It had been a solid few weeks of normalcy. No drama. No surprise visits. No distractions. Just cars, grease, and business as usual. The garage was alive with the hum of impact wrenches, the smell of oil, and the steady rhythm of tools clanking against metal.

Dax was under the lift, working on a Mitsubishi Evo 7, while Erin was elbow-deep in the engine bay of a Subaru WRX STI.

Rev was sorting out wiring, and Jinx was complaining about the alignment being a pain in the ass.

It was a good day. Until Ghost walked through the garage doors. And just like that, the atmosphere shifted.

Erin was the first to spot him. She stiffened, hands clenching around the wrench.

Rev and Jinx paused, exchanging glances.

Dax, still under the Evo, hadn't noticed yet.

Ghost, hands in his jacket pockets, walked in like he belonged there, like he hadn't been gone for weeks. "Not a bad lineup," he said casually, glancing between the Evo and the STI. "Always had a soft spot for rally cars."

Erin wiped her hands off, stepping toward him. "What do you want, Ghost?"

Ghost didn't even look at her. His eyes were locked on Dax. "I need to talk to Carter. Alone."

The second those words left his mouth, the garage went dead silent.

Rev tensed.

Jinx raised an eyebrow.

Erin felt her stomach tighten.

Dax finally slid out from under the Evo, wiping the grease off his hands. His expression was neutral. Calm. His eyes were anything but. He stood up slowly, looking Ghost over. "You've got a lot of nerve showing up here, Hale."

Ghost smirked slightly. "Yeah, well. Some things can't be handled over the phone."

Dax exhaled sharply. "Fine. Let's take this outside."

Erin immediately stepped forward. "Dax..."

Dax held up a hand, stopping her. "I got this."

Erin's jaw clenched. She didn't trust this. Didn't trust Ghost. But she also knew that Dax wasn't the type to let someone like Ghost get under his skin. So she nodded. But she didn't like it. Not one damn bit.

The second the garage doors rolled shut behind them, Dax turned to Ghost, arms crossed. "Alright. You've got five minutes. What the hell do you want?"

Ghost ran a hand through his hair, glancing at the lot before looking back at Dax. "I need you to keep Erin out of something."

Dax's expression darkened. "Excuse me?"

Ghost exhaled. "Look, I know you don't trust me. And honestly? That's fair. But this isn't about me."

Dax narrowed his eyes. "Then what is it about?"

Ghost hesitated then spoke, his voice lowered. "Jamie."

Dax's fists clenched. "You better start explaining real quick."

Ghost exhaled, choosing his words carefully. "There's something Erin's looking for. And if she keeps digging, she's gonna find it. But what she finds? It won't be what she thinks."

Dax's jaw tightened. He didn't like the way that sounded. Didn't like the way Ghost was still dancing around the truth. "So why come to me?" Dax asked, voice steady. "Why not tell her yourself?"

Ghost's expression was unreadable. "Because she won't listen to me."

Dax scoffed. "And you think she'll listen to me?"

Ghost gave him a look. "She trusts you."

Dax didn't respond. Didn't look away. Didn't let Ghost see the conflict brewing under the surface. Because if there was one thing he knew about Erin Calloway? She wasn't the type to let something go once she started looking for answers. Now she'd find out whether Dax wanted her to or not. Because that's just who she was. And Dax loved her for it but that didn't mean it wouldn't get her hurt. He took a slow breath, and said the only thing that mattered. "If this is about Jamie, you better start talking, Hale. Because I'm done with your cryptic bullshit."

Ghost exhaled. And this time he actually looked serious. "I can't. Not yet."

Dax's jaw ticked. "Then you're wasting my damn time." He turned, about to walk back inside.

But Ghost's next words stopped him cold. "Jamie wasn't who she thought he was. And if she keeps digging, she's gonna find out why."

Dax slowly turned back, his stomach tightening. For the first time, he wondered if maybe Erin wasn't ready for the truth.

Dax stared Ghost down, fists clenched at his sides, waiting. Waiting for something, anything, that would make sense of what the hell he'd just said.

Ghost just stood there. Silent. Unmoving. Like he'd already said too much, trying to decide whether to keep talking... or walk away.

Dax wasn't in the mood for games. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" he demanded, voice low. "Jamie wasn't who she thought he was? That's a real nice, vague-ass statement, Hale. You wanna clarify that?"

Ghost exhaled, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets. "I can't."

Dax laughed dryly, shaking his head. "Yeah, see, that's not how this works. You show up out of nowhere, start dropping cryptic shit, and then expect me to just let it go? Not happening."

Ghost's jaw tightened. "It's not about letting it go."

"Then what the hell is it about?"

Ghost hesitated. Too long. Too damn long.

And that's when Dax knew, Ghost wasn't going to tell him anything else. Not today. Not now. Maybe not ever. The thought made Dax's blood boil, but before he could push further, before he could tell Ghost exactly what he thought about his half-truths and disappearing acts...

The garage door creaked open. And Erin stepped out.

Both men went silent. Not out of fear, not out of guilt, but because they both knew this conversation wasn't meant for her. Not yet, and definitely not like this.

Erin's eyes flickered between them, instantly picking up on the tension. "Well, no one's bleeding. That's a good start."

Dax exhaled, rolling his shoulders back.

Ghost just shrugged like nothing had happened. "Yeah, we managed to avoid a fight. A miracle, really."

Dax shot him a look.

Erin narrowed her eyes. "You sure about that? 'Cause you both look about two seconds from throwing punches."

Dax sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "We're fine, Ace. Just talking."

Ghost nodded. "Nothing serious."

Erin didn't buy it for a second. She also knew pushing wouldn't get her anywhere. She let it slide, for now. She crossed her arms, leaning against the doorway. "Good. 'Cause I don't feel like playing referee today."

Dax smirked. "Since when have you ever played referee? You usually throw fuel on the fire."

Erin grinned. "Yeah, but only when it's fun."

Ghost chuckled, shaking his head. "Calloway, you haven't changed a bit."

Erin raised an eyebrow. "Neither have you, apparently. You still show up whenever you feel like it and make things complicated."

Ghost smirked. "What can I say? It's a talent."

Dax exhaled heavily, crossing his arms. "Alright, we done here?"

Ghost looked at him for a long moment. Then nodded. "Yeah. For now."

Dax didn't like the way he said that. Didn't like the way Ghost was still holding back. He wasn't going to push it. Not with Erin standing between them, trying to pretend like she didn't see through all the bullshit. So instead, he nodded once. "Then get lost, Hale. We've got work to do."

Ghost smirked. "As always, Carter." And just like that, he turned, walking back toward his bike like he hadn't just flipped the garage's entire energy upside down.

Erin watched him go, arms still crossed.

Dax just clenched his jaw, exhaling sharply.

This wasn't over. Not by a long shot. And both of them knew it.

The second Ghost's bike disappeared down the street, Erin turned to Dax, eyebrows raised. "You wanna tell me what that was about?"

Dax hesitated. Just for a second. Just long enough for Erin's eyes to narrow. Damn it. He sighed, glancing back at the garage before looking at her again. "He wanted to talk about Jamie."

Erin's expression shifted instantly. Her arms unfolded. "And?"

Dax hesitated again. What the hell was he supposed to tell her? That Ghost basically warned him off from letting her dig too deep? That Jamie apparently wasn't who she thought he was? That something about this entire situation felt wrong? Dax shook his head. "Nothing concrete. Just... more vague bullshit."

Erin studied him, quiet. Then, voice low, she said: "You don't believe him."

Dax sighed. "I don't trust him. That's different."

Erin's jaw tightened. That was exactly what she was afraid of. She looked down for a second, fingers curling into her palms. Then she nodded. "Alright. Well, I do."

Dax's stomach twisted. "Ace..."

"No." She met his eyes. "I get it, Dax. I do. You don't like him. You don't trust him. But I need to figure this out for myself."

Dax exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. This was the exact moment he'd known was coming. The moment where she made up her mind, no matter what he said. And maybe that was what scared him the most. But he didn't stop her. Didn't argue. Didn't push. Instead, he just nodded. And when she turned to head back inside, he followed. No matter what happened next, no matter what Ghost was hiding, what Jamie's past really was, or how deep this went, Dax wasn't going to let her go through it alone.