Page 25 of Coal (QUEENS WRAITHS MC #2)

“We’ll be in touch again once we’ve been to Ireland. Congratulations, Thea and Coal, I’m happy for you. My brothers and I wish you both many happy years together. Look after each other.”

With that, Cahir ends the call. Copper and I share a look. “We’ll need to get someone to cover for you while you’re away. Do you know who you want to put forward?” I ask.

Copper heaves a deep sigh, running his hand down his face and over his beard. He flicks the hair tie he wears on his wrist a couple of times before replying. “Nickel. I first thought of Cross, but I’m not sure he’d be interested.

“Nickel is my choice. He’s smart and thinks things through.

He’ll keep you grounded and won’t blow smoke up your ass if you ask him for an opinion.

I’m not saying that because he’s our blood brother.

You know as well as I do that he’s the more serious of us, and the only reason he doesn’t lead is because he doesn’t want to.

He’s like Dad in that regard. More than capable but prefers not to. ”

“I agree,” I tell him. “Call the brothers, let’s do Church, and then you can let Mom know you’ll be away for a bit.”

Copper gets up and leaves. Tapping Thea’s leg, she gets off my lap, but I stop her from walking away by holding onto her hand. She turns to look at me.

“Are you okay, sweetheart? You’ve been quiet.”

Thea smiles at me. Cupping my cheek, she bends and presses her lips to mine in a kiss before lifting her head.

Rubbing her thumb over my cheek, her brown eyes meet mine, “I’m fine, mo ghrá, I’m listening and learning.

I’m not one to chat unless I have to. I’d tell you if there was something wrong.

Although you’ll need to fill me in on Cahir, Silas, and the other brothers. ”

Grasping her wrist, I tug her hand from my cheek and press a kiss to her palm. “I will,” I promise. “After Church, I’ll tell you our history and who they are.”

“Okay then,” Thea agrees easily and pulls me up to stand with her. “Come on, let’s get the meeting over with so your brother can tell your mam she’s losing him for a bit.”

Walking out of my office into the main part of the club, I note Opal has Shea and is playing with her. Through the hatch, I can see my parents in the kitchen. Dad’s got my mom pressed up against the cupboards and is kissing the hell out of her.

“Fuck’s sake,” I mutter, averting my eyes.

Thea giggles, eyes full of amusement when she says, “It’s sweet. I’m glad your da still loves your mam like that. I hope that’s us in twenty years.”

“Well, when you put it like that,” I leer at her and lunge, making her laugh and skip away.

As much as I’d like to continue teasing and laughing with Thea, my brothers are filing in the door, all showered after the dirty work we’d done today, and heading for the room we hold Church in. Whistling, I get Tinman’s attention. He gives me a thumbs up and a wave.

Still holding Thea’s hand, I walk towards where Opal is keeping Shea company.

Bending, I press a kiss to Shea’s head. She looks up from the blocks she’s playing with and gives Thea and me a big smile.

“Da,” she screeches, pulling herself up on my arm and throwing herself at me.

Standing up, I hold her to my chest, blowing a raspberry on her neck.

It’s been a minute since I’ve spent time with my little sister, and I’ve missed her.

That being said, I was her big brother before I was an MC President, and I can’t help but give her a little shit.

That doesn’t go away just because our dynamics changed somewhat.

Knowing my next words would piss her off, I can’t help but ask her, “Are you good out here with Shea?”

Opal rolls her eyes at me. I hold my laughter in when she does that. It’s one of her tells that she’s annoyed with me. Little sisters have no respect. Thea sniggers when I pretend to glare at Opal.

“Of course I am,” Opal informs me, hands on hips. “I’ve been babysitting for years, and Mom is right there if I need a hand, and if not, I’ll knock on the door and get you if I need you. Thea’s not worried, so why are you?”

Even though I know I’m teasing Opal, and I have no qualms about leaving Shea with her, I am surprised that Thea’s not once worried about leaving Shea with my family. Curious, I turn towards Thea, and I realise Opal’s right. She’s calm and not stressed at all. “Why aren’t you worried?”

Thea shrugs, “There’s no need to. We left Shea with them when we got our rings done. Your mam is here, and she raised five of you to adulthood without killing any of you. I figure that’s enough of a reference for me.”

Tinman overhears her comment and laughs out loud. Wrapping an arm around Thea’s shoulder, he turns her towards Church, leaving me with my annoyed younger sister who reaches to take Shea away from me, “Your daddy is a pain in my butt, baby girl. As if I’d let anything happen to you.”

“Fine,” I grumble before kissing Shea’s head and then my sister’s, “Love you, pest, thanks for looking after my kid.”

Opal smiles wide at me, “Love you too, big brother, and stop teasing me even though I’ve missed it. It’s annoying. Now go sort the world out and leave me to play with my niece.”

Hugging them both one more time, I turn and follow my dad and my wife…

Old Lady? ‘Huh, I can’t decide which I prefer.

’ The possessive side of me likes them both, the wife bit for the legalities and the Old Lady bit because once she’s got my name on her back, then nobody would be fucking with her.

My cock twitches in my jeans as possessiveness fills me.

‘Fuck yeah,’ this weekend can’t come quick enough.

The sooner I get my name on her back, the better as far as I’m concerned.

Walking into Church with Thea sitting in a chair next to mine brings me to a halt.

She’s chatting to my dad and Nickel, seemingly perfectly comfortable.

That possessive feeling hits me again. I enjoy having her in here with me.

I like that I don’t have to keep secrets from her.

She’s my partner in everything. From how the club runs to our family.

It makes sense having her in here when she’d be building our weapons and would know more about our business than most. I was going to put it to a vote tonight what we would do about Old Ladies going forward.

Nobody has noticed me yet, so I walk towards the head of the table, letting my hand run across Thea’s shoulders as I walk past her.

When she turns her brown eyes up to mine and smiles, the whole world stands still for just a minute, but it’s long enough to settle something in me I didn’t even know I needed.

It feels right to have her in here, sitting next to me.

Breaking our stare, I sit down and look around the table at my brothers.

Some blood, some not, but all family. Picking up the gavel, I bang it down on the table and there’s instant silence as all eyes swing towards me.

“Church is now in session. I have a few things I’d like to address and then I’m going to turn the meeting over to Copper for a bit.”

When nobody says anything, I continue, “This is Thea’s first time in Church.

Thea will most likely always be attending Church from now on.

Not only is she going to be building our weapons, but she’ll also need to know about jobs and will aid in helping those that we have to rescue and bring here.

Are there any objections to Thea joining us in Church? Now is the time to voice them.”

Giving them a minute, I ignore the way Thea’s breath hitches and her hands curl into her lap, even though everything in me wants to reassure her.

Cross raises his hand, and I nod towards him. “ What will happen to Shea or any other children you have if we’re raided? You know that you’ll both go down if that’s the case.”

It’s a good question and not one we’ve had much time to talk about, but Cross is right; we’d need to put something in place.

Thea’s the one that answers him, “Because of what I did for my father, I’ve already thought of this. I’ve got Aiden and my sisters as her guardians should anything happen to me, but you’re right. That will need to be addressed, and Coal and I will do that as soon as we can get to a lawyer.”

Cross nods and replies, “As long as your kids are looked after and don’t end up in the system, then I’m good with Thea being in Church. I vote Aye.”

His vote opens up the table, and the vote is unanimous. Turning to Thea, I tell her, “Welcome to Queens Wraiths, baby.”

Thea turns luminous, emotion-filled eyes towards me.

“Thank you,” she whispers, and I know it’s for more than being allowed into Church.

It’s also for the love, stability, and respect that I show her.

My reward is her love, loyalty, and respect.

Thea turns to the brothers. “ Thank you. I won’t let you down. ”

Tinman pats her hand. “We know.”

Clearing my throat, I say, “With Thea being the first Old Lady to join Church, we need to be clear on what’s going to happen going forward.

It makes sense with Thea because she will work closely with us.

However, that being said, and I’m not saying any of you will choose a woman that’s a total cunt, but if that should happen, what rules do we have in place when it comes to Old Ladies?

“Do they get automatic access to everything going on? We need to set rules now because, before long, we’ll be embroiled in shit from which there is no return.

I’ve always said this isn’t a dictatorship.

That’s not how I want this club to be run.

This is your chance to make yourselves clear on how you see the future of our club being run.

You also need to think about whether future Old Ladies, if they are in Church, get the right to vote or not.

I’m opening up the floor to discussion for ten minutes, as I know most of you have already thought about this, then we’ll vote. ”