum and dad are talking quietly in the deep armchair next to my bed.
Our reunion last night when I first woke up was tearful, but the memory is hazy; whatever drugs they gave me kept pulling me under.
What I do remember is hating how much they’ve aged since I last saw them. I know I’m partly to blame for that.
Reaper and my brothers hover outside the door, and I know Copper is with them because I can hear the deep rumble of his voice.
I want to know what happened to Lloyd and if the Cursed Skulls are still tracking him.
I also need to know where Noah is. After everything he’s been through, I need to be sure he’s okay. I made him a promise.
I turn towards my dad. “Where’s Noah?”
“They took him to the children’s ward.”
“Is he okay? Has anyone checked on him? He doesn’t have anyone.”
“Your man checked on him a few hours ago, and he was sleeping. The nurse says they’ll let us know when he wakes up,” Mum tells me.
I’m slightly mollified but also a little annoyed that he’s been left alone all this time when there was no need. He should’ve been brought in here with me. I’m in the private wing of the hospital, and Noah could be with me if my family had asked.
Deciding I need to see him, I press the button to raise the head of the bed, then fight back a gasp of pain. Even with the painkillers, I can feel every bruise on my body, and my face throbs with every beat of my heart.
“What are you doing?” Dad demands.
The voices outside my room go quiet.
“Checking on that baby and letting him know he’s not alone,” I say through gritted teeth as I swing my legs over the side of the bed.
“Spice, where are you going?” Copper asks, entering the room and crouching in front of me.
Tears prick my eyes at the concern on his face, and I lift a hand to cup his cheek. “I need to check on Noah. He’s all alone, and he’s only a baby. He was so brave. He needs to know I haven’t forgotten him.”
“I checked on him earlier, and he was okay. I’ll look in on him again now for you. You can’t go anywhere at the moment. You’re tethered to the bed,” Copper says, nodding at the bag hanging on the side of the bed.
I grimace, then wince as it pulls the stitches in my face. I realise I’ve been catheterised, and judging by the contents of the bag, my kidneys are not happy about being punched repeatedly.
“Well, fuck,” I mutter unhappily.
“It’s not good, Spice. You need to get back in that bed, rest, and let the painkillers and antibiotics do their thing.” Copper tells me.
“Okay,” I agree, because he’s right. I can’t go anywhere with a catheter, and honestly, I’m not sure I’d make it ten feet without collapsing.
Copper stands, sliding his arms under my legs and around my back.
He eases me back up the bed, covering me before leaning on his fists.
He presses his forehead to mine as we’ve done a million times before.
“I’ve never been so frightened in my entire life, Bee.
I don’t think I can go through that again. Thought I’d lost you.”
He’s not alone in thinking that. There was a point when they surrounded me at the garage when I thought the same.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper.
“No need to be sorry, Bee. You did what you had to do, and in the process, we saved a lot of women and children. I’m proud of you.”
Warmth fills me at the pride in his voice. God, this man. He’s everything to me. “Love you, Copper Tin.”
His eyes flare in surprise. Then he smiles. Ignoring everyone in the room, he gently presses his lips to mine and whispers, “Love you, too, Bee Davies-soon-to-be-Tin.”
“I’d smile, but it hurts too much. Just know that the answer is yes,” I murmur.
Copper straightens as Dad clears his throat.
“I’ll go and check on our boy,” Copper assures me.
“Thank you,” I say gratefully as he turns to leave.
“Copper,” I call out as he reaches the door.
He turns to look at me, and I’m once again struck by the love in his eyes as he looks at me. He’s never hidden it, but now I’m not the only one noticing it. My mum and dad are, too.
“If he’s not settling, bring him here. If they give you a hard time, get Onyx and Rea involved.” I say this loud enough for my brothers to hear.
Onyx nods. “I’ll go with him.”
“Thank you.”
The room is silent after the two of them disappear. I know my parents have questions, and I’ll answer them, but right now, sleep is pulling at me. “You’ve found the one for you,” Mum says as I’m nodding off.
I turn my head on the pillow to look at her. She looks tired and has tears in her eyes, but I also see relief.
I hold my hand out to her, and Mum links her fingers with mine.
“I have. Copper is a good man, and he’s been there for me through thick and thin.
He loves me with all my faults. He’s been patient and kind, and he lets me be me.
And he makes me a better person just by being him. He’s mine. My person.”
Mum nods, and Dad’s arm goes around her shoulders as she rests her head against him.
“Missed you like hell, baby girl,” he says gruffly. “Hate what you did, but I’m also proud as fuck of you. I like your man.”
Tears fill my eyes. “I missed you, too. More than you can ever know. And I’ll tell you everything, I promise.
I’m sorry you’ve been worried, but,” I hesitate, holding my dad’s gaze, “I’d do it again if it meant meeting Copper.
If it meant saving Noah and all the others the Skulls have saved over the two years I’ve been working for them. ”
Dad nods. “Like I said, I’m as proud as fuck.”
Noah’s loud sobs interrupt our conversation. I know immediately that it’s Noah. I’m also annoyed at the nurse, who is obviously berating Copper.
“Sir, you can’t take him off the ward,” a nurse berates.
“Look, lady,” Copper’s voice rises over Noah’s wails.
“You had him alone in a room, tied to the bed, screaming his head off. We’ve been here for hours, and none of you will tell me how long he’s been like that, even though I left instructions with the nurse last night to let me know the second he woke up. ”
Copper is pissed off. I can tell from his tone how angry he is.
“Sir, as I explained, he was hurting himself flailing around. He wasn’t alone for long. I only stepped out to check on another patient. I’d never leave a child alone like that. He needs to be sedated, and I was arranging that.”
“He doesn’t need sedation,” Copper growls. Noah’s sobs have quietened down. “He needs to be with people who make him feel safe. Why didn’t you call us like I asked?”
“There’s nothing in his notes to say who to call. The notes say that he has no family, and there was no number for me to call.”
“That’s bullshit,” Copper snaps. “I watched the nurse write down all the information last night.”
His footsteps approach my room, and then he’s there, cradling Noah in his arms. My heart melts at the care he’s taking as he holds him gently.
“Hey, buddy, there’s someone here who’s been asking for you.” His tone is gentle now as he speaks to Noah.
Noah lifts his head from where he’s buried it against Copper’s neck. His cheeks are flushed from crying, and his eyes are glassy from whatever meds they’ve got him on.
“Bee,” he whispers brokenly.
I hold my arms out for him.
Copper places him carefully on my bed, reminding him, “Gently, okay? You’re both hurt.”
Noah nods, but he doesn’t settle until his head is on my chest, his tears soaking through my gown. “Don’t leave me,” he whispers.
“Never,” I whisper, pressing my lips to his head. “I’m never leaving you.”
“’Kay,” he sighs, relaxing. A few seconds later, he’s sound asleep.
The nurse stands in the doorway, muttering about protocols.
Until Dad has had enough. “Do you know who we are?” Dad demands.
The nurse’s eyes widen when she sees Dad cut.
“That’s right. We donate a lot of money to this hospital.
In fact, the new children’s wing was funded and built by the woman lying in that bed.
” Dad jabs a finger in my direction. “So, if she wants her child with her, she can bloody well have her child with her. If you have an issue with protocols, I suggest you take it up with Dr Rea Davies, or better still, with the man behind you, Kane Crow.”
Reaper appears in my doorway, and his eyes soften as he sees the boy snuggled against my chest. “I’ll sort it so he can stay with you, Bella.”
It will take my family a while to get used to calling me Bee, but I can live with it for now.
“Thank you, Reaper.”
I’m exhausted. I need to sleep, but I know I won’t until the man hovering at the end of my bed, looking like he wants to punch someone, is lying next to me.
“Copper.”
He looks at me. I pat the bed next to me. He knows what I’m asking, what I need, without my having to say anything. And I know it will go a long way in relaxing him. He needs to rest, too. It’ll be a tight squeeze, but we’ll manage.
Copper removes his boots and climbs onto the bed with us. He slides his arm under my head, so my face is pressed against his neck. I breathe him in. His scent is more effective than any of the painkillers they’ve given me as I melt into him.
“Thank you,” I whisper as his other arm wraps around Noah and me.
Copper presses his lips to my head. “No thanks necessary, Bee. I’ll always make sure you’re cared for.”
Sleep tugs at me now that he’s with me. “Cop?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“Our mums are both called Maggie.”
“They are,” he whispers, and I can hear the smile in his voice.
“If we have a little girl, can we call her Maggie?”
My mum sobs.
My dad mutters, “Fuck.”
And from the doorway, I hear a soft, “Oh, Bella.”
I turn to see Copper’s parents.
But it’s Copper’s answer I’m waiting for, and he doesn’t leave me waiting for long. “Yeah, baby. If we have a girl, we’ll call her Maggie.”
I smile and close my eyes, content now that I’m in Copper's arms and happy to know that my family is whole again and surrounding us.
I didn’t lie when I told my parents I’d do it all again.
The heartache.
The tears.
The unending loneliness of my decision.
The certainty that I would end up right here with the man who was meant for me. And he’s worth every single moment of pain I’ve endured to get to this point.
***
When I next wake, my room is quiet. Mum and Dad are gone. Copper is still in bed with me, fast asleep. Noah has been moved to a bed next to mine. He’s on his side, his little hand holding tight to mine as if he’s afraid I’ll disappear.
It takes me a minute to surface from sleep, but when I do, I realise someone else is in the room. My eyes widen, and I’m suddenly wide awake as my gaze meets Sam’s. Ally is with him, curled up in his lap, fast asleep in the armchair.
We stare at each other for a long time.
Finally, I clear my throat and whisper, “I’m sorry.”
I’m shocked when Sam smiles. He shakes his head and murmurs, “I’m not.”
My eyes widen in surprise.
His chuckle is soft, so he doesn’t wake our sleeping partners while he explains.
“I’m glad you broke us up. I’ve no regrets.
You’ve been kicking arse, taking names, and saving people.
If you hadn’t broken us, I wouldn’t have Ally and the baby we’re expecting.
” He pauses and glances down at his sleeping wife.
His love for her is written all over his face as he says, “And they aren’t something that I will ever regret. ”
I don’t reply. But I smile. I’m happy for them. Babies are a blessing.
“Don’t misunderstand me. It took me a long time to forgive you,” Sam admits softly. “But when I finally got my head out of my arse, I realised what you and I had was what everyone expected, and what I thought I wanted.”
He runs a hand over the stubble on his jaw as he gathers his thoughts before continuing. “Oh, don’t get me wrong, I loved you.” He pauses again as if he’s figuring out how to explain his feelings for me back then and his feelings for Ally now.
But he doesn’t have to, though I know what he means.
“You weren’t in love with me,” I murmur. “Not like you are with Ally.”
“Yeah.” He presses a soft kiss to Ally’s temple, and she curls into him.
Relief and contentment flood me at seeing them so happy. “I’m glad. But I’m still sorry I hurt you.”
“It’s water under the bridge, Bella. I forgave you a long time ago. And you?” He nods toward Copper, who’s spooning me, his arm around my waist. “Are you happy?”
A smile blooms on my face. “So happy. He gets me and has from the start. He’s mine.” I hesitate before admitting, “I don’t know how to explain what he means to me. It’s too much to put into words.”
“He’s your forever,” Sam says softly, looking at Ally again.
His words hit me in the chest. He’s right. That’s exactly what Copper is to me.
“Yeah,” I agree. “He’s my forever.”
“I’m glad, Bella. I’m glad you found the one who makes you happy. Now, sleep. I’m here to keep watch until the Queens Wraiths or the Crow MC relieves me.” He grins. “I have a feeling it will be Beau, and he’s a little pissed at you. But for now, you’re safe, so sleep.”
“Thanks, Sam. I’m glad we’re friends again.”
Sam chuckles. “We’ve always been friends, Bella. We just got lost for a while. Ally and I are happy to have you back in our lives. It’s time you forgave yourself, yeah?”
“I’m working on it,” I mumble, “Copper’s helping me.”
“As he should.”
I smile as Sam smirks at me before sleep takes me under again. I’m getting heartily sick of not being able to stay awake. I’ve got things to do, people to find, arses to kick, goddamn it.