Page 10 of Echo’s Secret

"She was scared. Thought she could handle it alone. Same reasons anyone from our background does anything. She didn't know how to ask for help." I look at Hannah across the room. She's holding Theo while Eden examines him gently, checking his color, his breathing. "Didn't know I'd want to help."

"And now?" Phoenix asks.

"Now she's here because Theo is sick. Heart condition. He needs surgery in two weeks. She's out of money and out of options. Came to me because she didn't have anywhere else to go."

Brick's expression hardens. "How sick?"

"Serious. Congenital heart defect. Needs a pediatric cardiac surgeon and ongoing treatment. Surgery costs forty-two thousand total. She's raised eighteen. I wrote her a check for the full amount."

"Good," Phoenix says immediately. "Family comes first. Always."

Judge nods. "She staying here?"

"I told her she was. She tried to argue. I insisted."

"She'll need a room set up," Brick says, already planning. That's what he does. He sees a problem, figures out how to solve it. "Crib, baby supplies, whatever she needs."

"Canvas and I can run to the store," Eden calls from across the room. Apparently she's been listening. "Get basics. Diapers, wipes, formula if she needs it, baby clothes."

"I'm breastfeeding," Hannah says, looking overwhelmed. "But I'll need somewhere to pump when I'm not with him. And diapers, yes. Size three. And wipes. And maybe some toys? He's starting to grab at everything."

"We'll get it all," Eden promises. "Don't worry."

Canvas stands up despite his injured leg. "I'm fine to drive. Stop looking at me like that, Saint."

Saint just shakes his head and doesn't argue. He knows Canvas well enough by now to know when it's pointless.

Ivy is already on her phone. "There's a baby store twenty minutes away. Opens in twenty minutes. We can get a crib delivered same-day if we order online."

"I can pay you back," Hannah says quickly. "For all of this. Once I get on my feet again, I'll—"

"You're not paying us back," Rosie interrupts. She's got that look on her face, the one that says she understands exactly what Hannah is feeling because she's been there. "You're part of the family now. That's what Echo just told everyone. Family doesn't pay family back for helping."

Hannah looks at me across the room. There's something in her eyes: gratitude mixed with fear she's trying not to feel. I nod slightly. She takes a shaky breath and nods back.

Theo starts crying. Full volume now, the kind of cry that says he's done with all of this and needs a nap immediately.

Hannah bounces him. "He needs to sleep. Is there somewhere I can put him down?"

"Guest room upstairs," Phoenix says. "Judge, show her which one."

Judge stands and gestures for Hannah to follow. Nora goes with them, Grace signing something that makes her mother smile.

The three of them disappear up the stairs.

As soon as they're gone, the entire atmosphere in the room changes. The women cluster together, already planning shopping trips and nursery setups. The men turn to face me with expressions that range from curious to concerned.

"So," Diesel says slowly. "You're a dad."

"Yeah."

"How you feeling about that?" Ranger asks.

I think about the question. Really think about it. How do I feel about suddenly being a father to an eight-month-old I didn't know existed until an hour ago?

Terrified. Overwhelmed. Completely unprepared.

But also, something else. Something I don't have words for. The moment I held Theo and he grabbed my finger with those tiny fists, looking at me with my own eyes, something awakened inside me. Something permanent.