Page 20 of Endo

He steps out of her apartment, tall and annoyingly self-assured, like he owns the damn place. His dark hair is tousled just right, and there’s a cocky ease in the way he moves that grates on my last nerve.

My fists clench at my sides as my mind races, the memory of him on Cruz’s bike hitting like a gut punch. What the hell is he doing here?

“Who’s this?” I ask, my tone sharper than intended.

“Revel,” Lena says flatly. “Reign, meet Revel. He’s?—”

“I’m the new Speed Demon,” he interrupts, his voice steady but cautious as he approaches. “Andre told me this morning. I made the cut. First race of the season, I’m on the starting line.”

The words hit like a gut punch, but it’s the way Lena looks at him—like she’s already made peace with it—that twists the knife.

“You knew,” I say, my voice low. “You knew he was taking Cruz’s spot, and you didn’t say anything to any of us?”

“Because it wasn’t my place to say anything,” Lena snaps, her voice sharp, but there’s something softer underneath. I can see the hesitation in her eyes, but she hides it quickly, her defenses back up in full force.

“Really?” I bite back, stepping closer, my chest tight with frustration. “You think it wasn’t your place to tell us your newlittle friend is filling Cruz’s spot? Your boyfriend’s spot? When you damn well know how tight we all are as Demons?”

She flinches at my words, but she doesn’t break. She stands her ground, her jaw tight, but I see the guilt flash across her face. She doesn’t want to be doing this. I can tell. But she’s hiding behind that damn bike like it’s the only thing left to hold onto.

“Cruz is gone, Reign,” she says, quieter now, almost defeated. “I don’t know what you want me to say. I’m not... I’m not trying to replace him. I just…” Her voice cracks, and she looks away for a second, like she’s trying to find the right words, but they’re not coming.

“That’s because you can’t fucking replace him,” I growl, the anger rising in my chest again. “But sure, you carry on cutting us all out of your life and signing yourself up for races you have no fucking business racing, pretending like everything’s fine and dandy while you’re letting this fucking guy fill his spot.”

Before she can respond, Revel steps forward, positioning himself between us, like he’s ready to throw down. His face is a little too serious for my liking, and I see the way his eyes lock onto me. He’s not just trying to protect her—he’s trying to stake his fucking claim.

“Back off, bro,” Revel says, his voice low, but there’s a noticeable edge in it. “Lena doesn’t owe you anything. She’s not doing this for you. She’s doing what she has to do.”

I sneer at him, my hands balling into fists. “And what’s that supposed to mean? You think I’m gonna stand here while you play fucking hero? You don’t get to step in like you know what’s best for her. Not after everything we’ve been through.”

Revel’s eyes narrow, but his stance doesn’t shift. “She’s not your responsibility, man. She can make her own choices.”

I shove my hands in my pockets, taking a breath to try and cool the fire burning inside me. This wasn’t about him. It was about her. But the way he’s standing there, all righteous andprotective, like he’s the one who gets to decide what’s best for Lena, it makes my skin crawl.

“I’m not trying to control her,” I snap. “I’m trying to keep her safe. You’re the last fucking person to tell me how to look out for her. And don’t even try to play the ‘I understand her’ card. I’ve been by her side long before you showed up.”

Lena looks between us, frustration pulling at her features, but there’s something else there too—a vulnerability, a weariness that cuts deeper than any of the shit we’re throwing at each other.

“Enough, both of you,” she says, stepping forward. “I don’t need this right now. You both need to just... stop.”

Her words hang in the air, heavy and final, but there’s something in her eyes. She’s caught between us, and it’s clear—she doesn’t want either of us fighting over her. But she’s also not letting go of the one thing she’s holding on to right now.

I step back, swallowing the lump in my throat. The tension still thick between us, like we’re all just waiting for the next damn thing to break.

I look at Revel one last time, feeling that familiar disgust rise in my throat. “Good luck, man. You’ve got a lot to live up to.”

Revel doesn’t respond. He just stands there, his eyes locked on Lena, his jaw set. Protective. Possessive. It makes my stomach twist, but I don’t have time to deal with it. Not now.

I turn and start walking back toward my car, the weight of what just went down pressing heavy on my chest. I slide into the driver’s seat, the engine roaring to life beneath me, but I can’t shake the feeling that something’s broken—between me, Lena, and the whole damn team.

I glance over my shoulder one last time, catching Lena’s figure against the backdrop of Cruz’s bike. Her face is twisted with emotions I can’t read, but I know one thing for sure: she’s lost, just like the rest of us.

And as I drive away, I can’t help but feel like maybe I’m too late to fix any of this.

9

LENA

Deep Dive - Zaryah

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