Page 35 of Echo’s Secret

Like this is normal. Like this is family.

"Hannah's staying," Wesley announces to the room. "Permanently. She and Theo are moving in here until we figure out next steps."

"Good," Phoenix says immediately. "That's good. Welcome to the family, officially."

Canvas raises the beer he's holding. "To Hannah and Theo. And to Echo finally getting his shit together."

Everyone laughs and raises their drinks—coffee, water, beer, whatever they have or what they can find.

"To family," Judge adds. His arm is around Nora, Grace beside them.

"To family," everyone echoes.

Theo fusses slightly and I bounce him. He settles against me, one tiny hand fisting in my shirt. Wesley watches us with an expression that might be wonder, maybe, or disbelief that this is real.

I know the feeling.

The celebration continues around us. Someone turns on music. Diesel appears from the kitchen with a bowl of chili. The women gather around me, asking me questions about Theo, offering help with anything I need. The men cluster near the bar, talking and laughing.

This is what family looks like. Not perfect. Not traditional. But real.

For the first time in my life, I'm not on the outside looking in. I'm part of it.

Wesley's hand finds mine. Squeezes gently. I look up at him and he smiles, that beautiful private smile that's just for me.

"You okay?" he asks quietly under the noise of conversation.

"Yeah. More than okay." I glance around the room. "This is really happening."

"This is really happening."

Theo makes a happy sound and grabs Wesley's finger. Wesley's expression softens completely as he looks at our son.

"Hey, little man," he says. "I'm your dad. I know I'm late to the party but I'm here now. And I'm not going anywhere."

Theo glances at him with Wesley's eyes, then smiles. Actual smile. Gums showing and everything.

My heart might actually burst.

The moment is perfect. Absolutely perfect.

Then the door slams open.

Everyone goes silent. Hands move toward weapons immediately. The women move closer together, protecting the kids.

Saint stands in the doorway, face stern and dark. Blood spatter across his jaw and knuckles, fresh blood, but not his. His shirt is torn on the shoulder, and he's breathing hard like he ran here. There's a cell phone clutched in his left hand.

"What the fuck happened?" Phoenix demands, already moving toward him.

The entire room tenses. Wesley's hand on my back becomes protective, pulling me slightly behind him.

"Got jumped three blocks from here," Saint says, and he sounds beyond pissed. "Some random asshole came out of nowhere. We fought. I won."

"And?" Brick asks, already on his feet.

Saint holds up the phone. "After I put him down, he just handed me this. Said someone wanted to talk to me. Then Demon's voice came through."

The temperature in the room drops ten degrees.