Page 18 of Pit Stop

My head shakes. “I could never be disappointed in you.”

“That’s not true.”

I stand up and cross the room. Standing directly in front of her. I have to look up considering she’s got a good five inches on my five feet, one inch frame. “Tell me so I understand.”

A heavy sigh escapes, she pulls her bottom lip between her teeth while twirling one of her perfect curls with her forefinger. “You know how I’m into cars?” I nod. Onyx was the closest to our father who was a total gear head so the love for fast cars had easily been passed down to her and then Odin. It somehow skipped me altogether. After our parents passed away, Onyx started street racing. It’s almost an addiction for her. Then after our uncle passed away and his wife disowned us, racing became a necessary means for us. I knew she was still racing every chance she got but the local races are only on Friday nights. Sometimes different crews have some on Saturday’s but never during the week.

“It’s a weekday, so there weren't any races,” I comment.

She shakes her head and walks around me to sit on the couch. Onyx is full of nervous energy and it’s starting to make me nervous. “No there wasn’t. A few months ago I was approached after winning one of the races at Pedal to the Metal. They offered good money and we needed it.”

“Your job?” I whisper. The sinking feeling in my gut tells me I’ve turned a blind eye from what I’ve probably known subconsciously the whole time. I didn’t want to believe she was doing anything dangerous for the money, but I knew... some part of me knew.

Her dark gray eyes meet my medium hazel. “You know that isn’t true, Odette. We needed the money. Rent, bills, nursing classes…”

My heart sinks. “But I get grants and scholarships.”

“Yes, and that helps so much but nursing classes are so expensive.”

A lump forms in my throat, but I push around it. Onyx has sacrificed so much for Odin and me. I can do the same. “I’ll quit then.”

“No! It’s your dream! Besides if you quit now then it was all for nothing. You’re almost there,” she stands up and begins to pace.

Tears prick the backs of my eyes. “What about your dreams?” I ask. My voice quivers.

Onyx shakes her head. “I’m not sure I have any of my own anymore and that's okay. I just want you and Odin to be okay.”

“What’s going on?”

“You’ve heard of the Street Kings... the SK.” She doesn’t ask because she already knows the answer. Everyone knows the gang. They recruit street racers all the time to do whatever illegal activity they need done. It’s common knowledge in this part of town. We aren’t in the ghetto, but we are definitely in the lower-class district, so the SK knows they can flash some money in front of people around here and they’ll jump. My head shakes. Denial thick on my tongue because Onyx would never be that careless, but then I know she’s telling the truth. I can tell by the look in her eyes. “I got arrested last night.”

“What?”

“Me and some of the other guys who are on the payroll took a side job. Big money. It went south and two of us got busted. Decker came and bailed us out, but we have a court hearing and more than likely we’ll be going to jail for a while. I probably won’t go as long since it’s my first offense.” She won’t meet my eyes now. My heart shatters in my chest. I really didn’t think there was enough of it left to shatter, but I was wrong.

My head shakes. “No, no, no…” I just keep repeating it over and over again. Maybe, if I say it enough it'll eventually be true.

“I’m sorry, Odette. I was just trying to take care of us.”

The memory fades. Everything comes back into focus. I meet Onyx’s eyes for the first time since we got in the car through the rearview mirror. She sits in the back seat, and I can tell by the look on her face and the posture of her body that she is not happy. I’m not sure what to tell her except, I was just trying to take care of us.

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