Page 16 of Whispers and Wildfire

“You sure about that?”

Out of all my brothers, Garrett was the last one I wanted to know I’d gone back to racing. He was a cop. But he was also the last one I’d ever lie to. Especially after everything we’d been through. He’d trusted me when it mattered. That meant a lot.

“Okay, truth. Yeah, I race sometimes. But it’s just to blow off steam. No street racing, only on a track. And hell, it’s not even in your jurisdiction.”

“Blowing off steam is fine, but when you’re risking your life on a closed track in an illegal and unregulated race, that’s a problem. Don’t even get me started on the rest of it.”

“Rest of what?”

“The illegal gambling. That could be a felony.”

“I don’t do it for the money.”

“But you take the money.”

Groaning, I ground my teeth together. “I’ll donate it or something.”

I don’t know why that made him laugh, but it did. “You’re killing me. Couldn’t you find a hobby that’s not likely to get you killed? Or arrested?”

“Which one worries you more?” One corner of my mouth lifted. “Be honest.”

“I’ve arrested Zachary. Don’t think I won’t arrest you.”

He was half joking about arresting me, but only half. And he had arrested our brother Zachary. Probably more than once.

I was too old not to know he was right. Of course he was. Twenty-year-old me might have gotten a pass for being young and idiotic, but I was in my thirties. Illegal racing was stupid and dangerous, and I knew it.

But it was also addictive.

“I don’t want to lie to you,” I said.

“Then don’t.”

“You’re right. It’s stupid. I should find a better hobby. And if I tell you I won’t do it again, I’ll mean it right now.”

“But?”

“But I don’t know if I can promise to never do it again.”

“Have you tried skydiving?”

“Dude. I’m not jumping out of a perfectly good airplane.”

Shaking his head, he chuckled. “Killing me. You should have gone into law enforcement. Plenty of excitement there.”

“I don’t think I could do your job.”

“Fair enough. Just… be careful. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

I nodded. “Thanks.”

He turned to leave but paused at the door and looked over his shoulder. “You know what you really need?”

“Other than someone to fill in for Andrea?”

“Yeah.”

“What?”

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