Chapter 25
BEE
We’ve been at Queens Wraiths for three days, and I’m feeling so much better. Still bruised as fuck, but I’m no longer peeing blood, and I’m moving easier.
Ellie wasn’t joking about Mum and Dad; they literally moved in. Copper’s mobile home is pretty small, so they’re staying with his parents, who don’t seem to mind the company.
As for me, I’m taking all the love and affection my parents are willing to offer and soaking it up. I’ve missed them more than I can say.
Somehow, I wasn’t surprised when we entered Copper’s home to find that one of his spare rooms was set up for a little boy with everything he could want—a racing car duvet set, new clothes in his cupboard, and toys in baskets on the shelves.
Noah was overwhelmed, and it took him a few nights to feel comfortable sleeping in his new room. Not that I blame him. I’m an adult, and I find all the changes over the last week overwhelming. Noah is adapting much better than I expected.
Unsurprisingly, he took to my mum and Maggie from the start, but he’s still wary of most men. It’ll take time for him to trust that they won’t hurt him. We’ll help him heal emotionally, physically, and mentally. I’d make sure of it and get him whatever help he needed.
He woke us early this morning with a nightmare. We spent the morning colouring and enjoying each other’s company while Copper cooked us breakfast. Well, his version of breakfast, which was to put the casserole his mum sent us in the oven. His cooking has improved, but not that much.
It truly amazes me that I have Copper in my life. He’s everything I never thought I’d have but everything I needed. And the fact that he’s taken on Noah without hesitation makes me realise how lucky I am.
Somehow, in all of this, I’ve found a man who reminds me of the men in my family. It makes me wonder—is it an MC thing, or am I fortunate to have so many good people in my life?
Because that’s what they are down to their souls—good people.
But our brief reprieve from the real world was about to end. Coal sent a message this morning—he’s calling Church, and the Cursed Skulls will be attending.
I need to let Noah know I’ll be gone for a little while.
“Noah,” I say as I run my hand over his curly blond hair and wait for him to look at me. Copper joins us and sits in the chair next to me, hand on my thigh. Supporting me as always.
Noah lifts his head and gives me a worried look. I smile, hoping to relieve any worries he may have.
Leaning closer, I hold his hand. “I need you to listen to me, okay?”
His little mouth droops as if he’s waiting for bad news.
“Hey.” I tap his chin with my finger. “It’s nothing bad, but I want you to decide something.”
He continues to look at me with worried eyes about what I’m going to tell him.
Reaching over, I pick him up and pop him on the table in front of Copper and me.
I hold back a gasp, ignoring the pain in my ribs.
Copper takes one of his hands, and I take the other.
Some might say a four-year-old won’t understand, but Noah has been through so much in his short life, and I want him to have a choice.
“Copper and I have a meeting today with the men who rescued us and all those other people. We may have to go away for a few days.”
His blue eyes pool with tears, overflowing and running down his cheeks onto our hands. My heart aches. I hate that this hurts him when all I want is for him to be safe and happy.
“You leave me?”
“Only for a few days, bud,” Copper says gently. “We can’t take you with us. It’s too dangerous. My mom and dad will stay here with you. You can stay in your bed, in your room.”
His being able to stay here in our home seems to calm him a little. “You come back for me?”
“Hey.” I squeeze his hand gently until he looks at me. “Remember what I told you? I’ll always make sure you’re okay. If you want, I can see if my mum and dad can stay here, too?”
He nods. “’Kay.”
I wrap my arms around him, wincing as my ribs protest again. Pressing my lips to his temple, I whisper, “I promise I’m coming back for you, Noah. You can talk to Copper and me every day while we’re gone, okay? We’ll make sure everyone staying with you knows.”
“Aunt Jeanie stay?”
My gaze meets Copper's.
His eyes soften as he runs a comforting hand over Noah’s back.
“Yeah, bud. Aunt Jeanie and Aunt Thea are staying this time. Does that make you feel better?”
“Yes.” He nods. “She take the bad lady away.”
“She did, didn’t she?” I smile and lower him to his feet. “Put on your shoes and let’s see if we can find her.”
“’Kay.” He runs to his room to find his shoes.
I wait until he’s out of the room before turning to Copper. “I hate leaving him. It hurts my heart.”
Copper cups my uninjured cheek, tilting my head towards him. He rests his forehead against mine. “I know, Spice. I’m not thrilled either. But at least we know he’ll be okay with our folks.”
“And Jeanie.” I grin.
He chuckles. “Yeah, and Jeanie. Seems our boy has a bit of a crush. I’ll have to warn Bolt that he’s got competition.”
Laughing, I lift my mouth and touch it to his. Copper doesn’t hesitate to deepen the kiss. We break apart when we hear small feet running back to us.
“Ready,” Noah declares.
“Welcome to parenthood,” Copper murmurs, his eyes twinkling as he holds out his hand to me.
I link my fingers with his, holding back a groan when my ribs protest at the movement as he helps me to stand. I’m moving much better, but that doesn’t mean I’m not still hurting.
“Come on. The walk will do me good.” Taking my jacket off the hook by the door, I hand Noah’s to Copper.
It’s cold out, and our walk to the clubhouse takes longer than it should considering the distance, but my muscles are much looser, and I’m feeling pretty good when we get there.
The surrounding car park is full of motorcycles, some I recognise as the Cursed Skulls and others I don’t.
I see my mum’s vehicle, so I know they’re already here.
Looks like a full Church today. I wonder how that will work.
I know this MC isn’t like the one I grew up in, where women joined them for Church. I’ll take my cue from Copper.
“Hey,” Copper stops by the double doors and crouches in front of Noah. I wait, wondering what’s wrong, as I scan the grounds looking for anything out of the ordinary, but I don’t see anything. “There will be lots of big men in there. Do you want to ride on my shoulders?”
Oh, this man! If I didn’t already love him, I’d have fallen hard and fast at this moment.
I don’t say anything, waiting for the two of them—one big and dark, the other small and blond.
Finally, Noah nods. “I go your shoulders.”
“Okay, bud. I want you to remember that no one in this building will hurt you. I promise. And if they do, you tell Bee or me or Aunt Jeanie, and we’ll beat their butts.”
Noah giggles. It’s the first time he’s laughed since I met him. It warms my heart when he falls against Copper, wraps his arms around his neck, and hugs him. “Okay. I go up now.”
“Sure thing,” Copper says, standing and lifting Noah onto his shoulders. He laughs when the little boy squeals.
“I really high.”
I grin at the two of them. Happiness floods through me.
It takes me a minute to realise what that feeling is.
While I’ve been happy the last few months with Copper, we’ve always felt like we were living on borrowed time, but now…
now we have all the time in the world. Or we will have once I get rid of that fucking nurse and Lloyd Eade.
I needed to find out the nurse’s name.
“You ready, Spice?”
I’m pulled from my thoughts to find Copper looking quizzically at me. “I love you, Copper.”
The words burst out of me as if I can’t contain them.
Copper’s face softens. “I love you, too, Bee. Let’s get this job finished so we can enjoy the rest of our lives and build on that love.”
“Sounds like a sound plan, Mr Tin,” I say, taking the hand he holds out to me.
“Make sure you duck your head, Noah,” I warn as we walk through the door into the loud common room of the clubhouse.
I’m immediately enfolded in Ramzi’s arms before being passed around the Cursed Skulls. I’m happy to see them, too. It’s loud and chaotic, and I’m worried about Noah, but he seems perfectly happy on Copper’s shoulders, his fingers threaded in his long, curly hair.
Even though this isn’t the club I grew up in, the vibe is the same. When Coal calls Church, I wait, surprised when Thea follows Coal and Jeanie goes with Bolt.
“You coming, Spice?” Copper asks.
“I didn’t know you allowed women at your Church, so I wasn’t sure what to do,” I admit.
“We’ve amended our rules on a case-by-case basis. You’re needed for this one, Spice.”
“What about Noah?” He’s sitting on Copper’s shoulders, looking happy up there.
“I stay him.” Noah points to Copper's dad, Tinman, who’s waiting for us by the door.
“Oh, baby, you can’t—”
Tinman holds up his hand, stopping me. “It’s okay. I’ll skip Church. Cop, let Coal know.”
“Will do, Pops,” Copper agrees, lifting Noah from his shoulders and passing him to his dad.
Noah wraps an arm around Tinman’s neck. “You big like Copper.”
Tinman chuckles. “That’s because I’m his dad.”
“You stay with me. My Bee is going away.”
“Yeah, bud. I’m staying with you. Maggie and me.” He points to Copper’s mum.
“And my Bee’s mum?”
Tinman smiles and turns towards where my parents are sitting on one of the sofas with Thea and Coal’s little girl, Shea, on my dad’s lap. “That’s your Bee’s mum and dad. Her dad is called Dog. Can I tell you a secret?”
Noah nods hard. “Your Bee’s mom is also called Maggie.”
“She is?” Noah’s eyes widen, then he stuns us by saying, “My mum’s Maggie.”
My heart beats hard in my chest when he reveals this little tidbit. It’s the first time he’s spoken about his parents. I know Cahir is waiting to fill me in on what happened to them. That Noah is still with us means it’s not good news.
“It’s a good name,” Tinman tells him. “All the best mums are called Maggie.”