Ride With Me (Paige and Jace) novel Chapter 70

CHAPTER 42-2

think everybody’s wondering the same thing.” I said as I looked around the garage and every face had turned toward me.

Even Hunter had stopped sweeping and Jace stepped forward.

“There isn’t any pressure.” Jace said and I smiled faintly.

“I know.” I said.

“But… Who taught you to fight like that?” He said hesitating for only a moment.

The workshop became completely silent. I looked toward the old office where Uncle Will used to spend every evening balancing invoices by hand.

For years I had kept those memories to myself. Not because I was ashamed. Because they belonged to him. Tonight felt different.

“I wasn’t hiding it because I didn’t trust you. It just never seemed important. My uncle believed something very strongly. He believed nobody should depend entirely on someone else to keep them alive.” I said and nobody interrupted and I walked slowly toward Uncle Will’s old toolbox and I rested one hand on the worn timber handle and several club members exchanged quiet glances.

“He used to tell me that bad people don’t make appointments.” I added as a few small smiles appeared.

“That sounds like him.” Hunter muttered and I laughed softly.

“It really does.” I said.

The memories came back with surprising clarity. Early mornings before the garage opened. Uncle Will setting old tin cans along a fence on a friend’s rural property. Patiently correcting my grip instead of raising his voice. Teaching me that accuracy mattered more than speed. Teaching me that every firearm deserved respect. Not fear. Respect.

“He never wanted me looking for trouble. He wanted me capable of surviving it.” I added looking toward Jace as another memory surfaced. A wrestling mat spread across the garage floor after closing time.

Uncle Will demonstrating how to break someone’s balance instead of trying to overpower them. Again. And again. And again. Every lesson ended exactly the same way.

“Think before you move.” Uncle Will would say.

He repeated those words so often that I still heard them whenever things became dangerous.

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“He taught me how to escape holds. How to create space. How to use leverage instead of strength.” I said and Derek slowly shook his head.

“That explains the chokehold.” Derek said and I nodded.

“He hated fighting. He always said the best fight was the one you never had.” I said and the statement surprised several people making Cole smiled.

“Smart man.” Cole said.

“He was. He also insisted that if I ever had no choice…then I finished it quickly.” I said looking around the workshop.

Silence settled comfortably around us. Nobody looked offended. Nobody looked suspicious. Instead, something I hadn’t expected appeared on their faces. Respect and Hunter broke the

silence first.

“I already liked your uncle. I like him even more now.” Hunter said as he looked around the

workshop.

Several heads nodded and Ben smiled.

“He taught you well.” Ben said.

“He taught me everything.” I said and Jace stepped beside me.

“I wish I’d met him.” Jace said.

“You would’ve liked each other.” I said.

“I think you’re right.” He said.

For a long moment nobody spoke. The garage suddenly felt full of Uncle Will again. Not because anyone could see him. Because his lessons had quietly shaped the woman standing in front of them.

Derek wandered toward the rear storage room while everyone continued talking.

“I’ll check whether anything else was damaged.” Derek said.

“Help yourself.” I called and a minute later his voice echoed from the back of the building.

“Jace…” Derek called out. There was something unusual in his tone. Jace and I walked toward the storage room together.

Derek stood beside an old shelving unit that had shifted slightly during the struggle. Behind it, a narrow section of wall had been exposed.

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A heavy timber door sat almost perfectly concealed behind the shelves and Jace frowned.

“I’ve never seen that before.” Jace said.

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