First message
I stayed back at first, arms folded by our bikes, happy to let the others handle it. I watched her shoulders ease a fraction with Jax, then Rook, then Kade—but I saw the way her fingers still trembled on the pump. She wasn’t fully convinced yet.
I pushed off the fuel tank slowly, boots scuffing the tarmac, keeping my movements slow so I didn’t startle her. I kept my hands visible, no sudden moves.
“Figured I’d let the boys do the talking first,” I said, voice low and rough but calm. “They’re better at smoothing things over.”
Her eyes flicked to me, wide, then darted to my patch. “And you?”
“Just the one who keeps them out of trouble,” I said, a faint, rare smile tugging at my mouth. “They’ve all asked, and I won’t lie—I’m curious too. You don’t have to tell us anything you don’t want to. But if something’s chasing you… we’re not the kind to stand by and watch.”
She hesitated, then let out a long breath, finally looking like she might actually believe us.