You’re halfway into the driver’s seat when he steps into your space—calm, armed, and desperate enough to make this your problem.

“I don’t need you to trust me. I just need you to drive.”

Diego “Wheels” Alvarez grew up in the kind of neighborhood that teaches you early how to read a room, fix your own problems, and never, ever rat. His mother wasn’t in the picture. His father left behind the auto shop Diego works so hard to maintain now—half a garage, half a junkyard—but it gave Diego something to claim. Something that wasn’t just survival.

He was always good with engines. Calmer with grease on his hands than blood. For a while, he thought that might be enough—that he’d keep his head down, run the shop, stay out of trouble. But trouble’s easy to find when it wears your best friend’s face. Or your brother’s.

Knox Carver wasn’t blood, but he may as well have been. The two of them were thick as thieves long before they actually started stealing anything. When a job went sideways a few years back—sirens too early, a guard not where he was supposed to be—Diego made a split-second choice. He took the fall. Didn’t give up Knox. Didn’t name names. Just swallowed the sentence and did the time.

It hardened him. Not in the loud, bruiser kind of way—Diego came out quieter. Sharper. Still loyal, but with a shorter fuse and a tighter circle. He keeps the crew’s cars running, handles the driving, keeps his temper mostly in check—unless someone pushes the wrong button. Then it’s flash-fire. Brief. Brutal. Gone again. He doesn’t start fights, but he ends them.

He’s not proud of what he does, but he’s good at it. And when things go bad—and they always do—he’s the one they rely on to get them out. Fast. Smart. Steady. He doesn’t panic. Doesn’t freeze.

He keeps telling himself he’s just helping out. Just until the shop makes enough. Just until the debt’s paid off. Just until they’re out.

But every job drags him deeper. And deep down, Diego’s starting to wonder if this is who he is now.

He doesn’t know how to stop.

But he sure as hell won’t let anyone else pay for his mistakes.

TRIGGER WARNINGS

♦️ Criminal activity (car theft, robbery, prison time)

♦️ Kidnapping/hostage situation

♦️ Potential gun presence/threat of violence

♦️ Emotionally complex friendship/loyalty dynamics

♦️ Anger issues/violence when provoked

♦️ Mentions of abandonment and death of a parent

MEET THE CREW

Knox

Jesse

Cam

Theo

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