The garage was quiet for once. The sound of tools clanging, engines rumbling, and voices barking orders had faded with the night.
Riley sat on the hood of an old Mustang pushed against the far wall, her hands smudged with grease, staring up at the rafters.
Sam had gone home hours ago. Most of the Vipers were out on a ride, and the emptiness of the place wrapped around her like a blanket she didn't ask for.
She leaned back, closing her eyes, letting the silence sink in.
Her thoughts drifted, and with them came a vision she never spoke aloud.
"You're thinking again," a voice teased in her head. It wasn't real, but it was Ethan's voice, warm and cutting through her restless mind.
She whispered quietly, "Yeah, I'm thinking again.
The dream unfolded. She pictured herself on a long highway, no Vipers patch on her jacket, no chain of loyalty dragging behind her.
Just the open road, the wind in her hair, and the sound of freedom in her ears.
She imagined crossing state lines, seeing cities she'd only heard about, maybe even standing in an arena somewhere, watching Ethan play under blinding lights instead of cracked ones.
In the dream, she wasn't the girl tied to a club. She was just Riley.
Her eyes flickered open, and she muttered to herself, "Crazy talk.
But the dream didn't let go.
The sound of boots scuffing against the concrete pulled her back.
Caleb stepped into the garage, helmet under his arm.
He looked at her sitting there and raised a brow.
"Why are you talking to yourself?
She sat up straighter.
"Wasn't talking. Just… thinking.
He set the helmet down on a workbench.
"About what?
She avoided his eyes.
"Nothing that matters.
Caleb smirked.
"If it didn't matter, you wouldn't look guilty.
She groaned, hopping down from the hood.
"Do you always have to pick at me?
"Only when you're hiding something," he said casually.
"Let me guess. You've been seeing him again.
Her heart skipped. "Who?
"You know who," Caleb replied.
"Ethan Cole, Silver Ridge's golden boy.
She crossed her arms, "We talked. That's it.
"That's already too much," Caleb warned.
"The club doesn't like it, I don't like it.
Riley bristled.
"Since when do you get to decide who I talk to?
"Since you're family," he shot back. "Family protects family. Ethan is in trouble. He's always been in trouble.
Her voice hardened.
"No. He's not.
Caleb studied her closely, "You've got that look in your eye again.
The one you had when you were kids,Don't fool yourself, Riley.
He'll leave.
He'll get drafted, he'll take off, and you'll be standing right here in the garage like nothing happened.
She bit her lip, fighting the sting of truth in his words.
"And what if I don't want to be standing here?
Caleb's expression shifted, caught off guard.
"What do you mean?
Her voice cracked but stayed firm.
"What if I don't want this life? The oil, the noise, the fights, the endless nights wondering if someone's going to end up in a ditch.
What if I want something else?
Caleb's face hardened.
"This life is who we are. You don't walk away from it.
Her chest ached, "Maybe you don't. But I dream about it, Caleb.
About being more than just the girl tied to the Vipers.
About seeing the world. About being free.
He shook his head, jaw tight.
"Freedom doesn't exist for people like us.
"Maybe not for you," she whispered, "but maybe for me.
The silence stretched heavy between them.
Caleb finally grabbed his helmet, voice clipped.
"Dream all you want. But don't mistake dreams for reality.
This club is your reality.
He left without waiting for her reply, the sound of the door slamming echoing through the garage.
Riley stood there, fists clenched at her sides, tears threatening but refusing to fall.
She turned back to the Mustang, pressing her palm against its cold hood.
In the silence, she whispered, "I don't care what he says.
I'll find a way out someday.
Her voice trembled, but the dream burned brighter in her chest.
That night, when she finally lay down on her cot in the corner office, sleep pulled her back into visions of wide highways and bright arenas, of laughter that wasn't choked by loyalty, and of Ethan's hand reaching for hers without fear of who might be watching.
For the first time in a long time, Riley let herself hope.