Dax pushed off the workbench, grabbing his keys. He was already halfway across the garage when the sound of a familiar engine cut through the silence.

Erin's Silvia.

Jinx let out a low whistle. "Well, that saves us a trip."

Rev smirked slightly but said nothing, already knowing what was about to unfold.

Dax stood still for half a second, jaw tight, before turning to watch as Erin pulled into the lot. The Silvia coasted to a stop, and for a moment, she just sat there, her hands still on the wheel, taking a deep breath before cutting the engine.

She barely had time to step out before Dax was on her. "Where the hell have you been?"

Erin shut the door, locking eyes with him. She didn't flinch. "Out."

Dax scoffed. "Out?" His voice was sharp, heated. "That's all you've got to say?"

She exhaled, already tired of this. "I told you, I needed answers. I got some."

Dax took a step closer. Too close. "And that's supposed to make it okay? That you went chasing after some guy we barely know? Alone?"

Erin's own frustration flared. "I can handle myself, Dax."

"That's not the damn point!" His voice rose slightly, his whole body tensed like he was barely keeping himself from pacing.

Erin narrowed her eyes. "Then what is the point?"

Dax ran a hand through his hair, pacing now, trying to put his thoughts into something that didn't come out as pure frustration. But when he turned back to her, his voice was low and rough. "The point is you keep pushing everything too damn far, Erin. You don't think. You just chase."

Her chest tightened, anger bubbling up now. "I think just fine, Dax. Maybe you're the one who refuses to accept the truth."

His glare sharpened. "Oh, and what truth is that?"

Erin crossed her arms. "That Jamie's death wasn't just an accident. That someone else was there that night. That I was right to keep looking."

Dax let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "And what exactly do you think you're gonna do with that information, huh? Bring Jamie back?"

Erin's breath hitched at the cruelty of it.

The words hit harder than they should have.

Dax saw it immediately, but he didn't back down. Neither did she.

"That's not what this is about," Erin gritted out.

Dax stepped closer again, lowering his voice, but there was no less heat behind it. "Then tell me, Erin, what the hell is this about?"

She clenched her fists, forcing herself to breathe through the storm inside her. "I just want to know the truth."

"And if that truth gets you killed?" Dax shot back.

Silence.

Erin swallowed hard. "Then at least I'll know."

Dax stared at her, eyes dark, sharp. He was angry. But more than that, he was scared.

And Erin realised, deep down, that was the real reason for all of this.

But neither of them backed down.

Jinx and Rev, still leaning against the workbench, exchanged a glance but didn't interfere.

This wasn't their fight to break up.

Finally, Dax exhaled, shaking his head. "I can't do this right now." He turned away, heading toward his Supra.

Erin didn't stop him and she didn't regret going, either.

The words hung heavy between them, thick with heat and frustration.

Dax shook his head, his jaw tight, his own emotions fighting for control. "I can't do this right now." He turned, heading toward his Supra, trying to walk away before things got even worse.

But Erin was already moving. She didn't want to hear it. Didn't want to stand there, trapped between her past and Dax's frustration, like she had done something wrong for wanting answers. She shoved open the door to her Silvia, climbed in, and started the engine.

Dax turned at the sound of it, just in time to see her slam the car into first and launch out of the garage lot.

"Shit."

He didn't hesitate. Didn't even think. He ran to his Supra, yanked the door open, and gunned it after her.

Erin's tyres screeched as she weaved through the sparse evening traffic, her mind a storm of frustration and adrenaline.

The streetlights flickered past in a blur. She didn't care where she was going, she just needed to move.

Behind her, headlights appeared.

Dax. Of course.

She gritted her teeth, shifting gears as she pushed the Silvia harder, the turbo spooling, her heartbeat syncing with the rhythm of the engine.

Dax was gaining, his Supra roaring behind her, relentless. He wasn't letting this go.

They tore through downtown, heading for the wide-open roads on the outskirts of the city. Erin knew this route. Knew it better than she knew how to breathe.

And Dax did too.

She pushed the Silvia harder, dancing between gears, her hands tight on the wheel.

But Dax was right there. Matching her moves. Not giving an inch.

A straight stretch opened ahead. She floored it. Dax did too.

The Supra surged forward, inching up beside her, the two cars running side by side at dangerous speeds.

Erin refused to let up.

But Dax had already made up his mind.

At the last second, he moved.

He swung his Supra just enough into her lane, not to crash, but to force her hand.

Erin's heart slammed into her ribs as she instinctively braked, yanking the wheel to avoid a collision. Her Silvia fishtailed before she brought it under control, her tyres screeching against the pavement.

Dax had forced her into a stop.

The silence after the chaos was deafening.

Erin's heart pounded, her breath uneven as she threw the Silvia's door open and stormed out.

Dax was already stepping out of his car, his face dark with frustration, his breathing just as ragged.

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!" Erin shouted, voice cracking with fury, her hands clenched into fists.

Dax took a step toward her, his own breathing ragged. "You took off first, Erin. What the hell did you expect me to do?"

Her hands down by her sides, shaking. "Leave me the hell alone, maybe!"

Dax's jaw tightened. "Not happening."

Her chest rose and fell rapidly, the weight of everything pressing down on her. Finally, she shook her head, voice quieter but still sharp. "You don't get to control me, Dax."

Dax exhaled slowly, running a hand down his face. "I don't want to control you, Erin," he said, voice lower, rougher. "I just don't want to lose you too."

The words hit her harder than she expected. For the first time, the anger in his face wasn't just anger. It was fear.

Erin swallowed hard. She had no idea what to say to that. Her breath caught, the weight of everything suddenly too much.

Dax didn't let her pull away. Instead, he stepped forward and pulled her into a tight hug.

Erin froze.

For a second, she didn't know what to do. Didn't know how to react.

But then her shoulders dropped, and slowly, she sank into it.

Dax's arms were strong, steady, like he was trying to hold her together. And maybe... maybe she needed that right now.

His voice was quieter now, softer. "I'm not mad at you."

Erin swallowed. "Sure as hell felt like it."

Dax sighed, his grip tightening for a moment before he spoke. "I'm pissed at Ghost. At all of it. He's dragging you into something dangerous, something I can't stop. And instead of handling that, I took it out on you."

Erin closed her eyes, letting the weight of his words settle. She could hear his heartbeat, steady but fast, like he was just as rattled as she was. She let out a breath. "You're an idiot."

Dax huffed a short laugh against her hair. "Yeah. I know."

They stood there for a long moment, neither moving, neither letting go.

Finally, Dax pulled back just enough to look at her. "You should stay at mine tonight." His voice was calm, like he wasn't demanding it—just offering.

Erin searched his face. She could say no. Could go home alone, pretend none of this happened. But she didn't want to be alone tonight. So she just nodded.

Dax gave a small, tired smile. "C'mon. Let's go."

They climbed back into their cars, neither of them saying another word.

And this time, they drove back together.