HarleyI looked up to find Troy Quimby standing at the front of the registration line.My features tightened into a scowl. I found his paperwork, signed him in, and without looking up at him, I said, “You’re in second position.”“Aren’t you going to wish me luck, doll face?”I lifted my gaze to stare up at him as he stepped toward the table. His smirk was cocky and cruel. “I hope you don’t try to kill anyone out there,” I said. “And if someone gets hurt, I hope it’s you.”He laughed. It was a sharp, barking sound that made me flinch. “Oh, baby cakes. I like you. So much fire and fight. Are you the one who skewered poor Matthew’s hand with the heel of your shoe the other week?”“Put your hand on the ground, and we’ll see if the holes match,” I challenged.Charlie remained silent beside me.Troy grinned and leaned forward, planting his hands on the table and splaying his fingers wide. “You’re a cat, aren’t you? Quick and sly. And a little mean. I like that in a woman. I hope you’re the
RickThe fight was on as soon as we left the starting line.We didn’t have as long of a straightaway as we did in the last race, so a lot of the other drivers were right in the front with us as we came into our first corner. The road opened up into a short, straight shot and then a gentle bend that led us to busier streets.By the time we took the curve, there were only five cars left at the front of the pack. I decided to use them to my advantage.I created space between Torq and me by letting the other drivers ride up between us. I didn’t let them get ahead of me because I wasn’t interested in playing catch up in the last few miles of the race, but I did let them linger in between us for a few more corners until we were out on busier streets.Then I made a couple moves, swerved around some traffic, and pulled ahead to take the lead. Then the rain started.At first, it was nothing to worry about. Traction was still good, and it wasn’t raining enough to slow down the other civilian dr
RickThe Saleen shot forward over the crosswalk as the other light turned green and cars started coming. Torq pulled away from me to get his car through the intersection, probably having just realized where I’d led him.I made it through to the other side. So did Torq.We were locked in another battle as we drove up onto an overpass over a set of train tracks and then back down to sweep around in the direction of the docks. The race was only halfway done, and my car was already fucked.I wasn’t able to hold the lead for very long.Torq was right back on my ass as we made our way down less busy streets. The closer we got to the end, the bolder he became. He drove into the back end of my car again, harder this time, sending my back end fishtailing all over the place. He geared down and pinned it, racing up on my driver’s side as I fought to maintain control of the car.I knew it was my imagination, but I could have sworn I heard him laughing.We came around the final bend in the road. T
HarleyI held my breath as I watched the crash unfold.Rick and Torq bounced off each other as they came racing down the road toward the finish line. It was all I could do not to scream as Torq drove into the side of Rick’s Saleen over and over, pushing him toward the outside lane, forcing him over, and nearly sending him veering into the cement median.“Oh God,” Laina breathed beside me.Oh God was right. It was going to get worse before it got better. I could feel it in my bones.Mason stepped up beside me. I spared a glance up at him. His jaw was clenched, and every muscle in his body was strained. “Come on, little brother. Come on!”“He’s got him,” Benji said, trying to sound confident.From where I was standing, it looked like things could go either way. Torq pulled away, creating a decent gap between the two cars. I exhaled as I realized I was growing dizzy and bit down on my tongue.“Keep her straight,” Mason said. It almost sounded like he was pleading. He knew how dangerous t
HarleyBenji and Mason took off for the registration table. I swung my attention toward Rick’s car. The whole passenger side was busted up. The damage looked pretty bad, and I had no idea what sort of injuries he might have acquired. I leaned forward to look down the road.The last drivers were only twenty or so seconds away. Maybe less.“I think his door is jammed,” Laina said, nodding at Rick’s car.I narrowed my eyes. She was right. He couldn’t get out. His car was too crumpled and too fucked up for him to get the door open. I wondered if it would still run.If we had to leave it behind, it was a sure-fire way for the cops to trace the car back to Rick. Then all our dreams of starting a new life together would be over. He’d be in jail for a long time.Charlie shook my arm. “What do we do, Harley? Tell us what to do!”I swallowed and took a deep breath. “Okay. Okay. We need to clear the area. Rick can handle himself. Help me get people the hell out of here. Send them off in differen
RickI landed heavily on the wet pavement after managing to climb out through the passenger window of the Saleen. My right leg was tender and bruised from Torq driving into me, and my chest ached from the seatbelt and being jostled around roughly as I’d lost control of the car.But I was alive, nothing was broken, and there was no blood. So, overall, things were pretty good.Aside from the approaching police.I used the car to push myself to my feet, slicking my wet hair off my forehead as I rose. Then I stood and waited for the dizziness to pass. I didn’t think I’d hit my head at any point, but it sure felt like I had. Maybe it was just severe vertigo from whiplash.It didn’t matter. I could figure that out later. I had to focus on getting the hell out of there and making sure Harley was safe, too.She had a lot to lose if this race got busted, and so did I. She was everything. If I lost her, I would lose my damn mind. After all this time, we were finally together, and there was noth
Rick“Fuck me fucking sideways,” I said.I couldn’t afford to waste any time. Either I was getting his ass out of the car, or I was bailing.“You owe me, motherfucker,” I said as I leaned in through the driver’s window and reached up to unclip his seatbelt.Torq crumpled to the ceiling of the car, landing across my arm beneath him. Shattered glass from the windshield bit into my bicep and forearm, but I gritted my teeth against the burn and worked to drag Torq’s ass out of the car. He was a heavy motherfucker.He started groaning.I stumbled to my feet and hauled him backward. “Work with me you fat bastard. I’m getting you out of here. Your asshole buddies bailed on you.”He mumbled something incoherent.“Yeah, I know. They’re your friends, not mine. I guess that’s what you get for being a piece of shit.”I collapsed when I had him clear of the car. I struggled to catch my breath, and my side screamed with pain. I tucked my arms under his armpits, stumbled back to my feet, and kept dr
HarleyIt was a wonder that the Saleen had even started back on the track, and it was even more mind blowing that it made it back to my house without losing several more pieces along the way.I parked at the back of my building in the private parking lot. I didn’t want to leave it on the curb in case any police drove by. It would be easy for them to link the Saleen to the scene down by the docks, and then we’d be done for.After parking the car, Rick had to climb out of the passenger window again. Every move he made was gentle and controlled. I knew he was hurting and hated that there was nothing I could do to take the pain away.Once he was out of the car, I climbed across the console and slipped out too. He offered me his hand, and I took it but didn’t lean on him for support. I was pretty sure he wasn’t in much of a position to be offering it in the first place.We walked soundlessly across the parking lot, our footsteps drowned out by the sound of rain pinging off the metal garbag