Page 174 of Bend

Four engines fire within seconds of one another, the sound rolling through the bay and vibrating straight through my chest.

I step back beside Andre and pull my headset on as they roll toward the entrance. I go straight back to the workbench because Reign’s bike still needs checking and Revel has somehow moved three of my tools while insisting he hasn’t touched anything.

Life keeps going.

A few minutes later the comms crackle.

Talon gives me his feedback first, then Draygon. Thorne follows with something useful for once, and by the time Wolfe checks in I’ve already filled half a page with notes.

“Mine’s perfect.”

My mouth curves. “Say it again.”

“No.”

“Come on.”

“You heard me.”

Draygon cuts in. “We all did.”

“Unfortunately,” Talon adds.

Thorne laughs. “She’s gonna be unbearable now.”

“Going to be?” Wolfe says.

“Fuck all of you,” I mutter, still smiling. “Ride.”

His laugh crackles through my headset, then the channel settles back into normal updates.

Road conditions. Wind. A damp section drying out. Thorne mentions a crosswind higher up, Draygon calls in a rough patch, and Wolfe confirms the adjustment feels better through the faster transitions.

I write everything down while Andre listens beside me.

It feels normal.

Then Wolfe comes through the comm.

“Fuck.

My pen stops.

Andre’s head lifts at the same time mine does.

Thorne answers first. “What happened?”

Wind tears through the channel before Wolfe replies.

“Got pushed wide.”

My stomach tightens.

Andre steps closer to the radio. “Where?”

Wolfe gives him the section.

Talon comes in next. “Can you bring it back?”