“I should be mad at you.” I say, hugging him and letting him brush his lips against mine when he dips his head. “But right now I’m just too relieved you’re ok.”
Lev looks in front of us in the distance. “I know I’m sorry. It’s just… I followed my instincts. Chasing after the enemy is second nature since I learned it on the ice.”
“Yeah, but that wasn’t a puck.” I scold him. “You promised you wouldn’t do anything stupid.”
He hangs his head. He knows he fucked up. “I know. But I just thought that if I got him, we would get so many answers. I don’t know why, but I have a weird feeling about this guy. Like I should know him.”
“How could you? His clothes and helmet covered him completely. Unless you caught a better glimpse while chasing him?”
He shakes his head. “No. I can’t put my finger on it, but something tells me I’ve seen him before.”
“Maybe you’re in shock?” I look at his eyes, checking his pupils for dilation. “Did you hit your head? Even with the helmet on, you could have a concussion.”
Lev reassures me. “No, I fell on my side. I’m fine, I swear.”
His words are contradicted by the wince of pain he doesn’t quite manage to hide when he bends over to grab his helmet and stand his motorcycle upright.
“You don’t look fine to me.” I bite out, grabbing the other handlebar and helping him push the Hypersoft back toward the road.
“Did you win the race?” He asks, ignoring my concern for his wellbeing.
His gait has a slight limp, even though I’m sure he’s trying to hide it. I decide to wait until later to discuss his reckless behavior and answer his question instead. “I did. I’m not sure who came in second.”
“That should at least get Morelli off your back for this week. He can’t say you didn’t do your best.”
“Yeah, I suppose. Even though he’s a lunatic, and if my victory doesn’t make him the money he wanted, I’m sure he’s going to find a way to blame me for it.” I can’t suppress the shudder that works its way up my spine at the thought of Mason’s soulless eyes. My throat works at the memory of the way he tightened his hands around it.
Lev’s jaw ticks as he reassures me. “Let him try. We’ve got you, Zee. Chance, Ares, and I will keep you safe.”
His heart is in the right place, but he didn’t see that look in Mason’s eyes. He already told me about his uncle’s human trafficking ring. That guy is a sociopath, and if he decides I’m not worth keeping on the racetrack, the alternative is scarier than death.
There’s a crowd at the finish line. Mason’s hired staff are immediately there to collect money from the people who bet on the wrong bike, and money is changing hands and helping the losers take their bikes back to the hangar. I spot my Ducati being loaded onto a small trailer attached to a black truck that I know belongs to Mason.
One motorcycle is visible right after the curve, and I realize that it’s Chance’s MTT 420-RR.
My stepbrother is still on it, but he isn’t moving. The stand must be keeping it upright, and by the looks of it, he hasn’t crossed the finish line. He’s still facing us and not the other way around like he would be if he were returning to the clearing after the race.
“Maybe Chance’s bike broke down.” I say, quickening my pace toward him.
I’m vaguely aware that Lev is handing his own bike to Mason’s men as I reach Chance at the same time as Ares.
Ares
Like last week, I rushed to the finish line to see the end of the race.
But this time I don’t need to try to blend in with the rest of Morelli’s staff.
“Deputy,” he calls out with an arrogant smirk. “Want a ride to the finish line?”
I climb onto one of the black trucks he has brought this time to help tow the bikes that have problems after the race.
Maybe I shouldn’t trust this motherfucker, but this is a case of keeping my enemies closer. If I have my eyes on him, he can’t be foolish enough to try anything with Zara.
“Why the fuck are you so happy?” I can’t help but ask as he turns on the ignition.
“Are you fucking kidding me? Didn’t you watch the race from the same projector I set up by the starting line? I’m thinking next week I’ll get one for the finish line, too. So no matter where people decide to go to watch the race, they won’t miss any of the action. Maybe get even more people to film.”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, why not install some giant screens? Like they have at real races and music festivals.”
