My phone wouldn’t stop vibrating.
I was halfway through rebuilding a seized transmission in the garage when it buzzed again — Marco’s name flashing like a bad omen. I ignored it for the fifth time, but the screen lit up with a new text: You think hiding behind that giant freak makes you safe? Pay what you owe or I’m coming to collect myself. Reapers are real interested in your little talent.
Colossus was across the bay, torque wrench in his massive hand, helping me on a rush club bike. He caught the way my shoulders tensed.
“Family?” he asked, voice low.
“Marco.” I wiped grease on my new vest — the plain black one Viper had given me yesterday. It still felt strange, like borrowed armor I hadn’t fully earned yet. “He’s threatening to show up. Says the Reapers are backing him now.”
Colo
