Page 19 of Coal
Reminding myself to focus as the bikes—no, sorry, sleds, this lot called them sleds—pull out, and I follow on behind, waving at Butcher as I drive past. I’d known who he was before Coal introduced us. You couldn’t do business in the underworld without knowing about him.
It was a long trip, but Shea was as good as gold, and we made it all the way to the motel that Coal had booked before she made a peep.
We’d gone out for dinner at the local pub, and Shea was passed from lap to lap when she tired of her highchair. As for me, I was having the best evening I’d ever had, and it wasn’t even a date. Coal was attentive and seemed to know what I needed before I did. Currently, I was snug under his arm, resting against his chest, and laughing at a story that Bolt and Blue were telling. Shea was fast asleep against Copper’s chest, having given up the ghost a few minutes ago.
I stifle a yawn with my hand, reluctant to leave the camaraderie of the men who’d kept meentertained through dinner. I was comfy, warm, and relaxed for the first time in what seemed to be forever.
“Are you tired, baby?” Coal whispers. Tilting my head back on his shoulder, I look up at him.
“A little, but I’m having a great time and don’t want to move.”
Pressing his lips to my forehead, he smiles, “I’m glad, but it looks like our princess is way past tired, and honestly, I’m ready for bed.”
“Okay,” I say, sitting up. Coal stands and drops some money on the table. Leaning over, he takes Shea from Copper and settles her on his shoulder before reaching for my hand and tugging me up to stand next to him. Grabbing Shea’s nappy bag, I slip it over my shoulder.
“Not too late, guys,” Coal warns. “We’re leaving at six tomorrow so we can get home by ten.”
“Gotcha, Pres,” Iron nods. Some of the brothers follow suit while some do a chin lift.
We leave them to finish up and walk over to our room. When we get inside, it doesn’t take us long to get ready for bed once I’ve put Shea down in the travel cot that appeared out of our vehicle and ended up set up in our room as if by magic. These men never fail to surprise me.I’m not used to having so many helping hands. Before long, I’m slipping into the cool sheets, my eyes closing as soon as my head hits the pillow. Coal comes out of the bathroom and settles into bed next to me, wrapping his arm around me and dragging me closer to him. It seems natural to rest my head on his shoulder, slide a leg over his hips, and rest my hand on his chest.
“Night, baby,” Coal whispers in the darkness.
“Night,” I respond, and as easy as that, I drift off to sleep. It surprises me how quickly I’ve come to trust the man lying beside me. You’d think that with my history I wouldn’t, but so far, he’s done everything that he promised me. For once, I was going to look on the bright side. Of course, I still had to meet his mam and da. They may take one look at me and Shea and decide we were more hassle than we were worth. But that was a worry for tomorrow.
CHAPTER 5
COAL
She’s nervous, and there’s nothing I can do about it. I know she’s worried about how my mom and dad would take the fact that I was turning up with a new wife and baby to boot, but she didn’t need to worry. When I’d spoken to my mother, she was thrilled and had immediately gone into grandmother mode, telling me not to worry, she’d sort out my spare room for Shea. And I had full faith that when I got home, she’d have roped my dad and anyone else into getting the room decorated and filled with furniture fit for a princess. After having all boys until Opal, my mom was thrilled that she got to spoil a little girl. And if there was ever a little girl that needed spoiling, it was Shea. Her mother needed it too, and I’d make sure that she was.
Growing up, I’d watched how my dad treated my mom. I knew that was how any wife of mine would be treated. That Thea didn’t expect it was all the more reason that she deserved it. I’d alsobe working on her self-esteem. Yes, she wasn’t what most would consider beautiful, but the more time I spent with her, the more beautiful she seemed to get. You could see by how she treated people that she was a good person, deep down to her soul good, and it showed.
That she was loyal was never in doubt. I’d seen it with her brother and sisters. It was how her father had been able to control her for so many years. That and threatening her daughter. Even though she’d have been able to leave before having Shea, she’d have never left her siblings behind. It amazed me that she had this time, although I had a feeling her brother was a big part of why she’d agreed to be my wife and the protection being my Old Lady brought with that role.
I knew that if I was loyal to her, she’d always be mine, no matter what. As the President of a motorcycle club, that’s all that I could ask for. Too often over the years, I’d watched brothers fall for a pretty face and a banging body, only to find that under all that, they were rotten to the core. It’s why I’d stayed single for so long, because if I couldn’t have what my parents have, what I’ve seen with Cash and Lizzie, and for a long time with Red and his Old Lady, andmore recently Maestro and Stacey, then I wasn’t interested. I wanted something that lasted, and I hoped this was it. I wasn’t one to give up without a fight, and I’d fight for this if it came to that, especially as both my girls were stealing into my heart. You’d have to be made of stone not to love Shea. She was the easiest, sunniest baby I’d ever been around and seemed perfectly content to be passed around and loved on.
As familiar sights greet us, I relax into the ride, knowing we’re almost home, and I’d never been so relieved to see the sign for our exit. Indicating, I check my mirrors and see that Thea’s moving along with us. Soon, the sign for the Roadhouse and Cidery appears; the clubhouse turnoff is just past it. I signal to Thea as soon as it comes into view to let her know we’re turning. As we drive down the avenue of trees, the feeling of homecoming rolls over me for the first time since I’ve taken over as President of this chapter. I can’t help but wonder if that’s because of the woman and baby in the vehicle behind me. I’d left a single man and was returning as a husband and father. It was a good feeling.
‘Fuck me,’I thought to myself with some amusement as the wide parking area in front ofthe club came into view. ‘I’m finally an adult.’
I’d have loved nothing more than to bypass the clubhouse and take my girls to my home, but my parents and Opal were waiting just to the side of the covered structure where we parked our sleds. Slowing my sled down, I do a circle so that I can back my sled into my designated parking space, the rest of my brothers following suit. Thea had stopped the vehicle she was in. Turning my attention to her, I point at a parking space that already has her name on it. I’d had Tinman sort that yesterday for me. It was the first step in letting her know she’s wanted and that her position is important to the club. Getting off my sled, I hug my mom and sister when they throw themselves at me like I’d been away for months instead of a few short days.
“So glad you’re home,” Opal says with a grin and a quick hug before she tackles Copper.
“Welcome home, love,” Mom says, hugging me. “I got everything sorted for your lady and a nursery for the baby.”
“Thank you, Mom,” I say, pressing a kiss to her temple. Whispering in her ear, I tell her, “Thea’s nervous. I think you’ll like her, though.”
“I’ll make sure she’s looked after,” my momassures me before releasing me to greet my dad. It may not have seemed like it, but my attention had been focused on my Old Lady the entire time I’d been greeting my parents and sister. From the corner of my eye, I saw her open her door and nervously push her loose red curls over her shoulder before she took a deep breath and squared her shoulders as if preparing for battle before she opened the back passenger door to get Shea.
“I’ll be back,” I say to Tinman as I stride away. Having learned my lesson last night about sneaking up on her, I call out, “Thea.”
She turns her head to look at me over her shoulder, and the smile she gives me makes my heart do strange things.
“Hey,” she responds, her voice shaking slightly. “I’m just getting Shea. I’ll need to change her soon.”
I don’t like the uncertainty in her voice, and the need to comfort her has me snaking my arm around her waist and pulling her back towards me, curling my body around hers. Wrapping both my arms around her, I rest my chin on her head. She takes a deep breath and relaxes against me. Shea is watching us with wide, curious eyes.
