Dax let out a breath as he unlocked the garage roller doors, the familiar creak and rattle filling the quiet morning air. Sunlight poured into the space, illuminating the neatly organised toolboxes, the lift, and the workbenches just as they had left them. It felt good to be back.

Out in the parking lot, Erin, Rev, and Jinx pulled in, their engines cutting out one after another. Erin's M3 rolled to a stop in its usual space, Rev parked the Z beside it, and Jinx, clearly still riding a high from their UK trip, skidded his RX-7 slightly before throwing it into park.

Jinx hopped out first, stretching his arms over his head. "Alright! We're back, we're refreshed, and I say we need a team challenge to get back in the groove."

Rev scoffed, locking his car. "Didn't we just spend two weeks surrounded by cars? You don't wanna ease back into work?"

Jinx grinned. "Nope. Straight into some chaos."

Erin smirked, leaning against her car. "I dunno, Jinx. I'm kind of enjoying the peace for a minute."

Right on cue, the shop phone rang loudly from inside the office.

Dax groaned. "So much for that."

Rev chuckled, shaking his head. "Guess the universe doesn't want you to rest, Ace."

Dax walked over, grabbing the receiver. "Yeah, Dax's Garage." As he listened to the caller on the other end, his brow furrowed slightly, his gaze flicking to Erin. "Yeah... she's here. Who's asking?" A few seconds later, Dax held the receiver away from his ear slightly, glancing at Erin as she approached. His expression was cautious, but there was a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. "It's for you," he said, holding the phone out. "Didn't say a name, just asked if you were here."

Erin frowned, wiping her hands on her jeans before taking the phone. "Hello?"

There was a brief pause before a voice she hadn't heard in a long time spoke on the other end. "Erin Calloway. Took me a while to track you down."

Her stomach twisted at the familiarity, but she kept her voice even. "Who is this?"

A low chuckle. "C'mon, you don't recognise me? That hurts."

Dax leaned against the counter, arms crossed, watching her closely. Jinx and Rev had stopped their conversation outside, subtly tuning in.

Erin exhaled through her nose. "I don't have time for games. Either say who you are or I hang up."

"Alright, alright," the voice said, amused. "It's Kane."

Erin's grip on the phone tightened. Kane. That name dragged up memories she had buried deep. He used to roll with Jamie's old crowd, back in the UK street scene. The last time she'd seen him, he was picking fights and causing trouble, always looking to prove himself.

Her jaw tensed. "What do you want?"

"You've been making a name for yourself in LA," Kane continued. "Didn't think you'd just disappear after Jamie. You were always too stubborn for that."

Erin's pulse picked up. "If you're calling just to talk about the past, I'm hanging up."

"Relax, love. I just wanted to let you know I'm stateside now. Figured we should catch up."

She scoffed. "Not interested."

Kane's voice lowered slightly, taking on a more serious tone. "You sure about that? 'Cause I hear you've been racing again. And I've got a little... opportunity coming up. Could be worth your time."

Erin clenched her teeth. She knew exactly what that meant. Kane had always been into the kind of races that weren't just for bragging rights, big money, high stakes, and usually carrying some level of risk. She glanced at Dax, who was watching her carefully, waiting for any sign of what was going on. Jinx and Rev were pretending not to listen, but she could feel their attention. "I'm out," she said firmly. "Don't call again."

Kane chuckled. "Alright, Calloway. But if you change your mind... you'll know where to find me."

The line went dead. Erin exhaled sharply, hanging up and pressing her hands against the counter.

Dax stepped closer. "Who was that?"

She hesitated for a second before looking up at him. "Someone I used to know. Someone I hoped I'd never hear from again."

Dax studied Erin's face carefully. She was tense, her jaw tight, fingers gripping the edge of the counter like she was trying to steady herself. He'd seen her fired up after races, annoyed when Jinx or Rev misplaced tools, even upset when Ethan had left, but this was different. This was a quiet kind of tension, the kind that came from old wounds that hadn't fully healed.

"Alright, Ace," Dax said gently, stepping closer. "You gonna tell me what that was about?"

Erin exhaled through her nose and leaned back against the counter, folding her arms. "His name's Kane. He used to run in Jamie's crowd back home. Always had something to prove, always looking for the next big race to make a name for himself."

Jinx and Rev, who had been trying to act casual, finally gave up the pretence and wandered closer. Jinx leaned against the tool chest, arms crossed. "Sounds like a prick."

Erin let out a humourless chuckle. "Yeah, he was. Still is, probably."

"What does he want?" Dax asked.

She shrugged. "Claims he has an 'opportunity' for me. Which means a high-stakes race. The kind where there's more than just money on the line."

Rev arched a brow. "Illegal?"

"Not necessarily," Erin admitted. "But Kane was never interested in just normal street racing. He wanted bigger, more dangerous bets. Racing for pinks, high-cash buy-ins, even jobs for people who... well, let's just say they weren't the type you wanted to owe a favour to."

Dax ran a hand through his hair, his expression unreadable. "And he just happened to track you down now?"

"That's what bugs me," Erin muttered. "I haven't heard from him in years. I left that whole scene behind when Jamie..." She trailed off, shaking her head. "And now, suddenly, he's here, in LA, calling me up like we're old friends."

Jinx and Rev exchanged a look. The mystery of it clearly intrigued them.

"What if it's not just about you?" Jinx suggested. "Maybe he's heard about the garage. About us."

Rev nodded. "We've been making a name for ourselves, Ace. Between the M3, the Skyline, and the races we've run, we're not exactly unknown in the scene anymore."

Dax frowned. "Still doesn't explain why he'd come looking for Erin specifically."

Jinx smirked. "Well, she is the best driver among us."

Erin rolled her eyes. "Flattery won't get you out of customer work today, Jinx."

Jinx held up his hands in mock surrender. "Just saying. Maybe Kane figures if he gets you on board, the rest of us might follow."

"Not happening," Dax said firmly.

Erin nodded. "Agreed. I left that life behind for a reason."

Rev leaned against the workbench. "So, what now? Ignore it?"

Erin hesitated. Kane wasn't the type to take 'no' as a final answer. If he wanted something, he'd keep pushing until he got it. "Ignore it for now," she said. "But if he comes looking for me again... we'll deal with it."

Dax narrowed his eyes but nodded. "Yeah. We will."