Page 61 of Bend

Draygon looks from one brother to the other like he’s trying to figure out whether this is a team issue, a family issue, or a run-for-cover issue.

Reign picks exactly that moment to walk in, with Lena beside him. They stop dead in the doorway.

Reign takes in the room in one glance—the tense body language, with me standing in Bay Three with a wrench in my hand like a goblin who caused all of it.

Then Lena sees me, and lights up.

“Oh my God, Echo!”

Before anyone can stop her, Lena breaks away from Reign and comes straight at me like I’m the best surprise she’s had all week.

She throws her arms around me, and I catch her automatically, startled into a laugh, and behind her, every male head in the room swings toward Reign like he personally orchestrated this entire disaster.

Reign lifts both hands. “Don’t look at me. I’ve got no clue what’s going on. As far as I know, they’re just mutual friends.”

Lena pulls back, beaming. “What are you doing here?”

“Currently?” I say. “Absolutely destroying the emotional stability of this garage.”

Draygon stares at her. “Wait. You know her too?”

Lena blinks at him, then glances at Sayshen like she’s checking whether she’s allowed to answer. He gives her a tight nod.

“Yeah,” she says. “All of us girls do. We met her for lunch last week. Sorry,” she adds with a little shrug. “I was sworn to secrecy.”

Reign drags a hand over his face. “Right. So this is somehow worse than I thought.”

Thorne mutters, “Brilliant. Just bloody brilliant.”

That’s when Andre walks back out.

He doesn’t even have to ask at first. One look around the garage and it’s obvious he knows something’s up. Not the details, maybe, but definitely enough to clock that whatever the hell this is has officially derailed the morning.

His eyes move over all of us and his expression goes flat.

“What the fuck is this?”

Nobody answers.

Because honestly, where would anyone even start?

Surprise sister. Secret lunch. Bar bathroom. Motel threesome. Hurt feelings, and a team meltdown.

Yeah, no.

He cuts a glance toward the open bay doors, then back at us. “Whatever this is, it’s done in my garage.”

The whole room goes still.

His voice drops lower. Worse. “You wanna tear each other apart, do it on your own time. Not in here.”

Andre jerks his chin toward the prep area. “Suit up, I want you all on the track in ten,”

None moves.

That’s when he barks, “What are you all magically fucking deaf now? Suit up.” That does it.

Reign is first to break, which somehow feels right. He catches Lena’s hand and starts steering her backward toward the side of the garage, muttering, “Right away coach,”