Page 67 of Endo

Sayshen spots me and shouts, “Reign, let’s go! We’ve gotta move!”

“You go!” I snap, my voice sharp as a blade. “Get everyone out of here!”

Thorne hesitates for a split second, his gaze darting between Lena and me before he nods sharply. “Right then, mate. Don’t go getting bloody nicked!” Before he takes off, he tosses me hishelmet, the heavy weight landing solidly in my hands. “You’ll need this more than me.”

He revs his bike, the roar cutting through the chaos, and peels out, the rest of the team following close behind.

I don’t have time to watch them go. My eyes are locked on Lena, who’s still frozen at the starting line, her wide eyes staring straight ahead like she’s in a trance. The sirens are closing in, the red and blue lights slashing through the darkness.

“Lena!” I shout, my voice raw, but she doesn’t move.

I don’t think—I just act.

I reach her and, without wasting a second, pull Thorne’s helmet over my head. The fit’s snug, the visor dulling the chaos just enough to help me focus. Then I swing a leg over her bike, settling in front of her with my hands gripping the handlebars.

“Lena!” I bark over my shoulder, my voice muffled but urgent. “We have to get the fuck out of here. Now.”

Her head snaps toward me, her eyes meeting mine, but she’s still stuck, frozen in that moment. “Reign, I?—”

“No time,” I cut her off, grabbing the handlebars. “Hold on.”

She finally snaps out of it, her arms wrapping tightly around my waist as I twist the throttle. The bike roars to life, and we take off, the back wheel skidding slightly before catching traction.

The rush of the bike beneath me is a shock to the system, a mix of exhilaration and terror. It’s been months since I’ve ridden, and the memories of my crash come flooding back with every turn, every twist of the throttle. The screech of tires, the weightlessness before the impact—it’s all there, haunting me. But I shove it down because this isn’t about me. It’s about her.

Lena’s grip tightens around my waist, her body pressed close to mine. I can feel her trembling, her breath warm against my back even through the chaos of the ride. Her presence grounds me, keeps me focused as I navigate the streets, dodging the mess left behind by the scattering crowd.

We weave through the city, the sirens fading into the distance, the adrenaline still pumping through my veins. My mind is a storm of emotions—panic, anger, and that old, familiar fear—but her arms around me cut through the noise. They’re like an anchor, steadying me in the middle of the chaos.

I take a hard turn onto a quieter street, the city lights blurring around us as I push the bike harder. It’s reckless, but I don’t care. All that matters is putting distance between us and the cops, getting her somewhere safe.

24

LENA

Saved My Life - Sia

The way he rode tonight—itwasn’t just about getting us away from the cops. It wasn’t about the thrill or the danger or the speed. He rode for me. He faced every demon clawing at him, every fear holding him back, and he did it because I froze. Because I needed him. And that realization is a weight on my chest I don’t know how to carry.

When we pull into the parking garage, the silence hits like a slap. The engine cuts off, and the fluorescent lights hum faintly above us, casting a cold glow over the concrete.

Reign doesn’t move right away. He stays on the bike, his helmet still on, his hands gripping the handlebars like they’re the only thing keeping him grounded.

I swing my leg over and step off, my boots clicking against the concrete. My body feels as tight as a coiled spring, my chest heavy with everything unsaid.

“Are you going to keep avoiding me, or are we going to talk?” His voice breaks through the quiet, muffled but unmistakably sharp.

I stiffen, my fingers twitching at my sides. “I’m not avoiding you,” I lie, my tone defensive even to my own ears.

He finally turns, swinging his leg over the bike to face me. Even as he flips up the visor, his eyes burning into mine, I can feel the weight of his stare. “Bullshit, Lena,” he snaps, his voice sharp and cutting through the air like a whip. “You haven’t answered my calls, ignored every single text, and now you’re pretending like nothing happened? Likewedidn’t happen?”

I cross my arms over my chest, my nails digging into my leather suit. “I didn’t ask for this, Reign. I didn’t ask for you to—” My voice falters, and I look away, unable to finish the thought.

“To what?” he presses, stepping closer. “To care about you? To want you? Newsflash, Lena—I’m not the only one who crossed a line.”

My head snaps back to him, anger bubbling up and mixing with guilt. “Don’t you think I know that?” I hiss, my voice rising. “Don’t you think I’ve felt it every second of every goddamn day since? This... whatever this is—it’s wrong.”

He takes another step, his body towering over mine, the tension crackling between us like a live wire. “Wrong?” His voice drops, low and dangerous. “Is that what you tell yourself when you’re lying awake at night? When you can’t stop thinking about how it felt?”

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