Xenas'' POV


    William nced at Logan, his brow furrowing slightly. "I''ll talk to Ryder, then let


    you know the results. The Rogues have been restlesstely, especially after what happened


    "We don''t need to dance... just sit down and have a few drinks. Rx, escape this ce for a while..." Ama waved her hand toward the door Martha had just exited through.


    This feeling of being trapped suffocates me. Even if we didn''t go, I was nning to go for a run at midnight. It didn''t really matter to me whether we went or not.


    I craved freedom, longed to run, to feel the wind through my hair and the moonlight on my skin. It was the instinct flowing through my blood, an impulse I couldn''t resist.


    "I''ll talk to Ryder," William repeated.


    "Do you need a ride?" Logan asked.


    "I want to ride my bike," I answered directly. Logan frowned but said nothing.


    "Thank you," I stepped forward and gave him a hug.


    "Anytime for you," he said softly.


    "Thanks, bro,” I appreciated that Logan always tried his best to give me maximum freedom.


    "Wear your helmet. I''lle see you," William told Ama, then kissed her goodbye. As he was about to leave, Ama grabbed his head and kissed him again. Logan and Leonard started hooting. The atmosphere immediately lightened.


    Half a minuteter, Ama released William, gave him a wink, and ran to catch up with me. "You know I love you!" She linked her arm with mine as we walked toward the garage


    together.


    Ama took our helmets from the special cab for motorcycle helmets. "Here you go." She helped me put on my helmet before I got on the bike. After she put on hers too, we


    started the engines and sped away.


    At first, my ribs protested with pain, but at that moment, I weed the difort. The feeling of the wind through the ends of my hair was so wonderful that I almost missed a


    turn.


    Twenty minutester, I could already see the sign for my shop. “Are you feeling okay?" Ama asked as we pulled into the parking space.


    "I could go for a five-hour ride," my tone was sarcastic, but it wasn''t a joke. "That would be fun!"


    Unlocking the door, we walked in. I loved the smell of this ce. It was the scent of freedom, independence, and happiness.


    "I''ll get you the wrench and screwdriver," Ama called out.


    "Thanks!" I grabbed the other things and put them in the tool cart. I usually prepared everything thirty minutes before a customer arrived.


    "Why can''t peoplee earlier?" Ama asked.


    "It''s fine. I have some things to do. Actually, I have a list you can help meplete while. I work."


    "Oh?" Ama wasn''t my assistant, but asionally I''d force her into that role.


    "Yes. Simple things. Just call these people to confirm everything''s going ording


    to n. Email these people with the correct information, and bnce the prom ounts. These are the final receipts."


    "Girl..." Ama widened her eyes in disbelief.


    “Please?” I batted my eyshes at her. "I''ll let you..."


    "Oh, give me an IOU. I want to save it for when I need it." She said with a mischievous


    grin.


    "Fine. I''m going to regret this."


    My first customer-Otis-arrived, so I started working while Ama handled those emails.


    Since I could still feel the pain from my injuries, today''s work was all effortless- spray painting. I was excited to finish it. He wanted one of my drawings as a decal. It was a sword with a reflection of wolf eyes in it, with blood dripping from the de. The shading was very intricate work, but the effect looked stunning.


    Each of my pieces is abor of love that I immerse myself in. Those dripping drops of blood, that sharp de, those wolf eyes lurking in the shadows... they''re all projections of my inner world.


    An hourter, afterpleting the final process-spraying the clear coat-"There, I''ll get the camera. You can go take a look." I smiled, very satisfied with the result.


    "Wow, this is fucking awesome!" Otis leaned in to look, eximing with delight. This


    made Ama, who was sitting at the counter, look over and smile.


    Ryder and William walked in.


    "How''s it going, beautiful?" William leaned on the counter and said to Ama. She blushed immediately, which made me roll my eyes. The hormone game between them is always so


    obvious, sometimes it''s really unbearable.


    I picked up the camera to take photos.


    "Looks good," Ryder walked over to look at my work.


    "Thanks. Xena is an amazing artist," Otis chimed in excitedly.


    "Thanks, Otis. You know what to do. We''re done." Looking at the photos I''d taken,


    I was satisfied. "Come pick up your motorcycle tomorrow night at this time," I walked to the counter to put down the camera and wrote the appointment in my book.


    "Thanks, Xena! See you!" Otis walked out of my shop.


    "To what do I owe the honor of your visit?" I looked up at Ryder and sighed.