They knew exactly where to start.

Ghost might have been a mystery, a shadow, but he had habits.

And one of them was the biker diner, his unofficial haunt.

The ride there was quiet, Erin gripping the wheel a little too tightly as she replayed Kane's words in her head.

When they pulled into the familiar gravel lot, the place was livelier than usual. Bikers leaned against their bikes, chatting in low voices, cigarette smoke curling into the cold night air.

Erin spotted Ghost immediately, standing by his black Ducati, talking to another rider.

Dax smirked. "There's our guy."

Erin cut the engine, stepped out, and headed straight for him.

Ghost looked up as they approached, his usual unreadable smirk in place.

"Didn't think I'd see you two so soon."

Dax crossed his arms. "We're full of surprises."

Ghost's gaze flickered to Erin. "Something on your mind, Calloway?"

She took a deep breath. "The other guys in the photos. The ones with Jamie, you, and Ethan. Who are they?"

Ghost's smirk faded slightly. "That's a dangerous question."

"Yeah, well, I like dangerous answers." Erin's voice was sharp, unwavering.

Ghost studied her, then exhaled, pulling out his phone. With a few swipes, he brought up the same old photos from before. He turned the screen toward them. "You already know Jamie. You already know Ethan. You know me. But these two?" He tapped the screen. "That's Alex Bishop. And that..." He paused. "...is Jace Ashford."

Erin's breath hitched.

Dax frowned. "Why do I feel like you were holding onto those names for a reason?"

Ghost's jaw ticked. "Because neither of them stuck around after Jamie's crash."

Erin's stomach dropped.

Dax's expression darkened. "Where are they now?"

Ghost slid his phone back into his pocket. "That's what you're about to find out."

Erin clenched her fists. She had more names. More loose ends. And a new reason to start digging.

The tension snapped like a live wire.

Ghost's calm, cryptic demeanour had always irritated Dax, but now it was like pouring gasoline onto a fire.

"You knew their names this whole time, and you're only giving them to us now?" Dax's voice was low, dangerous.

Ghost tilted his head, barely reacting. "Didn't realise I was on a deadline."

Dax took a step forward. "Don't play games with me."

"Or what, Carter?" Ghost's tone was mocking, amused. "You gonna throw a punch? Because I promise you, you won't be the first to try."

Dax's fists clenched.

Erin saw it happen before it even started. She stepped between them, shoving Dax back toward the car. "That's enough!"

Dax didn't budge at first, his jaw tight, chest rising and falling too fast. "Erin..."

"No. I need answers, not a damn brawl. Get in the car."

Dax glared at Ghost one last time before exhaling sharply, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. But if he starts screwing around again..."

"I got it."

Dax huffed but finally stalked off toward the car, leaning against it, still watching like a hawk.

Erin turned back to Ghost. "Alright. Now tell me. Where the hell do I find Alex and Jace?"

Ghost sighed, rolling his shoulders. "Back in the UK. They went underground after Jamie's crash. Alex was deep in the racing scene, but after the fallout, he vanished. Jace? He had connections, ones he never talked about."

"So they ran."

Ghost nodded. "Yeah. And now? They won't be easy to find."

Erin crossed her arms. "But you can help me."

Ghost's lips curled slightly. "That depends. How bad do you want it?"

She didn't hesitate. "Bad enough."

Ghost studied her for a long moment, then finally spoke. "You'll need someone who still has pull in the UK racing scene. Someone who knows the players."

Erin narrowed her eyes. "And let me guess, you know just the guy."

Ghost smirked. "Ethan."

Erin exhaled sharply, her chest tightening.

It always circled back to him.

Ghost continued. "Ethan had ties everywhere, Japan, the UK, even some of the money movers. If anyone knows where Alex and Jace ended up, it's him."

Erin ran a hand through her hair, processing. She would need to reach out, to drag him back into this. "Fine. I'll call him. But if this leads to another dead end..."

Ghost shrugged. "Then you'll be exactly where you were before. But at least now, you've got a direction."

Erin took a slow breath, steadying herself.

Dax honked the car horn. "You done trusting the guy who talks in riddles?"

Erin shot him a glare before turning back to Ghost. "I'll handle it. But if I find out you're still holding back?"

Ghost's smirk faded slightly. "Then I'll deserve whatever's coming to me."

Erin didn't respond. She just turned and walked back to the car.