The garage smelled of oil and iron, the constant hum of engines echoing off the concrete walls. Riley wiped her hands on a rag, pretending to stay busy as the sharp sound of Marcus’s boots crossed the floor. She knew that walk. Heavy. Certain. Dangerous.
“Riley,” his voice cut through the air like a blade.
She looked up slowly, heart thudding. “Yeah?”
Marcus stood tall, arms crossed, eyes dark and unreadable. Behind him, Caleb lingered in silence, his presence as heavy as his father’s shadow.
“You think I don’t notice,” Marcus said, voice low, “but I do. You’ve been distracted. Eyes somewhere else. Heart somewhere else.
Riley forced her shoulders straight. “I’ve been working. Same as always.”
Marcus’s laugh was short and bitter. “Don’t insult me. You’ve been sneaking out. Whispering
