The garage had been busy as hell the last few weeks. A ton of new projects had rolled in, some through Kane's network, others from their usual clients. Business was good. But something had felt... off.

At first, Dax thought it was just the usual post-race adrenaline fade. Erin had been back to normal, working on cars, teasing Jinx, keeping him on his toes like always, then he noticed the small things.

She was restless. She'd spend more time in the Skyline, driving alone late at night. She'd disappear to the parking lot, standing next to the car, sometimes just staring at it for ages like she was trying to find something that wasn't there.

And deep down Dax knew exactly why.

Ghost.

Dax had done his best to push it out of his mind, to not get involved, to let Erin make her own choices. Yet whenever Ghost showed up again, he felt every bit of patience snap in half.

It was late afternoon, the smell of oil and gasoline thick in the air. Dax was working on a Camaro build, half-listening to Rev and Jinx argue over which exhaust setup sounded meaner, when he heard the rumble.

Not just any engine. A bike.

Dax knew before even looking. He wiped his hands off, stepping outside the garage just as the matte black motorcycle rolled into the lot.

Ghost, dressed in his usual black riding jacket, helmet tucked under one arm, expression unreadable.

Dax's jaw tensed.

The last time this guy was here, it didn't end well.

And as if summoned by instinct, Erin appeared from the back of the garage. She stopped dead in her tracks, staring at Ghost like she wasn't sure whether to punch him or demand answers.

Dax already hated how this was going to go.

Jinx and Rev had come outside now, too.

"You gotta be kidding me," Rev muttered.

Jinx sighed. "Damn, Ace. You really can't get rid of this guy, huh?"

Erin ignored them. Her eyes were locked on Ghost.

Dax felt it before she even said it.

That decision. That choice.

She was going to go with him.

"Erin." Dax's voice was low. A warning.

She hesitated, just for a second, but she still turned to him. "I need answers, Dax."

Dax exhaled slowly. "And you really think this guy's gonna give them to you?"

Ghost didn't flinch. Didn't say a word.

Erin didn't look away. "He will. Eventually."

Dax's hands clenched into fists.

This wasn't fair.

Ghost was playing a game, holding information over her head like bait, and Erin, stubborn, reckless, determined Erin, was willing to chase him down until she got what she wanted. She took a step forward.

Ghost held out his spare helmet.

Dax hated every part of this. "Erin, don't."

Her green eyes softened, but they didn't change. "I have to." And with that, she grabbed the helmet, pulled it on, and climbed onto the bike.

The engine growled, tyres kicked up dust, and before Dax could say another damn word, they were gone.

For the first time in a long time, the garage felt empty.

Dax stood there, jaw tight, hands on his hips, trying to process what the hell just happened.

Rev exhaled. "Shit, man. You okay?"

Jinx shook his head. "I mean... we all knew this was coming eventually, right?"

Dax didn't answer. He didn't know if Erin was coming back the same. That scared him more than anything. Dax had always been good at playing things cool. No matter what was thrown at him, a tough race, a high-stakes deal, a bad call on a build, he never let it show. And right now, he needed to be colder than ever.

After Erin disappeared on the back of Ghost's bike, Dax did what he always did. He went back to work. No questions. No anger. No pacing the lot like some jealous idiot.

Just business as usual. The Camaro rebuild still needed a tune, a Supra had come in with a misfiring cylinder, and a regular customer's RX-8 was still missing a damn rotor seal. Plenty to do. Plenty to focus on.

So, when Jinx grabbed his keys and said, "I'm heading out for food, you two want anything?"

Dax didn't even look up from the ECU readings. "Nah. Just get whatever."

Rev, sitting on the workbench nearby, waved a hand. "Surprise me."

Jinx nodded, grabbing his jacket and heading out, leaving the garage in an oddly quiet state.

Rev let the silence stretch for a moment. "You're taking this way too well."

Dax exhaled through his nose. "Not this conversation."

Rev smirked, leaning back against the wall. "Oh yeah, this conversation."

Dax kept his eyes on the screen, scrolling through the data logs like it was the most interesting thing in the world.

Rev didn't buy it. "Look, man. I know you. I know how you get when you don't wanna deal with something. And I get it, you don't want us up in your business..."

"Then don't be."

Rev ignored the warning in Dax's voice. "But the thing is, Ace just took off with a dude neither of us trust, and you're sitting here acting like it's just another Tuesday."

Dax rolled his shoulders, finally setting the tablet down. "What do you want me to do, Rev? Chase after them like some idiot? Pull up on Ghost's bike like I'm about to start some action movie bullshit?"

Rev shrugged. "Wouldn't be the worst idea."

Dax gave him a look.

Rev sighed. "Alright, fine. But at least admit it's pissing you off."

Dax leaned against the workbench, arms crossed, staring at nothing in particular. For a long moment, he didn't say anything. "I hate that she left without telling me where she's going."

Rev nodded. "Yeah."

"I hate that she trusts him more than me when it comes to this."

"Yeah."

"And I hate that there's nothing I can do about it."

Rev let out a slow breath.

Dax never talked like this. Never admitted when something actually got under his skin. Which meant, this one cut deep.

"You know what's weird?" Rev asked after a while.

Dax raised an eyebrow.

"This is the first time I've ever seen you like this over a girl."

Dax snorted. "Shut up."

"No, I'm serious." Rev stretched his legs out. "Back in the day, you didn't care. You'd go on dates, mess around, but you never got attached. Never let anyone close."

Dax didn't say anything.

That was true.

Rev tilted his head. "But Ace? She got you, man. You're different with her."

Dax sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. "I just don't like not knowing if she's okay."

Rev nodded. "Yeah. I get that." Silence. "She'll come back, Dax."

Dax exhaled. "I know."

"But?"

Dax hesitated. Then, quietly, "I just don't know if she'll be the same when she does."

Rev didn't have an answer for that one.

Neither did Dax.

The garage door rattled open, snapping them out of their thoughts as Jinx walked back in, carrying takeout bags. "Alright, losers. I got tacos, burritos, and some extra fries because I know y'all get moody when you're hungry." He tossed a bag toward Rev, then looked between them. "Damn. Y'all look depressing. You talk about feelings or something?"

Rev smirked. "Something like that."

Dax grabbed a taco, taking a bite without saying a word.

Jinx raised an eyebrow but didn't push. "So, no one's killed Ghost yet, right?"

Rev chuckled. "Not yet."

Jinx smirked. "Cool, cool. Give it time."

And just like that, things went back to business as usual. At least on the surface. But as Dax sat there, eating a meal he wasn't even really tasting, he couldn't shake the feeling in his gut. The one that told him that whatever Erin was doing, whatever she was chasing, it was going to change everything.