Chapter 14

Calla:

By eight in the morning, I already had grease in places grease shouldn't exist. My white T-shirt had surrendered before breakfast. Black smudges streaked across the front. My light-wash jorts weren't much better. My dark hair had escaped its messy bun hours ago, loose strands sticking to my face every time I leaned over the engine. Perfect. That meant it was a normal day. I was halfway inside the engine bay of an old Fox Body Mustang when Julio slid another wrench into my waiting hand without me asking.

"Thirteen."

"Thanks."

Quiet. Efficient. Typical Julio. He never asked unnecessary questions. Never offered opinions unless you asked. Just worked. One cigarette balanced lazily between his lips as he tightened another bolt beneath the car on the next lift. Country music drifted quietly from the old shop radio while overhead fans pushed thick Florida heat around the garage. The bay doors stood open, letting in humid air that smelled like river water and motor oil. This… This felt like home. Not marble countertops. Not charity galas. Not pretending.

Reid wandered in carrying two coffees and absolutely no intention of doing any actual work. One hand shoved into the pocket of his board shorts. No shirt. Of course. The faded scar running along his ribs disappeared beneath a fresh tan. "You know," he announced, taking a sip, "one day somebody's gonna mistake this place for a gym."

I didn't look up. "Jealous?"

"I'd have abs too if I spent every day lifting transmissions."

Julio didn't even glance up. "You'd still find a way to avoid work."

Reid looked offended. "I work."

"You organize races."

"I organize people."

"You organize crime."

"I prefer entrepreneurship."

I snorted.

McKenna appeared from the office carrying a clipboard. "Whatever you call it, someone needs to change this lady’s brake pads real quick."

Reid immediately stepped backward. "I suddenly have somewhere to be."

"You literally just got here."

"I've got errands."

"You don't even know what the errand is."

"I'll think of one."

McKenna rolled her eyes. "Coward."

I smiled despite myself. The shop hadn't smiled much since Camden died. It was nice hearing people argue over stupid things again. Even if Reid deserved every bit of it.

I reached deeper into the engine bay. "Julio?"

"Mhm?"

"Hand me the extension."

Before he could— Tires screamed outside. Gravel sprayed across the parking lot. Every head in the garage turned toward the open bay doors. A black BMW M2 Competition slid into the lot before straightening perfectly. Of course.

Reid looked over the rim of his coffee. "Well..." He smirked. "Looks like your knight in black armor has arrived."

I sighed. "I was having such a good morning too."

The driver's door opened. Reve climbed out. Usually… Everything about him looked deliberate. Perfectly styled hair. Perfect suit. Perfect posture. Today… Something was off. His dark hair looked like he'd run his hands through it a hundred times. His sleeves were rolled carelessly to his forearms instead of neatly folded. There were shadows beneath his eyes. Like he hadn't slept. Not even a little. Interesting. He spotted me immediately. Didn't acknowledge anyone else. Just walked straight through the shop. Julio quietly lowered his wrench. McKenna suddenly found paperwork very interesting. Reid watched everything. Of course he did. 

Reve stopped beside the Mustang. "Calla."

I looked up from the engine. "Morning."

"We need to talk."

"Do we?"

His eyes flicked around the shop. Toward everyone pretending they weren't watching. "...Outside."

I glanced toward the others. Four mechanics who had suddenly developed the world's greatest interest in absolutely nothing. I sighed. "Five minutes." I peeled my gloves off and tossed them onto the toolbox. Grease coated my forearms nearly to my elbows. "So much for first impressions."

Reve gave a tight smile. "I've seen you dirtier."

"I wish that sounded less creepy." He almost laughed. Almost. 

Outside, the humidity wrapped around us instantly. The river shimmered beyond the road. Traffic hummed somewhere in the distance. Reve waited until we were far enough from the bay doors. Far enough that no one could hear us. Then… Nothing. He just looked at me.

"You dragged me out here to stare?"

His jaw worked. "I wanted to check on you."

"I'm alive."

"I can see that."

Silence. Again. Definitely weird.

I crossed my arms. "What's going on?"

"Nothing."

"Liar."

He exhaled slowly. "I've just been thinking."

"Dangerous hobby." Normally he'd fire something sarcastic back. Today… Nothing.

Instead— "Have you seen him?"

There it was. I tilted my head. "Who?"

His eyes narrowed. "You know who."

I held his gaze. "Jace?"

His jaw tightened. "Yeah."

I shrugged casually. "I saw his car drive by about half an hour ago." Technically true. The blue Camaro had rolled past the shop while I was changing brake pads. He hadn't slowed down. Hadn't looked over. Hadn't stopped.

Reve searched my face. "He didn't come in?"

"No."

"He talk to you?"

"No." Also technically true. Not today. Last night… That was different. And I wasn't about to pour gasoline onto whatever fire was already burning behind Reve's eyes. He looked toward Riverside Drive. Thinking. Calculating. It would've been almost impossible to notice. But I caught it. His fingers kept flexing. Opening. Closing. Like he couldn't settle.

"You don't need to worry about him."

I raised an eyebrow. "I wasn't."

"I mean it."

"So do I."

He stepped closer. Close enough that anyone watching would've assumed we were having a perfectly normal conversation. Only… It didn't feel normal. "If he comes around..." His voice lowered. "...tell me."

I frowned. "Why?"

"I'll handle it."

"I didn't ask you to."

"I'm telling you."

"There it is."

"What?"

"The bossiness."

His expression hardened. "I'm serious."

"So am I."

"I don't like him near you."

"I don't remember asking permission."

His eyes searched mine. Longer this time. "Did he say anything to you?"

"No."

"You're sure?"

I laughed once. "What is this?"

He didn't answer. Instead— "You know I'd never let anything happen to you." The words should've sounded sweet. Protective. Instead… They felt heavy. Like a promise. Or maybe a warning.

"I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself."

"I know."

"No." I held his gaze. "I don't think you do."

The silence stretched between us. Finally, he sighed and dragged a hand through his already messy hair. For just a second… The polished Eastside prince disappeared. He looked… Frustrated. Tired. Almost human.

"I've got meetings all afternoon."

"I'm thrilled for you."

A tiny smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "There she is."

"I never left."

He stepped closer before I realized what he was doing. A quick kiss landed against my cheek. Brief. Possessive. More for anyone watching from inside than for me. "I'll see you later."

"Mhm."

He hesitated. Like he wanted to say something else. Then thought better of it. He climbed back into the BMW. The engine barked to life. Seconds later, he was gone. I stood there another moment, watching the dust settle across the parking lot. Something wasn't right. Reve wasn't scared of people. He certainly wasn't scared of Jace. So why was he acting like a man trying desperately to stay one step ahead of something?

"Well..." Reid's voice came from behind me. I turned to find him leaning against the bay door with his coffee still in hand. He'd apparently abandoned any attempt to pretend he hadn't been eavesdropping. "That looked healthy."

I rolled my eyes. "Were you listening?"

"No." He took another sip. "I was aggressively minding my own business."

"Liar."

"Professionally curious."

I brushed past him toward the shop. "I don't have time for your commentary."

Reid fell into step beside me. "You know..."

"What?"

"He asked about Jace."

I stopped. Just for a second. "...You heard that?"

"I hear everything." Of course he did.

He lowered his voice. "And Calla?" I looked over. "For a guy who supposedly doesn't have anything to worry about..." Reid glanced toward the road where the BMW had disappeared. "...he sure seems worried."