Page 26 of Queen Crow

They all pull up and get off their motorbikes, some of them immediately moving off to the same area that Aodhan disappeared to, and I feel a small flutter of unease.

He’s fine, he can take care of himself, but the hospital room is still showing on my phone as a stark reminder of what can happen to the men I love.

They’re not invincible, no matter how strong and capable they are.

I keep my head ducked as though I’m working on my phone, but my eyes take in as much of my surroundings as possible, cataloging as many of the men as I can.

Which is how I find none other than Ruin Callaghan, Poe’s crush and the son of the imprisoned Coldstone charter president, standing there among the men.

What the hell is he doing in Mounts Bay?

He certainly doesn’t look comfortable. To anyone without my skills of observation he probably just looks like a relaxed and confident biker, but I’ve watched enough security footage of him following Posey around Coldstone to know that there’s a very fine sort of tension in him.

His man-whore of a cousin is with him, a phone pressed to his ear as he scowls around the docks like he’s got issues with the whole world. Thomas Callaghan is a few years older than Ruin, he’s covered in more tattoos, and has a nose ring that glints in the late afternoon sun. His favorite hangout spot is the strip club that the MC owns, and I’d rather set myself on fire than watch that man get another blowjob from a stripper there.

He’s currently my least favorite Callaghan, which is saying something because Ruin’s obsession with following Poe around is a giant pain in my ass.

I wonder if Nate keeps tabs as closely as I do? If so, Ruin is a dead man walking.

As the Boar finally spots me in the Impala and stalks over, I drop my eyes back down to the phone screen, watching Atticus’ chest rise and fall like it’s the only thing getting me through the day.

It might be. Somewhere in the back of my mind, it really might be the only reason I’m functioning.

“If it isn’t the Queen Crow herself. What have we done to deserve your presence down here in the slums?” His voice is muffled through the car door, but I hear it clearly enough.

I subtly check that my gun is still within arm’s reach as I roll down my window, ready to shoot the Boar between the eyes for making me let the smell in. “You’ve been looking into the Coldstone Unseen, haven’t you? You wanna meet them or not,your majesty?”

The sarcasm is dripping from his words, but I give him nothing but a cold stare back. “I know everything I need to know about them, thank you.”

My eyes meet Roxas’ across the parking lot and he gives me the smallest, most subtle nod of his head, moving his cut just enough that I see how much firepower he’s packing. It’s a sign of loyalty, a sign that no matter whose tramp stamp he’s rocking, he’ll be getting me out of here if something is about to go down.

I wait until the Boar turns away before I give him one back, rolling the window back up and shutting them back out.

The Callaghans are both watching me, their eyes far more shrewd than any of the older and more experienced bikers around them. Thomas slowly lowers the phone, shoving it into his pocket and glancing at Ruin as they talk among themselves. They’re too far away for me to hear anything being said, but then Aodhan finally appears again, a scowl on his face as he stalks past them and back to the car.

I don’t say a word to him about it on the trip home, but I make a note to add this little encounter to the murder board.

* * *

The house is still empty when we arrive back at the ranch and Aodhan pulls the Impala up behind the dented bus. I curse at the stupid thing under my breath, mostly about Morrison and his inability to keep his shit to himself, and Aodhan raises an eyebrow at me over it.

“Want me to tow the thing out? He’s a rich asshole, right? I’m sure he can buy the house down the street and leave it there instead.”

I tuck myself under his arm and shake my head, because I can’t admit to him that the idea of any of them buying a house right now and moving out gives me the shakes. I need them here, in my space, the same way I need him here. Someday I’ll get over the panic and fear of losing them all, but until then, they can be here with me.

They just need to keep Morrison’s shit in line.

“Maybe I should just offer to clean it out for Lips? She’s come home and hit the ground running to take out all of the issues that have cropped up, and if she hasn’t got the time, then I’ll help out.”

He huffs and shakes his head at me. “You’ve got just as much on your fucking plate. I’ll tell Harley to sort it out; if Ash catches wind of you cleaning up after them, he’ll murder someone, I’m sure.”

Ah, the joys of family politics.

I should just get over the bus being here, it’s not that big a deal, but there’s something about it sitting there in its state of disrepair that is itching under my skin.

We get back into the house and I turn the security alarms back on, checking through the log and seeing Noah stomp around the house in a tantrum thanks to being left behind for the christening.

He’s such a brat.