Chapter 29 #2
She makes quick work of locating a vein and injecting him. It’s clear this isn’t the first time she’s done this.
“Bee,” Nora calls out, waiting for Bee to turn her attention from Copper. “Take notes.”
“Will do,” Bee replies, tapping Copper on the shoulder to set her down. She takes her phone from her back pocket and opens it. “Go for it, sister.”
“Tell me about the shipments, Lloyd,” Nora demands, dropping to her knees. She tightens the bottom screw.
Eade is a fountain of information; he doesn’t even attempt to hold back.
He suddenly screams, throwing his head back as Nora calmly tightens the screw on the metal cage she secured to his foot.
Blood flows from the holes as she twists the screws.
Whatever she’s doing is causing damage. He screams until he passes out.
The nurse, whom I’d all but forgotten, thrashes on the table.
Bee rolls her eyes and hands Copper her phone. “Hold this, Sugar.”
She chooses one of the knives on the wall, casually walks over to Beatrice, and slits her throat.
No one knows what to say. Copper doesn’t look surprised, just proud. Women can be as ruthless as men, and Bee and Nora seem to have it in abundance when it comes to protecting and avenging their loved ones.
“We good?” I ask as Bee deposits the knife in the sink and washes her hands.
She returns to Copper and takes her phone from him. He wraps an arm around her waist, taking her weight as she rests against him.
“Bee,” I ask again when she doesn’t answer, absorbed in her phone.
“Huh?” She looks up and waves a dismissive hand. “Oh, yeah, we’re good. She was annoying me. I didn’t need to torture her because Jeanie took care of it. Besides, the information Nora’s extracting from Lloyd is far more fascinating and tallies with what I found in the ledgers.”
“We’ll have more in just a minute,” Nora says, approaching Eade with another syringe, “But he may not last as long this time.”
Copper grins at me. I shake my head and turn towards Nickel, who’s watching Nora with a stupid smile on his face. If he were a cartoon character, he’d have hearts flowing from his eyes.
I’ve come to the conclusion that we’re not needed; our only purpose here is as muscle.
Bee pats the wall next to her and Copper. “Stand here, Pres, and relax. You guys will have to do the heavy lifting once we’re finished.”
Nickel and Copper chuckle. I’m glad Bolt isn’t here because he’d be all over this shit. Deciding I may as well do what Bee suggests, I join them.
Nora gives Lloyd whatever the hell concoction she’s got in those needles. He starts talking again until she tightens the screw and the blood flows, until he passes out.
“Did you get it all, Bee?”
“Yep, got it. Also, those shoes are something else.”
“They are. My favourites.” Nora stands and presses a finger to Eade’s neck. “Still alive.” She pulls two boards and a hammer from the wall, then turns to Nickel. “Can you let him down?”
When Eade is back in the chair, she unties his hands and fits a board under each, securing them to the chair's arms.
“Need to wake him up again,” she mutters. She pulls a vial from her pocket, breaks it open, and waves it under his nose.
Eade opens his eyes and stares blearily at her. “Nora. I don’t know any more,” he whimpers.
“Oh, I know,” she replies calmly. Lifting the hammer, she smashes it down on his hand.
“This is for Willow.” She does the same with the other hand, ignoring his screams. Quick as a flash, she unsheathes the knife at her waist and slashes it across his throat.
“And that’s for my parents, you motherfucker. I hope you rot in hell.”
If I expected Nora to dissolve in tears, I’m sorely mistaken. Instead, she removes all her torture devices with efficient movements and takes them to the sink. I wince when I see the sharp spikes on the shoe she screwed into Eade’s feet. Where the hell did she get that idea from?
Bee is still muttering over her phone and the information Eade gave us.
“Let’s get this lot cleaned up, brothers,” I instruct. “Cross, call Adam and let him know we’re done.”
“Gotcha, Pres.” Cross nods and jogs up the stairs.
It takes hours to clean The Hole and bury the bodies. The reason Adam insisted we buy the trees becomes clear as we plant them above the corpses.
“Thanks, Adam,” I say, extending my hand.
“No problem, it’s what family is for,” he says, shaking my hand.
“Appreciate it, though.”
“I know,” he replies. “It’s why we allow it.”
I head to the vehicle I drove here. I’m ready to get home to my woman and baby girl. After the last few days, I need some baby cuddles.
“Coal!”
I turn to look at Adam.
“Those girls are stronger than most. They’ve been through shit that would haunt most people.
Bee and Nora are different from the rest—even your Thea.
As much as Thea has experienced and seen, she isn’t in the same league as those two.
” He pauses. “A bit of advice. I know what MCs are like, but experience has shown me that women bring something to the table that we don’t.
Don’t shut them out. You’ll find them loyal when they’re given the respect they deserve.
They’ll let you know when they’ve had enough.
And even then, they’ll still be there for support if needed.
I’m not sure you realise how lucky you and your brothers are to have found your women. ”
He’s not telling me anything I don’t already know, but I take his advice because I know it’s given with the best of intentions, considering that one of those women he mentioned is his daughter.
“I hear you, Adam, and I agree.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow night.” Adam grins. “I’ve invited myself for dinner.”
Laughing, I give him a thumbs up before opening the vehicle door and getting in. Looking in the rear-view mirror, I smile when I see Bee curled up on the back seat, head on Copper’s shoulder, fast asleep.
Checking that the brothers on the bikes are ready, I note the way that Nora’s holding on to Nickel. Looks like we’ll be inviting another Old Lady into the fold before long.
It’s been a hectic two years since we opened the Southampton Chapter of Queens Wraiths, and I can’t help but wonder what else is in store for us.
Putting the vehicle in gear, I drive slowly away from the O’Shea compound.
I don’t relax until I drive through our security gate and find the rest of our family waiting to welcome us home.