Page 30 of Coal (QUEENS WRAITHS MC #2)

“Now, I’m not one for putting other women down,” Thea says conversationally, “but when a man says he’s married and not interested, you need to back the feck off.

Because he’s another woman’s, and we have to stick together.

Now if you’d listened the first time, I’d have let it go, and we’d have had a drink together, but nooo. Not you.

“He told you three times he wasn’t interested, and he told you he’s married.

What type of girl code do you live by?” Thea pauses at the door, unwrapping the chain; she winds it around her wrist, squats down next to the woman and flicks a finger against the woman’s forehead, then looks up and points her finger at all standing watching.

“Listen up and listen good, because I’m only going to say this once.

That man is mine,” she points her finger at me, then shakes her head as a wide grin breaks over my face .

“And,” she continues, “I’m his. The next person who tries to come between us is going to get hurt.” Her eyes flick down toward the woman who is now sobbing, “Oh, quiet yourself down; you haven’t even got a mark on you.” Thea rolls her eyes in disgust.

Sure enough, when Thea steps back and Brass pulls the woman to her feet, her neck is clear. Copper and I exchange a look. It would be good for Mom and Opal to learn that from Thea.

“It’s your pride that’s hurt,” Thea continues, “Get up and get gone. You are no longer welcome here. We’re done with you.

” Suddenly, Thea’s hand shoots out and grabs the woman by her top and she pulls the woman towards her, telling her, “And don’t even think of going to the Garda, because I can assure you it won’t go well for you. ”

She pushes her away and smiles sweetly at Iron and Brass. “Would you boys mind seeing her out?”

“With pleasure, Thea,” Iron assures her, taking the woman by the arms and escorting her out.

Thea dusts her hands and turns around to find me right there.

She lets out the cutest little shriek that cuts off as soon as my lips are on hers.

I kiss her hard so that nobody is in any doubt that she’s mine.

Gripping her hips, I hold her close. Close enough so that she can feel what she does to me.

Ripping my lips from hers, I whisper in her ear, “You were fucking magnificent, baby, and so fucking sexy.” I nip at her earlobe and love the way she shivers at the motion. “I can’t wait to get you home and fuck you all night long.”

Thea whimpers and I grumble, when we’re interrupted by Copper saying, “Attention, people. This is usually the President’s job, but as you can see, he has other things on his mind.

” Everyone titters, chuckles, and some outright laugh at his comment.

Keeping my arm around Thea, we turn towards where Copper is standing on a small makeshift stage in the clubhouse's corner. We only put it up on party nights and it’s usually where we have the music set up. Tonight, it’s for something else.

“If our President and our Queen would join me up here,” Copper continues.

Thea looks at me as I tug her along with me until we get to where Copper is standing.

I step up next to him, and take the microphone from him, and turn to the crowd.

“Thanks for coming to celebrate with us. We’ve had a little excitement tonight.

” Again, there’s laughter. “The reason for the party, as you can guess, is to introduce you to my wife. And after tonight, she’ll officially be my Old Lady.

” Turning towards Copper, I take the cut from the box that he’s holding out and turn back to Thea.

Holding it up, I continue, “Thea, I know when we got married you had doubts. I hope that I’ve made those doubts go away.

You’ve accepted my ring and my name. Now I’m asking officially, in front of all these people, if you’ll wear my name on your back? ”

Thea’s got tears brimming in her eyes as she nods and replies, “Yes.” Turning her back to me, she waits until I help her slip her cut on. As I settle her cut on her shoulders, everyone whistles, cheers, claps, and stomps their feet on the floor. It’s loud and perfect.

Seeing my name on her back has me wanting to pound my chest and carry her out of here to celebrate by ourselves. Unfortunately, as President, that’s not something I can do.

Hands on her shoulders, I lean forward, whispering in her ear, “So fucking beautiful, baby. ”

Thea turns her head and kisses my cheek, mouthing, “Thank you.”

Taking her hand, I twirl her around to face the crowd, “Thea Tin, Queen of the Queens Wraiths Southampton Chapter.”

I’m smiling so wide my face hurts, and when I look at Thea, she’s the same. Tugging her towards me, I kiss her one more time before saying to the crowd.

“Enjoy your evening. There’s food in the kitchen and drinks at the bar. Remember the rules if you want to be invited back. No drunks, no drugs, no douchebags.”

The last one is shouted back at me, making me laugh. Most of this crowd are good people who like to party somewhere safe, but now and then we get a lemon. Unfortunately, tonight we’ve had two. The quicker we start background checks, the better.

“Come on,” Thea says, gripping my hand, “your mam’s wanting us.”

“Lead on, baby,” I tell Thea. It takes some time to reach my folks because of everyone stopping to congratulate us. When we get there, Mom’s got plates of food waiting and drinks at the ready. My closest family and brothers are gathered around, waiting to celebrate.

It’s a magical night with lots of talk about Thea taking the trash out, making her blush and laugh. So fucking badass one minute, then sweet and shy the next. My Old Lady was a conundrum, one that I was looking forward to unravelling a puzzle piece at a time over the next years.

Later that night, after I’d let her know several times how much I adored her, I finally let her sleep. Burying my face in her thick hair, I hoped my brothers would each find a woman like this. One that understood him, faults and all, and loved him just the same.