Page 33 of Midnight Rebel

“Alright,” I say, straightening up. “We keep our eyes and ears open. Anyone hears anything, you bring it straight to me. We’ll get to the bottom of this.”

The meeting breaks up, my brothers filing out with grim determination. I hang back, waiting for Autumn. She approaches me, a small smile on her lips that sends a jolt through my system.

“That went well,” she says, her voice low. “I think they’re starting to warm up to me.”

I can’t help but smirk. “Don’t get cocky, Firefly. They just know talent when they see it.”

She laughs, the sound warming something deep inside me. It’s becoming harder to ignore how she affects me, how easily she’s slipped past my defenses. The realization both thrills and terrifies me.

“Come on,” I say, nodding towards the door. “There’s somewhere I want to show you.”

Autumn’s eyes light up with curiosity. “Oh? And where might that be?”

I can’t help but grin. “You’ll see. Trust me, it’s worth the ride.”

The night air is crisp as we step outside, carrying the scent of oil and leather from the garage. My bike waits in the parking lot, sleek and powerful.

I hand Autumn a helmet, watching as she straps it on with practiced ease.

“Where are we going?” she asks again, a hint of excitement in her voice.

I swing my leg over the bike, feeling it thrum to life beneath me. “You’ll see,” I say, unable to keep the smile from my voice. “Hold on tight.”

Autumn slides onto the seat behind me, her arms wrapping around my waist. The feeling of her pressed against my back sends a jolt through me, and I have to take a moment to steady myself before pulling out of the lot.

The road stretches out before us, a ribbon of black cutting through the dense forest. The wind whips past as we accelerate, and some of the tension from the meeting starts to melt away.

This is what I need—the open road, the power of the bike beneath me, and Autumn’s warmth at my back.

As we ride, my thoughts drift. I’ve never let anyone this close before, not like this. Autumn has wormed her way past my defenses, becoming a part of my world in a way I never expected. The realization should scare me, but it fills me with warmth.

We wind through the forest, the trees a dark blur on either side. Autumn’s grip tightens as we take the curves, her body moving with mine as if we’re one.

The trust in that simple gesture strikes me, adding to the growing weight in my chest.

Finally, I slow the bike, pulling off onto a small side road. We stop at a clearing, a scenic overlook that offers a breathtaking view of the valley below. In the distance, the lights of Midnight Falls twinkle like fallen stars.

Autumn climbs off the bike first, pulling off her helmet and shaking out her hair. The sight of her, windswept and exhilarated, takes my breath away.

She walks to the edge of the clearing, looking out over the view.

“It’s beautiful,” she says softly.

I join her, standing close enough to feel the heat radiating from her body. “Yeah,” I agree, but I’m not looking at the view.

She turns to me, her eyes searching my face. “What’s going on, Colt? I can tell something’s bothering you.”

I take a deep breath, struggling to find the words. Opening up has never been my strong suit, but with Autumn, I find myself wanting to try.

The words catch in my throat, years of keeping people at arm’s length warring with the desire to let her in.

“I’ve never...” I start, then stop, running a hand through my hair in frustration. “Damn it, I’m not good at this.”

Autumn reaches out, her hand gentle on my arm. The warmth of her touch seeps through my jacket, and I feel something inside me uncoil.

“It’s okay,” she says softly. “Take your time.”

I nod, taking another deep breath. “I’ve never let anyone get this close,” I admit, my voice low and rough. “Not without pushing them away first. You’re... you’re different.”

---