Page 84 of Switch

Hate that I’ve let things get this far. Hate that she’s slipping away, and I don’t know if I can fix it. But I sure as hell ain’t walking away without trying.

I climb off my bike, shove my helmet onto the handlebar, and make my way up to her door. My boots are loud against the steps, but she doesn’t open up right away. I know she’s home—her car’s parked out front, and the light’s on inside.

She’s making me wait. Fair enough.

When the door finally swings open, she’s standing there, arms crossed, looking at me like she’s already braced for whatever bullshit she thinks I’m about to pull.

She’s got on leggings and an oversized sweatshirt, her hair up in a messy bun, and fuck if she doesn’t look good enough to grab and hold onto. But the look in her eyes? That distance? It guts me.

“Hey, baby,” I say, my voice rough.

She doesn’t move. Doesn’t smile. Just lifts a brow.

I clear my throat. “Come for a ride with me.”

Her brows pull together. “Why?”

“I wanna talk,” I say. “And I wanna show you something.”

She shifts on her feet. “Jax—”

I take a step forward, keeping my voice steady. “I ain’t here to fight. Just need you to hear me out.”

She hesitates. I can see the war going on in her head. She doesn’t trust this, doesn’t trustmeright now. But after a long beat, she sighs.

“Fine,” she turns and pulls on a pair of boots. I nod, stepping aside to let her lock up before leading her to my bike.

She pauses when she sees it, hesitation flickering across her face, and for a second, I wonder if she’s going to change her mind. But then she takes the helmet from my hands and pulls it on, adjusting the strap before climbing on behind me.

She’s stiff at first, her hands hovering at my sides like she doesn’t know what to do with them.

I grip her wrist, my voice low. “Hold on, baby.”

She shifts forward, slowly, like she’s testing the waters. I wait. And then—finally—she presses in close, her arms wrapping around my waist. That’s all it takes.

I fire up the engine and take off, the familiar rumble of my bike filling the silence between us. She holds on a little tighter as we weave through town, and by the time I pull into the parking lot, she’s gripping me the way she used to. Like she belongs there.

I cut the engine and swing my leg over, helping her off. She pulls off her helmet and looks around, frowning.

Her gaze lands on the building in front of us. “What is this?”

I unlock the door and push it open, motioning for her to go inside. She hesitates for a second, then steps in, her fingers trailing along the edge of a desk as she looks around.

I shut the door behind us. “This is what I’ve been working on.”

She turns to face me. “What do you mean?”

I exhale, rubbing a hand over my jaw. “The club’s changing, Bella. We’re going legit. No more backdoor deals, no more high-risk shit. Perdition, the shop, the gym—that was just the start. This?” I gesture around us. “This is the next move.”

Her brows lift slightly. “Security?”

I nod. “Bodyguards, private security, protection work. We’re setting up contracts with businesses and high-profile clients. Real money. Real future.”

She crosses her arms, watching me closely. “And the club?”

I drag in a breath, jaw tight. “Not everyone’s on board.”

She waits, not letting me off easy.

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