Page 54 of Bend

Talon’s already there, over by Bay Two, bent over a bike in a black tee with his shoulders locked up so tight I can see it from here. He looks up the second he hears us, and there it is, that look.

I was prepared for more yelling. But honestly, I think this version might be worse. He’s all shut down and controlled, like he’s decided the only way to deal with me is to give me absolutely nothing.

Which, annoyingly, still manages to sting.

Sayshen doesn’t break stride. “Morning.”

Talon’s gaze flicks to him. “You actually fucking brought her.”

Well, that’s not exactly encouraging.

“Told you I would.”

Talon looks back at me, expression flat and cold in a way that somehow lands harder than if he’d just started yelling. “Didn’t think you’d be stupid enough to say yes. Thought I made it more than clear you weren’t wanted around.”

I stop. “Wow. Good morning to you too.”

Sayshen cuts him a sharp look. “Can you maybe not be a complete dick for five fucking minutes?”

Talon wipes his hands on a rag, slow and deliberate, like he’s choosing between ten different bad reactions and settling on the one that makes him look the least bothered. “You’re the one dragging strangers into the garage.”

“She’s not a stranger. She’s our sister.” Sayshen says.

Talon’s jaw tightens. “That doesn’t make this less stupid.”

Sayshen just grins then, all irritating confidence. “Nah, what’s stupid is you acting like after all this time, I don’t know what I’m doing. She’s perfect for the job, bro. You’ll see.”

Talon gives him a dead look. “I’m already exhausted.”

“I’m serious,” Sayshen says, clearly enjoying himself now. “Give it a week and you’ll be eating every word that just came out of your mouth.”

Talon scoffs. “Yeah?”

Andre appears from the back office like he was summoned by hostility.

He’s built like somebody who got tired of arguing with life and started winning by sheer force. Mid-fifties maybe. Solid. Gray threaded through dark hair. Forearms scarred and thick. Face set permanently to which one of you idiots is today’s problem?

His eyes land on me.

Then on Sayshen.

Then back to me again.

“This her?”

Sayshen nods. “Yeah. This is our sister, Echo.”

The second the word leaves his mouth, something metallic slams down hard across the garage.

Talon.

I don’t even have to look to know it’s him.

The sound cracks through the bay like a warning shot, but Sayshen doesn’t so much as blink. Andre’s eyes flick that direction for half a second, clocking the tension, then come back to me.

“Sister?”

Sayshen exhales through his nose. “Long story. Short version? Turns out when our mom left, she was already pregnant and never told anybody. She told Echo the truth about before she died. Echo found us a few weeks ago.”