Page 93 of Endo
I take one last glance around the apartment, the silence pressing down on me, before following Reign out the door. The tank is empty now, just like the space I’m leaving behind.
The Speed Demons’garage is loud and chaotic, the sound of engines revving and tools clanking echoing off the walls. The smell of oil and rubber fills the air, familiar and oddly comforting. It feels alive here, full of energy and motion, like the world hasn’t completely crumbled.
The guys are scattered around the space, working on their bikes or shooting the shit. Revel is leaning against a workbench, wiping grease off his hands, while Wolfe and Talon argue about something near the back. Draygon is perched on a stool, flipping a knife in his hand like it’s a toy, his expression unreadable.
The second I step into the room, Revel’s head snaps up, his eyes narrowing as he takes me in. He drops the rag in his hands and rushes over, his strides long and purposeful, his protective big brother energy rolling off him in waves.
“What the hell’s going on? What happened?” he demands, his tone sharp but laced with worry as his hands rest lightly on my arms, scanning me for any signs of injury. “Are you hurt? Did they come after you?”
I shake my head quickly, my voice catching as I try to steady myself. “I’m okay, I?—”
His jaw tightens, his gaze flicking to Reign before snapping back to me. “Don’t tell me you’re fine if you’re not. Start talking, Lena. What happened?”
I swallow hard, forcing the words out. “They trashed my place. Owen’s men… they tore it apart.”
His jaw clenches so hard I think it might crack, fury flashing in his eyes. “Fucking bastards,” he mutters, stepping back slightly but staying close, like he can’t let go of the need to protect me. “And why the hell did you take off like that?” he adds, his voice softer now, but the worry still clear.
I glance down, guilt tightening my chest. “They didn’t tell me the race was for pink slips,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. “When I found out, it was too late. I couldn’t do it, Revel. I couldn’t just hand over Cruz’s bike. I just… I panicked. I left.”
Revel exhales sharply, dragging a hand through his hair. “Damn it, Lena. You should’ve come straight to us. You know we would’ve handled it.”
“I didn’t think,” I murmur, my voice cracking. “I was scared. That bike is all I have left of him, and I couldn’t let them take it.”
Reign steps closer, his voice steady. “She did what she felt like she had to do. She’s here now, and she’s safe. That’s what matters.”
Revel’s gaze shifts to Reign, and after a tense beat, he steps forward and holds out his fist. Reign bumps it without hesitation, a silent understanding passing between them.
“Thanks for looking out for her,” Revel says, his voice low but genuine. “For finding her before they could.”
“Always,” Reign replies, his tone just as sincere.
The sight of them—two of the most important people in my life—getting along, bonding, sends a warmth through my chest that I didn’t expect. For all their rough edges, their anger, andtheir protectiveness, there’s something grounding about seeing them work together, even if they don’t say much.
Revel glances back at me, his expression softening slightly. “Like Reign said, you’re here now, and you’re safe. That’s what matters. They won’t touch you or anything that belongs to you again. Not while we’re around.”
Reign nods, his gaze meeting mine for a moment before he adds, “We’ll handle this, Lena. You just have to trust us. We got you. You’re not alone, not anymore.”
The weight in my chest eases slightly as I glance between them. For the first time in a long time, I feel safe—and I feel seen.
“What’s going on?” Talon asks, his voice sharp as he takes in my expression and the duffle bag slung over Reign’s shoulder.
“Owen’s guys trashed her place,” Reign says bluntly, his tone hard enough to cut glass. “They left a fucking message, and we’re not ignoring it.”
A ripple of anger moves through the group as they circle around, their expressions darkening. Thorne straightens, his jaw tightening, his voice low and menacing. “Bloody hell, they’re getting bolder. Reckless. They’re begging for a reckoning.”
“A few of his guys came by my parents’ restaurant too,” Draygon adds, his tone grim. “Tried to start something when I told them she wasn’t around and that I didn’t know where she was, but I put them down before they could. Fuckers didn’t stand a chance.”
The room buzzes with tension, but it’s not chaotic. It’s focused. Controlled. This is what they do—they rally, they protect, they fight.
And now, they’re doing it for me.
For the first time, I feel the full weight of what it means to be part of this family. They don’t just stand by—they go to war for their own. I’ve seen it before, just last summer, when they stood between Bexley and her shitty abusive ex-boyfriend. They didn’thesitate when she needed them. They protected her. They killed for her.
Because that’s what family does.
And the Demons? They’re fuckingfamily. The kind that doesn’t flinch, doesn’t falter. They’ll burn the world down if it means keeping one of their own safe.
That realization is overwhelming, but there’s comfort in it too. It’s not just about me anymore. It’s about all of us. Together.
