which broke the storm and cast Wes

a worried face looking at the spoiled Engine of her very

, she inserted the key and turn

k. C

not ha

rustrated, and then rested her

es at the corner and a delivery truck at the back entrance.Time was not on her side, a

up completely. It was probably offended by the

er short contact list. Miss Marla didn't drive. Her friend Jess was on a double shift. And she really

dow passed

ha

oat that screamed luxury, his eyes scanned the lot as he walked li

asked, his tone

"What gave it away? Th

look of existential desp

r's side door. "It's dead. Again. And I can't

of the car and peered under the hood without asking.

that out, D

am at the corne

mind fo

ghtened. "

lling out his keys. "It works. You need a ri

offering? No catch? No smug comment

tal parked across the street. "Think of it as a business

rs always came with strings or expectations. But time

t if you try anything weird, I

he said with

.

be scared as Ethan drove the car, with one hand gently resting on the console and the other on the whee

lence he asked, " how ma

if you count side gigs. Four if you

t is a lot of load to

le "Welcome to th

ich, you know,"

at him, sur

a mechanic. I built Blackwood Global from the ground up after they pas

ilence

is, why are you telling m

i was just like you before. And maybe we are now. But I remember what it feels l

ready to unbuckle it. "Well that's exactl

ver, the parking was quiet and partially empty. Ma

r the ride

dded. "A

losed the door, he rolle

tu

re. My team's flying in next week.

d. "Wait w

something here

lse sk

n he dr

eart racing, wondering what e