Allie stood in the midst of the Vipers, her heart pounding as the leather-clad figures encircled her and Kurt. The atmosphere was thick with tension, a palpable mix of excitement and dread that made her skin crawl. The crowd murmured softly, their snake masks giving them an eerie, otherworldly quality, but Allie's focus was solely on the leader parting the throng, the figure moving with a confidence that sent a chill down her spine.

Kurt, oblivious to Allie's turmoil, leaned closer, a cocky grin plastered on his face. “Don’t let the leather bother you too much…however, if leather is your preference, then, let the cow flesh orgy commence! ” His voice rang with bravado, a stark contrast to the unease that gnawed at her insides.

“Shut up,” Allie snapped, her voice barely above a whisper. She couldn't afford to let her fear show, not now. The leader was nearing, her outline becoming sharper, more defined, and Allie’s heart sank as she recognized the familiar silhouette.

“Welcome, everyone!” The leader’s voice boomed, distorted and mechanical, echoing off the concrete walls of the warehouse. The Vipers fell silent, their attention riveted on her. “Tonight, we gather for a purpose: to welcome our newest driver, Allie Jovankah!”

A wave of shock washed over her, freezing her in place. The crowd erupted in cheers, but Allie felt only dread. She had been thrust into the spotlight, and the last thing she wanted was to be celebrated by this gang. The leader stepped closer, and Allie’s breath hitched in her throat as the figure removed their helmet.

It was Juliette.

Allie’s world tilted on its axis. The girl she had loved, the one she thought she had lost to the shadows of the past, stood before her, framed by the chaos of the Vipers. Her heart clenched, a mix of anger, betrayal, and a flicker of longing igniting within her. Juliette’s red hair cascaded around her shoulders, a stark contrast to the dark leather that enveloped her.

“Juliette,” Allie breathed, but it came out as a whisper, barely audible over the cheers of the crowd.

Juliette knelt down, her gaze piercing through Allie’s defenses. “The family is finally together.” She gestured as a young boy ran to her side; a boy with tousled hair and bright eyes. “Allie, this is your son, Jessie.”

Time stopped. Allie’s heart raced, confusion flooding her thoughts. “My son?” The words felt foreign, heavy on her tongue. “What do you mean, my son?” She stared at the boy, who looked up at her with a mixture of curiosity and innocence.

“Yes, your son,” Juliette said, her voice softer now, the electronic modulation fading slightly. “The Vipers have kept him safe, and while they are his family, a boy needs his parents. He is our son.”

The crowd around them faded into a blur, their cheers and laughter mere background noise to the whirlwind of emotions swirling within Allie. She took a step back, her mind racing. This was not how she had imagined her reunion with Juliette, or the revelation of her son. “How could you do this?” she demanded, her voice rising. “How could you keep him from me?”

“We didn’t exactly leave on good terms.”

Allie shook her head. All this time, she searched for a Juliette held prisoner and now both her son and Juliette were under the thumb of the Vipers.

“Part of what? This criminal organization?” Allie shook her head, disbelief etched on her features. “I’m not a part of this. I don’t want any of this and the Juliette I knew wouldn’t either.”

Kurt, sensing the tension, stepped forward. “Come on, Allie, don’t be a buzzkill. You’ve always wanted to be a part of something bigger.”
Allie shot him a glare, her frustration boiling over.

Juliette rose to her feet, her presence commanding. “We will be a family. Jessie deserves that. We can take control of our lives, together.”

The boy, Jessie, looked between the two women, confusion etched on his face. “Mom?” he asked, his voice small but clear.
Allie’s heart cracked at the sound of that word. “I don’t even know you,” she whispered, pain lacing her voice. “How can I be a mother to someone I’ve never met?”

Juliette stepped closer, her eyes softening. “I know this is overwhelming. But I’ve raised him, and I’ve kept him safe from the dangers of this world. He needs you, Allie. We need you.”

A cacophony of emotions swirled inside Allie—anger, fear, longing, and an undeniable sense of loss. She felt like she was drowning in a sea of choices, each wave pulling her deeper into uncertainty. “I can’t just join the Vipers because you say so,” she said, her voice trembling. “I have my own life, my own plans.”

“And what plans do you have?” Juliette shot back, her tone sharpening. “You’ve been running across the world, chasing shadows to find me. Congratulations, you’ve found me. You’ve found us.”

Allie’s heart sank at the weight of those words. She had spent her life running from her family’s legacy, trying to carve out her own identity. But now, standing here, facing the woman she had loved and the child who was a part of her, she felt the pull of that legacy stronger than ever.
“You can use your skills, your racing, to help us.”

The crowd was watching, their eyes filled with anticipation, waiting for Allie’s response. She could feel the weight of their expectations, the pressure to conform to the role they had set for her. But the thought of embracing that role felt suffocating.

“I need time,” Allie finally said, her voice steadier now. “I can’t make this decision on the spot.”

Juliette nodded, her expression softening again. “I understand. Just know that we’ll be here, waiting for you. Jessie needs you, and I do too.”

Allie looked at Jessie, his innocent eyes searching for answers, she realized that this time, the stakes were higher than ever. She wasn’t just fighting for herself anymore; she was fighting for the chance to be a mother, to protect the family she never knew she had.