Page 20 of Banner

“Sure.”Exhale heavily, I seriously contemplate starting a war with her family and showing them firsthand what wet work really means.I give her another squeeze then release her with a kiss to the tip of her nose.“Let’s eat.”

* * *

Looking over the top of my laptop, I wonder for the hundredth time what the fuck I was thinking, bringing Sophia here.“I’m fucking up my first full day of being a husband.”

She lifts her head from her computer.“Why do you say that?”Because I brought you to a goddamn chop shop and the cops are fucking with us.I don’t tell her that of course, instead beating around the bush.“What kind of husband brings his wife to hisillegalgarage?”

Her eyes crinkle at the edges.“You mean your chop shop?”

“That’s what I said.”She giggles and the tinkling sound has my dick perking up.I press my palm against my growing erection.

Down boy.

“You’re doing fine.”I’m glad she thinks so, ‘cause she married an outlaw.

I nod to her computer.“What are you looking at?”

Sophia spins her laptop around and there’s a rainbow of colorful flowers scattered across the screen.“Working on this order for the shop.”She shrugs her shoulders.

I tilt my head.“The flower shop; is that what you always wanted to do?”I had Dragon look into her finances and Sophia’s Blooms is in the black, which is surprising for someone so young.

Her eyes cloud over and a soft smile spreads across her face.“I’ve always loved flowers.My mom used to take me to Central Park in the spring when everything started to bloom, and it left an impression.”For a beat, she seems lost in her memories until she continues.“Anyhow, a lawyer showed up at my school in Italy a month before I graduated with a letter and a check.My mother had left me money and a rundown building down near the docks.I used some of the money to open Sophia’s Blooms.”

“Italy?Inheritance?”I feel like an asshole for lying.I know all about her mother’s death, the money, and the properties that were left to her.

Sophia closes her computer and gives me her complete attention as she explains how her mother died when she was a little girl, and her father swooped in and brought her into their family.In a whirlwind, her whole life changed, and she was sent away to Italy to an all-girls school where she got her education with the focus being how to be the perfect mafia wife.She goes on to describe the turbulent relationship she has with her half-brother and sister.“I’m grateful for one sibling that doesn’t despise me.Niko is the only one who’s never treated me like an outsider.”

I clench my fists, grasping at the threads of my self-control.

My sweet wife is grateful for being treated with decency by her own fucking family.

I thought I knew her story, but it turns out I didn’t know the half of it.

Three hard knocks land on the office door before Haze shouts from the other side.“Boss!”

“What?”I yell back.Sophia giggles at our interaction.The sound makes me grin.

Haze swings open the door and comes inside, with Ronan McGregor following.

Sophia’s smile drops, and she hops out of her chair like her ass is on fire.She quickly moves around the desk behind me and I frown.Her fear doesn’t sit right with me.

“Babe.”Her eyes flick down to mine then back to Ronan.

“Sophia.”Reaching back, I pull her around my chair and down into my lap.“You’re safe here, Mouse.”

Her body is trembling and again, I don’t like it.

“What can I do for you, Ronan?”

“I came to see if the rumors were true, mate.”The smug bastard smiles, blatantly eye-fucking Sophia.

“If you're referring to my wife, then yes, the rumors are true; and while we're on the subject ofmywife, take note to keep your fucking eyes off her,mate.Feel free to spread that shit far and wide.”

“I hear ye, Banner.Calm the fuck down, mate.I didn't come here to poach yer’ missus.I came to tell ye the Russian is gunning for ye.”He looks down at Sophia and smiles sadly.“The both of ye.”

Sophia lifts a shaky hand to her chest, and I try to soothe her as best I can by stroking her back.

Truce or not, I was going to kill the Russian bastard for his role in getting my brother locked up, but now that he’s threatened my wife, I’m going to drag his death out.Pop was right when he said a message needed to be sent.This is my city and I need to remind motherfuckers why they call me The Butcher.

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