Page 52 of Full Throttle

My mouth didn’t open, even though I wanted to the tell the man to F off. “If you think I’m going to come with you after that, you’re delusional.”

He blew out a laugh. “Says the sweetheart looking girl who just strolled into The Pit like it's a fucking mall.”

My spine straightened at his insult as I glared at him, “Take me to Cain, or my knee is going in your crotch.”

The man shook his head before jerking it in the opposite direction. “Come on.”

I didn’t trust him, but my desperation to see Cain defied all logic, the need weighing down my soul. With a quick prayer to the Big Man upstairs, I peeled myself from the wall and began following the stranger.

I was an idiot. I’d done a lot of stupid stuff in my life, things I wasn't proud of, but this was by far the dumbest thing I’d ever done.

And I hated Cain for driving me to do it.

The man led me through a sea of people, some drunk, some high, some just here to see the races, and others just here to find someone to sleep with (per the conversations I overheard). When we’d walked about halfway around The Pit, the music seeming louder on this side, we came to another tunnel entrance. The man turned to me, holding out his hand. “I’m Chase, by the way.”

I eyed his hand for a moment. “I’m not shaking your hand.”

He gave a tight smile. “Yeah, I figured.” As his hand fell away, he leaned in closer. “For what it’s worth, I am sorry. I didn’t mean to be an asshole.”

I nodded. “Cool, thanks. Where’s Cain?”

He gestured into the tunnel. “He’s not racing or next in line to race, so that only means one thing. You’ll find him down there.”

I pulled out my flashlight. “Thanks.”

Without looking at Chase, I made my way down the tunnel. This one was populated with people coming and going, couples making out against the walls, loners smoking cigarettes. I pointed my flashlight to the ground and pressed on, keeping my ears open for his voice. I would recognize that voice anywhere. I scanned the darkness for his pale blonde hair. Minutes passed as I continued through the tunnel, having seen at least thirty people. None of them were Cain.

My stomach began to sink as I rounded the corner, another light shining at the end of the tunnel, followed by a cool breeze.

When I emerged from the tunnel, I found myself in a new parking lot, this one filled with cars and people. Food trucks lined the opposite end of the lot, a DJ was set up to my right, and streetlights illuminated the lot. I looked around, trying to figure out where this one was located.

Focus, Nikki. Find Cain.

Shaking it off, I began weaving through the new crowd, my eyes lingering on the lines of cars with the hoods open, showing off their engines or sound systems. A breeze came through, and I put my flashlight up before zipping up the jacket. I kept my eyes wide, scanning everything and everyone in search of him. When I was almost to the far corner of the lot, I heard a bark of laugher followed by someone saying his name.

My body tensed up as anxiety swirled in my stomach, knives gathering in my throat. I whirled around, trying to find the source of the laughter. When my eyes landed on a pale blonde man leaning against a black car, dressed in jeans and a gray hoodie, my heart stopped.

Cain.

My Cain.

He was here.

I found him.

We were about thirty feet from each other, people migrating between us. He hadn’t seen me yet, but that was a good thing. I didn’t want him to see me. I just wanted to make sure he was okay. I moved then, going to stand on the other side of some random parked car, keeping my eyes on the boy—man—I couldn’t get out of my head.

He’d grown his hair out. It was down his neck, the waves covering his forehead. He had some scruff on his face, but it looked good on him. It suited him. He was bigger, too. I could tell he’d been working out someplace, or maybe he had a really physical job. I didn’t know but I shouldn’t care. He didn’t want me in his life, and over the last year, I’d come to terms with that. I just needed to see him.

I watched as the small group of guys around him laughed at something the short guy next to him said. Then, as the laughter died, something in the distance caught Cain’s attention. He pushed off the car, lifting his chin as he began walking away towards someone—

Oh.

Shit.

It was Chase!

Shit, shit, shit!

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