Page 25 of Banner

“Fuck.”I lay the letter back on the table and sit down next to Sophia and Payton.Kane’s curiosity wins out and he comes into the room and moves to stand behind Sophia.

“She’s a cute little thing,” he says quietly.I look closer and there’s not a doubt in my mind that she belongs to my brother.Her nose flares out at the tip just like Ghost’s.Her eyes have the same almond shape and ocean-blue color.However, the cowlick in the mess of dark hair on her head is the real giveaway.

Being careful of her tiny size, I gently trace my fingers across the top of her downy head.“How old do you think she is?”I peek at Sophia.

With her eyes glued to her charge, she says, “I’m not sure, but her bag is in the kitchen.Maybe her papers are in there?”Kane stalks off to the kitchen and comes back with a pink and purple bag that’s overflowing with pampers and other shit the kid must need.He hands it over and I sort through it, twice, but come up empty-handed.Damn it.

“There’s nothing here.”

“I’ll head over to the clubhouse and get Dragon on it.A baby needs papers,” Kane grumbles as he takes his leave.

I pull out my phone and find Pop’s number.“I need to call my dad.He’s never going to fucking believe this.”

The rest of the night goes by in a blur as Pop fawns over baby P before finally deciding he’ll be staying here until Ghost’s spare room is converted into a nursery.

Chapter10

Sophia

“Junk, junk, junk, bill,” I mumble under my breath as I sort through today’s mail.I’ll take a stack of junk mail over a pile of bills any day.I’m not rolling in cash around here, but I do okay.

“Stop hovering!”Nova shouts from the other room.I dump the ads and mailers into the trash and peek around the doorway.She and Hunter are at each other’s throats again, making me groan.Their bickering like brother and sister has yet to ease up.I love them dearly, but it’s made me grateful most of my childhood was spent at a boarding school and not fighting with my half-siblings.Just as I’m about to tell them to cut it out before they scare away all our customers the front windows implode sending glass and debris flying everywhere.My ears are ringing but I hear Hunter’s shouts.Still stunned by what just happened, I mindlessly turn around.Hunter is shoving Nova toward me and yelling something, but I can’t make out the words.

“What?”I say, too loudly.

“Are you okay?”he shouts back; his voice is faint but I’m able to understand.

“Yes.Are you?”I ask them both.There’s a cut on Nova’s cheek and she’s covered in dust and dirt, but thankfully she looks no worse for wear.

“Call Banner and stay here,” he says, looking at the mess inside the office.The shelves that were once on the wall are now in pieces on the floor and there’s stuff everywhere from the blast.It’s just cosmetic, I tell myself.Structurally, I’m sure we’ll be safe in here.Hunter closes us inside and I press the lock before I grab Nova’s hand and lead her around my desk.“You need to sit down.”

She nods her head but doesn’t speak.

“Shit.”

Nova looks up at me.“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know what happened to my phone.”I bite my lip as I flip through the disaster scattered on the floor.It was just here.

“Hey, Siri.Call Banner.”My brows lift as we wait with bated breath.

“Calling Banner.”

I exhale heavily.Thank God.

“You’re a damn genius, Nova.”I hug her shoulders.

“Hey, baby.What’s up?”Banner’s voice is like a balm to my frazzled nerves.I didn’t realize how safe him being in my life makes me feel until just now.

“We need your help.Something’s happened, but I don’t know what.The windows exploded and—”

“Where are you?Where’s Hunter?”

“Hunter locked us in the office.”

“Fuck!Don’t move a fucking inch, Mouse.Do you hear me?Don’t.Move.I’m on my way.”The line goes dead.

“Your husband scares the hell out of me.”Nova shutters.I shrug my shoulders.He’s grown on me.

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