Iron Serpent's yard goes quiet when I roll in.
Not fear — respect. The kind earned by time, blood, and not starting wars you can't finish. They know who I am. They just don't know why my presence makes the air feel heavier.
That's fine.
The bike is exactly where I was told it would be.
Near the fence. Half-covered with a tarp like it's just another score waiting to be stripped. Black Ironhead. Custom tank. Raven painted across the side — wings spread, eyes sharp.
Kai's bike.
The ink under my skin tightens the moment I see it.
No flare. No spectacle.
Recognition.
I keep my face neutral as I step closer. To them, I'm just inspecting stolen property. To me, I'm standing in front of a pressure point.
Rafe, Iron Serpent's president, watches me from a few feet back. He doesn't crowd. S
