Page 12 of Banner

My teeth sink into my lip and his eyes narrow.Shit.

Holding my breath, I look over at Gio and Banner growls.“Looks like you have your answer.Better send a message so it’s loud and clear, Son.Nobody fucks with our family.”With a whoosh, I exhale the breath I’ve been holding.Family?Why does that feel like it was fated in the stars?

Banner’s eyes dart to the men wearing leather vests that are standing at the back of the church and doing the same, I watch in awe as they have a silent conversation.In the blink of an eye, the men jump into action and grab Gio by his arms.

“What the fuck are you doing?”he shouts as they drag him away.

Monica storms over with a sour look on her face.“What’s the meaning of this?”

“He was warned,” Banner snaps.

Banner turns his back on the entire Angelini family and slides his arm around my shoulders.“Let’s go, babe.”

If I weren’t so terrified, I’d kiss my new husband for putting my family in their place.

* * *

“Welcome home,” Banner says as we climb out of the town car in front of what appears to be a large warehouse.

“Home?”I ask skeptically.

His brows furrow.“This is the clubhouse.”He’s looking at me like I should have already known this.

I turn back to the massive building.“You live here?”

“Look.I get that you’re used to mansions in the sky, but this place will grow on you.”

My spine snaps straight and before I can stop myself, my temper gets the best of me.“I don’t live in a mansion in the sky.I’m not sure what my brother promised you, but I’m not some pampered princess.”

Banner’s lips twitch as his shoulders shake until finally, unable to hold back any longer, he throws his head back and bursts out laughing.I should be afraid for lashing out at my husband so carelessly, but I’m too entranced by the bob of his Adam's apple and the cords in his neck.He may be older, but he really is an attractive man.Getting himself under control, he looks down at me and winks.“I like your fire, baby.”

He does?

“Come inside, Mouse.The club has prepared a celebration to honor you.This is a big deal, and they want to honor their new queen, yeah?”

My eyes swerve to the door.What if they hate me?

“Hey.”I turn back and look at him.“You’re safe here and nobody will fuck with you.You have my word.”I can see the conviction staring down at me.

“I believe you.”

He nods his head.“I have something to handle, but afterward, I wanna see the place you call home.How does that sound?”

My heart leaps.

“Really?”I can hear the hopefulness in my voice.

Banner’s face softens.“If it’ll make you happy, babe.Yeah.Really.”

“It will.”I smile brightly.

Grinning, he offers me his hand and giving him my trust, I take it.When we step through the doors, the men who hauled Gio away are standing inside, waiting for their fearless leader.

“Sophia, this is my enforcer, Haze.”The big man nods his head at me, then turns to address Banner.

“He’s in the workshop.”

Banner looks down at me and smiles tenderly.The look confuses me but I’m starting to think there’s more to my husband than I’ve given him credit for.“I need to handle something,” he says before scanning the big open room and nodding for his father to join us.

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