Chapter 2: Ghosts of the Past
Jax sat on the curb outside the diner, staring blankly at the asphalt while the morning sun slowly warmed the cool mountain air. Beside him sat Leo, quietly swinging his legs and chewing on a warm pancake Clara had wrapped for him.
For nearly a decade, Jax had worn his leather vest like armor. He had convinced himself that he was meant to walk the earth alone, a solitary rider with no past worth remembering and no future worth planning. He believed Sarah had chosen a quiet, safe life over his chaotic world. Knowing now that it was all built on a cruel lie crushed his soul, but looking at Leo sparked something long dead inside him.
""You look like a giant,"" Leo said suddenly, pointing his plastic fork at Jax’s tall, tattooed frame. ""My mom told me you were bigger than life.""
Jax let out a dry, breathy laugh—the first real chuckle he had uttered in years. ""Your mom always had a way of exaggerating things, kid.""
""She said you ride a big noise machine,"" Leo added, his eyes brightening slightly.
""It’s called a Harley,"" Jax corrected gently. He looked down at the boy's messy brown hair and pale face. Leo looked exhausted, carrying the weight of grief far too heavy for an eight-year-old. Jax reached out, awkwardly placing a heavy hand on Leo’s shoulder. ""Look at me, Leo.""
The boy looked up, his hazel eyes wide and trusting.
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""I didn't know about you,"" Jax said, his voice raw with honesty. ""If I had known, nothing on this earth would have kept me away. I can't undo the past, but I am here now. Do you understand me? I am right here.""
Leo nodded slowly, taking a small bite of his pancake. A faint, genuine smile crossed the boy's face, lighting up the dim morning.
