Ride With Me (Paige and Jace) novel Chapter 65

CHAPTER 39-1

The workshop felt strangely normal the morning after the power outage. The lights worked. The lifts hummed and the smell of fresh coffee drifted from the office while Ben argued with a

stubborn oil filter that refused to cooperate.

Anyone walking through the front door would have assumed Lawson Customs had returned to

business as usual but I knew better.

Every time I looked toward the road, I caught one of the Iron Vipers somewhere nearby. Sometimes it was Derek leaning against his motorcycle across the street with a cup of coffee in his hand and sometimes it was Cole filling his truck at the gas station that somehow took far longer than it should have.

Other times it was Hunter wandering into the bakery for the third time before lunch.

None of them announced they were keeping an eye on me and none of them acted differently. If I hadn’t spent enough time around them to recognize the pattern, I probably never would have

noticed.

The club was watching and the realization should have made me nervous. Instead, it made me feel guilty. I hated the thought of people rearranging their lives because someone else had decided to

cause trouble.

By midmorning Jace pulled into the parking lot. He parked beside the workshop and walked inside with the same calm expression he always wore, although I could see the tiredness in his eyes. He hadn’t slept much and neither had I.

I finished tightening the last bolt on a customer’s motorcycle before climbing down from the lift.

“You look exhausted.” I said and he smiled faintly.

“I was about to say the same thing.” He said.

“I’ve had coffee.” I said.

“So have I.” He said.

“How much?” I asked.

“I stopped counting.” He said.

“I think that’s probably wise.” I said and his smile lingered for a moment before it faded.

“We need to talk.” He said.

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CHAPTER 39-1

The change in his tone told me this wasn’t another casual conversation.

+25 Pamta

wiped my hands on a clean shop towel and followed him into the small office where Mia was quietly filing invoices.

She looked up, read the room almost instantly, and stood.

“I’ll check on the front counter.” Mia said.

“Thanks, Mia.” I said and the door closed behind her so I folded my arms.

“That serious?” I added and Jace nodded once.

“Derek confirmed the power wasn’t an accident.” He said.

“I heard.” I said.

“We also confirmed the motorcycles behind the garage belonged to the Black Reapers.” He said and I wasn’t surprised. Somehow that made hearing it worse.

“So they’re escalating.” I said.

“They are. I need you to be more careful.” He said as he rested one hand on the edge of the desk.

“I already am.” I said.

“I mean really careful.” He said and I looked at him for a long moment.

“I can’t close the garage every time they decide to make a point.” I said.

“I’m not asking you to.” He said.

“It sounds like you are.” I said.

“I’m asking you to pay attention.” He said.

“I always pay attention.” I said.

“If something feels wrong, call me.” He said.

“I will.” I said.

“If you’re working late, don’t leave without telling someone.” He said and I sighed quietly.

“Jace.” I said.

“I’m serious.” He said.

“So am I.” I said so I stepped closer.

“I appreciate everything the club is doing, but Lawson Customs doesn’t stop because another club

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CHAPTER 39-1

wants to play games.” I said.

“Lknow.” He said.

“I worked too hard to build this place.” I said.

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