Page 8 of Echo’s Secret

"For now," Wesley agrees, though something in his tone suggests he's thinking longer than that.

He hands Theo back to me and picks up the pen again. Writes out a check in quick, precise handwriting. Tears it from the book and holds it out. I take it with shaking hands. Forty-two thousand dollars. Made out to Millhaven Regional Bank. More money than I've ever seen in one place.

"Thank you," I whisper.

"You're welcome." He pauses. "I meant what I said. You're staying here. There are rooms upstairs. We'll get one set up for you and Theo. Whatever you need: crib, supplies, anything, we'll get it."

"Wesley…"

"Hannah." He looks at me and I see something in his eyes I haven't seen before. Something raw and unguarded. "You showed up with our son asking for help. I'm giving it. That's what family does. And whether you planned it or not, we're family now."

Family. I've never had family. Not really. Not the kind that stays, but maybe, just for a little while, I can let myself pretend.

"Okay," I say again.

He nods and stands. "Come on. I'll introduce you to everyone. They're going to want to meet him."

"The men outside?"

"My brothers. They're good men. You're safe here." He says it with absolute certainty. "Both of you are safe here."

I hope he's right.

I follow him back toward the door, holding Theo close, the check folded in my pocket, and my heart beating too fast in my chest.

Everything is about to change.

Again.

Chapter 3 - Echo

I open the door to Phoenix's office and immediately feel the weight of suspicious eyes landing on us.

Everyone is here. The entire club plus the women. Waiting.

They've cleaned up since we got back. No more blood spatter, fresh clothes, weapons stowed. But there's still that edge of adrenaline in the air. The aftermath of war. We just burned down the Vipers' clubhouse, killed most of their members, ended a conflict that's been going on for a while.

And now I'm walking together with a woman carrying my eight-month-old son.

The silence is heavy. Nobody moves. Nobody speaks.

Phoenix stands near the bar with Ivy tucked against his side. She's small and curvy with auburn hair cut short, green eyes bright with curiosity. His arm is around her waist, protective in that way Phoenix always is with her.

Judge sits on one of the couches with Nora beside him and Grace on his lap. The little girl is five, deaf, communicating in sign language with her mother.

Canvas is finally sitting down, leg propped up, while Eden, his old lady, fusses over the bandage on his thigh. She's curvy with long dark hair and bright blue eyes, wearing scrubs like she just came from the hospital. Which she probably did. She's a trauma nurse. Looks up at us and her expression softens immediately when she sees the baby.

Brick stands near the wall with Rosie tucked under his arm. She's got long brunette hair with blunt bangs, curves that Brick's hand spans entirely. She's staring at Hannah like she recognizes something, another woman who ran out of options and ended up here, probably.

Wraith is on the other couch with Quinn beside him and his daughter Mariah on his lap. Quinn has her hair in pigtails today, soft and approachable-looking until you remember she's ex-military and can disable a man twice her size. Mariah, five years old with dark curls, is already wiggling to get down and see the baby.

Ranger stands near the bar. Saint is beside him, still wearing his medical pack. Diesel leans against the doorframe to the kitchen. All three of them single, all three of them watching this unfold with varying degrees of interest.

Hannah's hand tightens in mine. I can feel her shaking. Can feel how badly she wants to run.

I give her hand a gentle squeeze. She doesn't run.

"Everyone," I say. The room goes even more silent than before, if that's possible. "This is Hannah Reese. And this—" I gesture to the baby she's holding, "—is Theo. My son."