Page 17 of Piston

I nodded, squeezing his hand. "I do. We've all got our demons, our mistakes. What matters is what we do with them, how we learn and grow."

Piston smiled then, a real smile that lit up his whole face. "Damn, girl. You're something else, you know that?"

I laughed, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. "So I've been told."

As the night drew to a close, I found myself reluctant to leave, to let go of the connection we'd forged. Piston walked me to my car, his hand resting lightly on the small of my back.

"Thank you for tonight," I said, turning to face him. "For trusting me with your story."

Piston shrugged, a hint of shyness in his eyes. "Ain't nothin'. Just felt right, telling you."

I smiled, reaching up to touch his cheek. "Well, I'm glad you did."

And then, before I could second-guess myself, I leaned in and kissed him, softly, sweetly. Piston stiffened for a moment, then relaxed into the kiss, his arms coming up to wrap around me.

When we finally pulled apart, I was breathless, my heart racing. Piston rested his forehead against mine, his eyes closed.

"Jenny," he whispered, his voice rough with emotion. "I..."

But I silenced him with another kiss, not wanting to break the spell. "Shh. No need for words. Let's just enjoy this moment."

And so we did, standing there in the parking lot, wrapped in each other's arms, the rest of the world fading away until it was just the two of us, lost in a moment that felt like the beginning of something new, something real.

As I drove home, my mind buzzed with the events of the evening. The way Piston had opened up, the vulnerability in his eyes, the tenderness of our kiss—it all swirled together, leaving me both exhilarated and terrified.

What was I getting myself into? Piston was a member of the Iron Reapers MC, a world I was only starting to learn about. And yet, there was something about him, something that drew me in like a moth to a flame.

I couldn't deny the chemistry between us, the way my body responded to his touch. But was that enough? Could I really see myself with someone like him, someone with such a different life?

And then there were the secrets he still kept, the parts of his past he wasn't ready to share. Could I trust him, really trust him, if he couldn't be fully honest with me?

These questions plagued me as I pulled into my driveway, my heart still racing. I sat in the car for a moment, trying to calm my nerves, to make sense of the whirlwind of emotions.

But even as the doubts crept in, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was the start of something special. The way Piston made me feel, the way he looked at me like I was the only woman in the world—it was intoxicating.

I knew I was taking a risk, opening myself up to someone so different from anyone I'd ever been with before. But somehow, it felt right. Like all the paths of my life had been leading me to this moment, to him.

With a deep breath, I got out of the car and headed inside, a small smile playing on my lips. I didn't know what the future held, but for the first time in a long time, I was excited to find out.

SIX

PISTON

I steppedinto Mason's office, a familiar weight settling in my gut. Dagger was already there, sprawled in a chair. I gave him a nod and took a seat across from Mason. Whatever was coming, I was ready for it.

Mason leaned forward, elbows on his desk. "We got a situation with the Russians. And it looks like someone in the club is a fuckin' rat." His voice was hard as steel. "This mission is critical. We screw it up, the whole MC pays the price."

Dagger and I exchanged a glance. Shit was serious. My mind started racing, running through suspects and scenarios.

"You got any leads on who the traitor might be?" I asked.

Mason shook his head. "Not yet. But we gotta move fast. Can't risk them getting wind of our plans."

I nodded, already shifting into mission mode. "What's the target?"

Mason slid a photo across the desk. "Dmitry Sokolov. Russian arms dealer. He's the key to unraveling this whole mess." He fixed me with a hard stare. "You're the best we got for this, Piston. But it ain't gonna be a cakewalk. Could be weeks off the grid."

A muscle ticked in my jaw. Weeks away from the club, from Jenny... But there was no choice. Brothers always come first. "I'm in. Just give me the details."

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