In The Dark

Chapter One: The Crash and the Stranger

Some lies are worn like suits—tailored, polished, and just tight enough to keep you from breathing.

Jaxon Reid adjusted the collar of his suit and tried not to feel like an imposter. The engagement party buzzed with wealthy guests and hollow laughter, everything reeking of money and fake affection. Jaxon had no love for these people, but he had a purpose tonight—secure the deal, get out clean.

He moved like someone who belonged, but every step felt like walking a tightrope in the wrong shoes. Behind his charming grin and cool exterior, tension coiled beneath his skin. He didn’t come from this world—he clawed his way in. And no matter how expensive the suit or how flawless the smile, he couldn’t silence the voice in his head that whispered: You don’t belong here.

As if summoned by that thought, a man stepped in front of him.

Tall. Lean. Confident. Dressed in black like he owned the shadows.

"You don’t belong here," the man said, swirling a whiskey in his hand.

Jaxon raised a brow. "That obvious?"

"Only to someone who’s also faking it."

There was something about him—sharp eyes, quiet danger, lips curved in a lazy smirk. Jaxon didn’t like the way he noticed the curve of that mouth. Or the way it stirred something low in his stomach.

You’re straight, he reminded himself. You don’t look at men.

He brushed past the stranger. "I’m not here to make friends."

"Good," the man called after him. "You don’t look like the friendly type."

Jaxon grabbed a drink and tried to shake the interaction. But something lingered. Something electric. He didn’t want to admit how much attention he’d paid to the man’s eyes. Or how his voice still echoed in his ears.

He spotted his target across the room—a smug real estate investor with too much money and not enough brains. Jaxon switched on his charm, delivered the pitch, and closed the deal in less than ten minutes.

By the time he slipped out of the building, the air outside felt like freedom.

Until he saw the empty parking spot.

"Perfect," he muttered. His car was gone. Probably towed.

Before he could call for a ride, a motorcycle roared up behind him.

He turned—and there he was again.

The man from the party. Helmet in one hand, smirk still in place.

"You always this unlucky, or just tonight?"

Jaxon frowned. "What do you want?"

"To offer you a ride. Or maybe just see if you’d run again."

"I’m not running."

The man held out the helmet. "Could’ve fooled me."

Jaxon hesitated. Every instinct screamed no. But curiosity—dangerous, twisted curiosity—overruled him. He took the helmet.

"What’s your name?" he asked as he climbed on.

"Eli."

"Jaxon," he replied automatically. Then regretted it.

They sped off into the night, wind whipping past. Jaxon gripped Eli’s waist, heart pounding harder than it should’ve. There was something dangerous about him. Familiar, even. Like he’d stepped out of a memory Jaxon didn’t want to remember.

This was a bad idea. A dumb idea. And he couldn’t help thinking about the stranger’s back pressed against his chest.

You’re not like this. You’re straight.

But it didn’t feel like a lie anymore.

They reached a gas station outside the city. Eli pulled over and climbed off.

"You always let strange men take you for midnight rides?" Eli asked, handing him a bottle of water.

Jaxon took it, trying to ignore how his hand brushed Eli’s. "Just ones with expensive bikes and worse ideas."

"You remember me yet?"

Jaxon blinked. "Should I?"

Eli leaned against the bike. "Camille’s little brother."

The words landed like a gut punch.

Jaxon’s breath caught. Camille. The accident. The night that changed everything.

His hands tightened around the bottle. "You were just a kid."

"And you were the one who drove her to that race. You were the last one to see her alive."

Jaxon looked away. Guilt flared behind his ribs.

"You want something from me?"

"The truth. You owe it."

Eli tossed him a flash drive. "You’ll want to see what’s on there."

Before Jaxon could speak, Eli was already walking away.

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Cliffhanger Ending:

As the wind roared in his ears, Eli leaned back just enough for Jaxon to hear him say: "This isn’t the first time I’ve seen you, Jaxon Reid."