Page 1 of Breaking the Limits

Prologue

Ten Years Ago

Ace

I’m impatiently sitting on the bus with my newest library find in my lap. I can’t wait to get home to read it to my mom. As soon as I had checked it out from the school library, I had read it. Sitting on a bench outside on the playground during lunch didn’t make much difference. I have no friends except for my brothers, but they were older, so we don’t attend the same school. However, my mom is my best friend. While I sat there I prayed mom was having a good day today.

It seemed like here lately she had gotten worse. I knew everyone was saying she was okay, but I also knew they were just telling me that because they didn’t think I could handle the truth. Maybe I couldn’t, I mean I couldn’t even handle the thought of my mother not being there when I get home every day. Ever since she got sick I would run from the bus to the house and straight to her room. I climb up into her bed and she pulls me close to her, so my head can rest on her shoulder while I read whatever book I’ve checked out from the library.

Mom lies there and listens to me read for however long it takes me to finish the book. She never interrupts me but she does fall asleep sometimes, she’s been falling asleep more and more lately. It makes me worry. As soon as Jagger gets home he fixes mom and me a glass of lemonade and brings them into the room while Axell picks up Jovi from the next-door neighbors. Mom doesn’t feel like watching him anymore either.

When I had left for school this morning mom was still asleep, so I hadn’t got to see her all day which made me more anxious to get home now. A thought occurs to me while riding on the bus. Someday I want to find someone just like my mom. My momand dad are best friends, they know exactly what the other is thinking. I want that.

The school bus slows down until it finally comes to a stop. I jump up from my seat and quickly make my way out of the bus. As soon as my feet hit the sidewalk I take off in a mad dash down the two blocks to my house. I swing open the door. “Mom! I got a new book, you’re going to love it,” I holler out, as I drop my backpack on the floor and run down the hallway. The sound of crying stops me dead in my tracks. Looking around the door frame, I see my dad sitting on the bed with his face in his hands, crying. Crying so hard he can’t breathe, and dad never cries. The bed is empty.

Mom? Where’s mom? Dad looks up and meets my eyes. His eyes tell me everything I need to know. Mom is gone. My heart shatters into a million pieces right there in the hallway of my house. Tears roll down my cheeks and the book falls from my hands making a loud thud in the silent house. Jagger and Bowie come home at some point, but one look at me was all they needed to know what had happened. I’m still standing in the doorway, silently crying to myself when Jagger scoops me up into his arms and takes me to the kitchen.

Jagger sits me at the table and returns with two glasses of lemonade before sitting beside me. The sight of the lemonade just reminds me of all the things I’ll never have again. I’ll never share another glass of lemonade with mom. I’ll never read her another book. She’ll never tell me how handsome I look before I leave for school. She’ll never put another Band-Aid on some cut I get from trying to keep up with my brothers. I’ll never hear her laugh again. I’ll never smell her vanilla and honey scent again. It’s all gone, just like that.

Jagger wraps his arms around my shoulders and pulls me to his chest. He keeps telling me it’ll all be okay but it’s a lie. I knowit is. While sitting in that kitchen I vow that I’ll never fall in love. If love hurts this bad, then I never want it again.

Chapter 1

Four years ago

Ace

As I drive down the street I notice there’s a bigger crowd than normal. I rev the engine of my Mustang as Sariah and I make my way to the racing circle. The races will start any minute, so I’m running a little late, but I could blame that on Sariah and not being able to keep her hands to herself, not that I’m complaining. However, I have a reputation to uphold. It’s up to Bowie and me to keep the reputation of the James brothers alive with Jagger in Vegas now and Axell taking a step back for Sadie.

Losing both Jagger and Axell in the race scene left a lot of pressure on me and Bowie. We were managing but that was just another reason I never let things get too serious with a girl. I’d watched as the loss of Harlyn killed a part of Jagger and I had watched Axell give up pieces of himself just to please Sadie. I was sure Bowie would have been the same way if Hollis was still around, but since she had run away without even a goodbye, it just made him a little crazier. He’d do anything that came into his mind.

Then there was our youngest brother Jovi, but he was still too young to get tied up into anything we were doing, but I didn’t doubt that he’d be racing with us soon enough. I spot Bowie’s car and park next to it. Axell, Sadie, and the rest of our group are standing there waiting for the races to start. I get out of the car and head over to Ben, the guy that sets up the races to hand over my buy in. “Didn’t think you were going to make it but Bowie kept saying you would,” Ben tells me.

I shrug and give him my practiced, I don’t give a shit smirk, “Yeah, well you know me.”

Ben takes the money with a laugh, “That I do, okay you’ll be racing against Ralph, then Bowie and Ryce, followed by Connorand Damon. Take your places and good luck, no dirty tricks guys, keep it clean.”

Bowie’s arm comes around my neck, “Good luck little brother and be safe.”

I throw my head back and laugh, “Okay brother but remember we’re pushing the limits.”

I get back in my car and take my position to race. I turn up my music to drown out all the other noise. The bass from the system rattles through my chest, vibrates my blood, and creates an energy within me. I stare straight ahead and rev my engine again. It takes a certain amount of stupid to get behind a wheel of a car and race, going at heart stopping speeds, taking our lives into our own hands. One wrong move and we can be dead. but there is also a unique beauty in that too. Psyching yourself out is necessary, acting as if the people lined up on the sides of the streets aren’t there is part of mine. However, I glance over because something catches my eye.

Damn! My eyes travel up her body to her face. I stop to appreciate her body, but that face. I know that face but how? I’d remember a face like that if I had seen it before that’s for damn sure.

Shaking my head, I look back to the road in front of me. Now is not the time to get distracted by some pretty girl. I rev my engine and watch as Sariah takes her place in between the cars and starts the countdown. The moment she says go, I’m gone. It’s easy enough to keep Ralph in my rearview mirror. Ralph is a cool guy and I almost feel bad for not giving him a chance, but a part of me just wants to get this race over with. I want to see her again, I want to know her name. I need her to still be in the crowd when I get back. Then I wonder what the hell is wrong with me? When have I ever had this kind of reaction to a girl?

I shake my head to clear the thoughts of the mystery girl from my mind, pressing my foot down on the pedal, ‘pedal tothe metal baby’is all I think while shifting gears. The sidelines become the much-needed blur and the wind whipping at my face gives me the extra kick of adrenaline. This is what it feels like to be alive.

I cross the finish line with ease and the crowd cheers so loudly it can be heard over my music. After parking, I collect my winnings, I turn to find Sariah right behind me. Normally I love to have a girl right there, but in this moment it’s annoying. I want to find the mystery girl. I take Sariah’s hands in mine and look her in the eye, “Cool it for a minute,” I drop her hands and walk away.

As I pass people they congratulate me and I mumble my thanks while scanning the crowd for her. Finally, I see those warm brown eyes, watching as a sexy little smirk comes over her face. She turns around and heads in the opposite direction of me. I try to catch up to her, but the crowd is too thick and soon enough I’m watching her incredibly long dark hair disappear into the night.

Damn it!

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Kynlee

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