Page 28 of Banner

“Fuck.So tight.”His thrusts start to become frantic signaling that he’s close.

The next flex of his hips hits just right and I scream out his name.“Banner!”

“That’s it, baby.So good.So fucking good,” he coos as he thrusts inside me again and again.Our bodies are slick with sweat, and I tighten my hold.My pussy squeezes too and with a final flick of his hips, he stills and holds himself deep.

Panting heavily, I lift my head from his shoulder and our eyes connect.“I love you too, Mouse.”

Chapter11

Banner

Buzz...Buzz...Buzz...

“Banner,” Sophia says quietly.

I tighten my arm around her waist.“Mm?”

Her soft hand rubs up and down my arm.“Honey, someone’s at the door.”

Buzzzzzzz…

I turn my head and look at the clock.3:00 a.m.The fuck?I let Sophia go and she moves to her side of the bed and reaches for her nightgown.Someone’s getting their ass kicked for waking us up.

Throwing my legs over the side of the bed, I reach down and grab my boxers off the floor.I pull them on quickly then open my bedside door and grab my gun and clip.I slide the clip in and pull the slide.“Stay here,” I demand.

I take the steps two at a time and peek at the security camera on the security panel.Pop?

Hurrying to the door, I unlock the locks and disarm the alarm, then swing the door open and growl, “What the fuck, Pop?”

“Why aren’t you answering your fucking phone, Son?”Shit, I never put it on the charger after it died earlier.“Never mind that your wife’s shop is on fire.”

Sophia gasps and I turn around and find her standing at the foot of the steps.Damn it.I told her to stay put.She spins around and rushes back up the stairs.

“Come on in, Pop.I’ll be back.”

“Mouse,” I call out, taking the steps two at a time.I enter our room to find her hunting for clothes to put on.“Baby, what are you doing?”I ask carefully.

“Getting dressed.I need to go down there.”Her eyes are glistening with unshed tears, but she holds my stare, determined to see this through.

I nod my head.“Okay, Mouse.Whatever you need.”

Ten minutes later, I fasten Sophia’s helmet atop her head and help her onto my bike, then climb on in front of her.She scoots closer and tucks herself tightly into my back as I kick-start the bike.I rev the engine and Sophia squeezes my middle to let me know she’s ready.I take that as my cue and hit the throttle.We’re a few blocks away from Sophia’s shop when she taps my shoulder and points to the sky.I look up and see it filled with billowing thick, dark smoke.Oh shit.When I pull in behind the firetrucks, I know it’s worse than I’d originally thought.I cut the motor and help Sophia off, and we stand here in shock as firefighters work furiously to extinguish the flames.

When the roof collapses, Sophia buries her face in my chest, her body wracking with deep sobs.“Shh,” I whisper into her hair as she falls apart in my arms.Long minutes later, she rubs her face against my tee and pulls away.She tilts her face to mine and my heart plummets at seeing her tears.I use my palms to wipe them away.“I’m sorry, Mouse.I know this place means everything to you.”

“Thank you.Can you help me figure out who we need to talk to?”I look up and down the street and my eyes lock on Ivan a block away.A growl rumbles in my chest and Sophia stiffens.My eyes dart to her then back up to find Ivan has vanished.I move Sophia behind me and step around the truck, but the area is full of chaos.Fuck.I could have had him.

Sophia touches my back and leans around my body to see my face.“What’s wrong?”

I look down at my wife’s concerned face and frown.It doesn’t make sense.Why would Ivan burn down Sophia’s shop?I never pegged him for an idiot who took unnecessary risks, but maybe I was wrong.What I do know is there’s no way I’m going to mention that I think I saw him until I have Dragon look deeper into everything we know about the fucker.

“Nothing, baby.Let’s see if we can get some answers.”I see an officer I recognize from the Mills St.Precinct and nod in his direction.“This way, babe.”With my hand on the small of Sophia’s back, I lead her in his direction.

* * *

“How’s Sophia holding up?”Pop asks, hefting Payton’s carrier onto the bar top.

I shoulder him out of the way and slide the carrier in front of me.She’s a tiny ol’ thing.A grin tugs at my lips at how much she looks like Ghost.I still can’t believe my little brother has a kid.“Your drinking buddy’s got spit-up on her chin.”

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