Page 61 of Furious
“Ready on my three!” Angela announces, holding up the same neck scarf she had last week. “One, two, three!”
I shoot forward the second her scarf touches the asphalt of the old road. I don’t need to look around me to know that my reaction time was a fraction quicker than all my opponents.
Chance, however, has the most horse power in our lineup, and we’re nose to nose within seconds.
Lev and Cal are fighting each other for third place behind us as the road begins to narrow down.
We’re going so fast that we’re like one with our bikes. All our senses are primed for survival at two hundred miles per hour. The feel of the metal beneath us, the temperature of our bikes, the scent of gasoline in the air, the roaring sound of our engines are all that matters.
The speed is such that the scenery around us is nothing but a blur.
All I have eyes for is the road in front of me as I lean into the furious pace, letting my tires eat the road.
I spot the lights of the old gas station in the distance even before I see the LED signs ahead that mark the finish line.
Chance and I are still nose to nose, Lev is right behind me, a half length ahead of Cal.
Victory is in my grasp. I can almost taste it. I would want nothing more than to cross the finish line before anyone else, showing all these people what a girl can do.
But I don’t.
At the last second, I let Chance, Lev, and Cal pass me. Then ride past the finish line without stopping like they do. I ride past the gas station and around it, stopping at the back of it.
“Did you win?” Wren is waiting for me with her truck in the empty space behind the gas station’s shop.
The shop is closed at this time. The only thing that’s working is the two pumps at the front, but they’re unmanned.
“I came in fourth. Let’s go home, Wren. Mom and Scott should already be in bed, but it’s probably better if you drop me off on the road, right before our gate. I’ll walk the bike to the garage.”
She helps me load the Ducati in the back of her truck. “Are you sure? What if they’re up and they see you? Isn’t it better if I take it back to Shell Cove with me? I can come back with it next week.”
The offer is tempting, but I already feel bad about involving Wren tonight. I can’t risk her getting caught. She doesn’t have as much to lose as her brother, but she’s still breaking the law to help me.
“It’s a risk I’m gonna have to take, babe.” I say, climbing into the passenger seat. “If you got stopped with a motorcycle in the back of your truck, I would never be able to forgive myself. And DJ would kill me.”
“DJ is a fucking pussy.” Wren rolls her eyes. “I’m your ride or die and this is the most fun I’ve had since you got sent to boarding school, Zara.”
I love her loyalty, but I still feel bad. “You’re the best, but if they catch you, it isn’t just a fine. You’re going to get arrested.”
“At least that would be something interesting.” Wren snorts. “I don’t expect you to understand, girl, but I peaked in high school. Since I graduated, my life has had no direction and no excitement. I’m working at a grocery store to save money to be able to afford some classes at Shell Cove Community College, forfuck’s sake. DJ will hire me to do paperwork and book-keeping once his shop is up and running, but even like that, it will take years to get a degree. If I don’t die of boredom first. Tonight is the most excitement I’ve had since we used to hang out together in Cal’s paddock at his team’s training track in Shell Cove.”
I remember that. I used to hang out there to watch Cal and his team training. “I still don’t want you to get in trouble because of me, Wren.”
“Oh, come on,” she groans, pulling out of the gas station and onto the old coastal road that climbs all the way up Star Cove’s hills. “Who is going to help you take your bike to the race? I loved being JJ Smith’s girlfriend. I might have a crush on him.”
I can’t help but laugh. “I hadn’t thought as far as next week. I need to find a good time to talk to Chance and Lev and tell them I know that Cal is blackmailing them into racing. But I know that if I do, they won’t let me keep racing and I haven’t found out who’s behind Cal’s organization. Besides, racing is too much fun, even if I can’t win.”
“Why can’t you win?” Wren asks.
“It attracts too much attention. And if I win, I’ll have to collect the prize and if I have to speak, I’ll give away my identity.”
Wren slows down at the traffic lights before the intersection that leads to the base of the hill. “Let me keep helping you, babe. Together, we can figure this out. I’ll enroll you and then I’ll collect your winnings. You’re not asking me for a favor, I’m offering.”
“Ok, you can come to the race next week.” I sigh. “I’ll just keep my riding gear with me in case you have to meet me at the racetrack, so I’m gonna have time to change. Just be careful and don’t attract attention until you leave Star Cove’s city limits, ok?”
“You got it.” She says with an ear splitting grin. “I just have one question.”
She slows down a few hundred yards before the house.
