The riders rotated positions without command, subtle nods signaling shifts as older members stepped back briefly to warm their hands while others filled the space seamlessly.
No alcohol appeared. No loud engines revved. It was disciplined stillness — the kind born from shared codes rather than spectacle.
Officer Monroe approached Ray once more. “How long do you intend to stay?” she asked.
“As long as the house feels heavy,” he replied.
Inside, Harper finally gathered the courage to step onto the porch under her aunt’s watchful eye. Rain had thinned to a mist, streetlights casting silver halos around helmets and shoulders. Ray noticed her immediately.
He removed his gloves slowly and crouched just slightly — not enough to appear imposing, just enough to lower himself closer to her height while remaining respectful of distance.
“Hey there, Harper,” he said softly.
Her voice was small. “Are you staying all night?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied.
“Why?”
