My hand stilled. "The prospect? Jake's friend?"
"Ambush on the highway. Devil's Dust knew exactly where we'd be." His arms tightened around me. "Someone's feeding them information."
A chill traced down my spine. "A traitor?"
"Maybe. Or maybe they've got better intel than we thought." He pulled back, looked up at me with those storm-grey eyes. "Either way, this war just got a lot more complicated."
I cupped his face, thumbs tracing the exhaustion lines. "Is Danny okay?"
"He will be. Tank got him out." A ghost of a smile. "Kid's tougher than he looks."
"And you?"
"I'm—" He stopped. Exhaled. "I'm tired, Kai. Tired of the politics, the violence, the constant looking over my shoulder." His hands slid up my back, pulling me closer. "I just want one night where I don't have to think about any of it."
"So don't think."
His eyes darkened. "What did you have in mind?"
I glanced at his bike, then back at him. "Take me somewhere. Anywhere. Just... ride."
Something sparked in his expression—interest, desire, a flicker of the reckless energy I'd glimpsed in the parking garage.
"You sure? It's late. Cold."
"I'm sure."
He studied me for a long moment. Then that slow, dangerous smile spread across his face.
"Get your helmet, violet. We're going for a ride."
The city at midnight was a different world.
Streetlights blurred into ribbons of gold as we wove through empty streets, Axel's Harley growling beneath us. I pressed against his back, arms wrapped around his waist, thighs gripping his hips. The engine's vibration hummed through my whole body, settling into my bones.
He rode differently with me behind him. Still fast, still aggressive, but with a carefulness underneath—taking turns smoother, braking earlier, always aware of the extra heartbeat pressed against his spine. It should have felt protective. Instead, it felt like worship.
We left the city behind. The roads opened up—winding mountain highways with no traffic, no lights, nothing but starlight and the endless rush of wind. Axel opened the throttle, and suddenly we were flying.
I'd ridden fast before. Hell, I'd riddenrecklessbefore, pushing my Kawasaki to her limits on empty backroads when the loneliness got too heavy. But this was different. This wasn't running from something—it was running toward.
Axel leaned into a curve, and I leaned with him, our bodies moving in perfect sync. The road dropped away on one side, a sheer cliff overlooking the valley below. On the other, rock faces loomed, ancient and indifferent. We were tiny against all that darkness. Tiny and infinite at the same time.
He slowed as we approached a viewpoint—a wide gravel turnout overlooking the city lights. Killed the engine. The sudden silence was deafening. For a moment, neither of us moved.
"I used to come here," he said quietly. "After Afghanistan. When the nightmares got too loud."
I rested my chin on his shoulder. Below us, the city sparkled like scattered diamonds.
"Does it help?"
"Sometimes. The speed, the focus—it makes everything else quiet down." He turned his head, his breath warm against my cheek. "Tonight's the first time I've brought anyone."
The weight of that admission settled over me. "Why me?"
"Because you get it." He shifted, swinging off the bike but keeping hold of my hand, pulling me with him. "The way you ride—it's not about showing off. It's about feeling alive."
We stood at the edge of the overlook, the city sprawled beneath us like a circuit board. His arm came around my shoulders, tucking me against his side.
