Footsteps hit the stairs. I look over and wait for either Mack or Owen to open the door to the apartment, asking what’s for dinner.
Owen appears in the doorway, and the look on his face pulls me upright instantly. His brows are drawn together, mouth set, eyes darting behind him like he already wishes he wasn’t the one delivering the news.
“Poppy,” he says, out of breath. “Bikers are here.”
My stomach drops. “Is it Sully?” I ask, sliding on my shoes.
“I didn’t see him.” He shakes his head. “One of them is asking for you.”
Ollie stands, going tense beside me, every muscle locking into place. His arm tightens around Ellie without even realizing it.The calm is gone. And I know whatever dinner plan I was thinking about doesn’t matter anymore.
“Wait for us,” Ollie tells Owen, calm and firm. “Stick with Mack. Don’t leaveher side.”
Owen hesitates, looking at me. “They don’t look mad or anything.”
“I’ll see what they want,” I say. “It’s okay.”
Owen nods and disappears down the stairs.
Ollie adjusts Ellie higher on his chest. She lets out a tiny sigh, completely unbothered by the tension wrapping tight around the room.
“I’d tell you to stay up here, but I know you won’t,” he says to me.
“No,” I say immediately. “I’m dealing with them.”
He looks at me, and I know he wants to argue. Instead, he exhales through his nose and shakes his head, looking pissed.“Fine,” he says. “But you stay right next to me.”
We head down the stairs together.
The music cuts off the second we step into the bay.
Mack’s standing by the go-kart, hands on her hips, posture casual but eyes sharp. Owen’s beside her, arms crossed, trying to look menacing and not succeeding.
The front bay door is open, and it shouldn’t be. They were supposed to be tinkering with the closed sign on the door.
Three bikes are parked just outside next to a truck with tinted windows. Three of the men are leaning against their bikes. One has his helmet tucked under his arm. The other’s arms are crossed, expression unreadable. The third is standing a little apart, hands loose at his sides, eyes scanning the shop.
I don’t miss the way Ollie shifts Ellie.
“What do you want?” Ollie asks. His voice is calm, but there’s something sharp underneath it, something that makes the hair on my arms stand up.
I give him a look that says chill, but he ignores me.
Grave flicks his gaze curiously to the baby for half a second before returning to Ollie.
“Easy,” Grave says. “We’re not here for trouble. We brought you something.”
“I fixed the bike you dropped off. Someone already came to get it,” I say, stepping forward despite Ollie’s hand tightening behind me.
Grave’s eyes slide to me. “I have two things for you.”
Mack moves closer to Owen without making it obvious. Owen leans into her instinctively, like he knows exactly where he’s safest.
“We don’t need anything from you,” Ollie clips.
Grave nods. “It’s not from me.”
“Who is it from?” I say.
