Chapter 5: A Stopping Point
Their first destination was a small town thirty miles north, nestled at the base of the pine ridge. Jax had an old friend named Marcus who owned a auto-repair shop with a small apartment overhead.
The ride was slow and careful. Jax kept his speed low, constantly checking his mirrors to make sure Leo was holding tight to his waist. For the first time in fifteen years, the roar of the engine didn't feel like an escape—it felt like a responsibility.
When they pulled into the gravel driveway of the repair shop, Marcus stepped out of the garage bay, wiping grease from his hands with a red rag. He stared at Jax, then at the small boy climbing down from the back seat.
"Jax," Marcus said, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Whose kid is this?"
May you like
"Mine," Jax said simply, stepping off the bike.
Marcus went quiet. He looked at the boy, then back at Jax's eyes, reading the gravity of the situation instantly. "Well," Marcus said softly, tossing the rag aside. "Looks like you two need a key to the upstairs room."
