Page 128 of Ace of Spades

Julian's cheeks flush. He shoves his hands deep into his pockets, suddenly sheepish.

"Yeah," he says. "Uh… my boyfriend drove with me."

I blink.

"Boyfriend?"

He nods, glancing away.

"I was gonna tell you. I just… Si, didn’t know how. After everything with our families. I didn’t know how you’d feel about it."

I grab his hands, forcing him to look at me.

"Julian. I don’t care who you love. As long as they treat you right, I’m happy for you. So, so happy for you."

His eyes go glassy. And he pulls me into another hug, tight and fierce.

"You’re my family," I whisper into his shoulder. "Always."

He pulls back, grinning. "Same, Si. Always."

I laugh through the sting of tears.

But somewhere deep inside, the ache lingers.

Because even as Julian finds new beginnings... I'm standing here in the ruins of my own.

I’m Captain Riley of SKC now.

But I’m also Sienna Riley.

The girl who let herself fall in love with a man who was already halfway gone.

And the worst part?

I’d do it all over again if it meant even one more night of being his.

Chapter35

Levi

We’re running on fumes.

Every muscle in my body aches. Every breath tastes like metal and paint and desperation.

But we’re here.

And somehow,somehow, when the final buzzer sounds, SKC’s bike gleams under the spotlights like something out of a dream.

It's unreal.

But we did it.

We fucking did it.

Kick drops her tools and leans against the table, sweat dripping off her jawline. Ghost sets down the leather seat he finished hours ago. Gramps pops the rag off his shoulder and gives the gas tank one last swipe like he’s polishing a trophy.

And Joey’s standing there staring at the bike like he can't believe it’s real. Like maybe if he blinks, it’ll all disappear.

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