There’s a moment of silence in the room. The tension on Ares and Chance’s faces mirrors their father’s. I know with the utmostcertainty that if Fox and Morelli hadn’t trapped us into racing, my brothers would have had no desire to ever ride a motorcycle again.
Things are different when it comes to Zara, however. Racing is in her blood, and I suspect that this is more important to her than it is for the rest of us.
Zara has always wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps, and I can only imagine how suffocating it must feel to live in a town where just owning a motorcycle could land you in jail.
“Any other final remarks?” The town clerk asks.
“I have one.” Zara stands up. “I understand why the ban is so important to you, Scott.” She looks at her stepfather.
A muscle in Scott’s jaw jumps as he fights to keep his temper in check. “Then you’ll agree with me and the rest of the council that your petition is nonsense.”
“I do not.” Zara’s tone is kind but firm. “You blame motorcycles for what happened to Atlas. But the truth is more complex. It was a combination of factors that caused that accident. The racetrack was wet, and Atlas—like most of the other racers—opted not to stop to change tires since the race was almost over. The racetrack lacked some of the safety features that would have made that accident not lethal. The biggest factor was that unknown motorcycle that invaded the racetrack and hit him. If that race had continued as planned, none of that would have happened. I know you lost so much that day, Scott. But motorcycles aren’t the culprit, or at least not the only one.”
She pauses for a moment, making contact with many of the people who are hanging onto her every word.
“We’ll put every precaution and safety measure in place. Our plan can be good for this town. Thank you for your time.”
“Now that we heard arguments from both sides, the council has all the information they need to vote on petition number twohundred and twenty-eight in this calendar year.” The town clerk announces. “Voting can begin now.”
Chapter 19
The Truth Hurts
ZARA
The vote went our way.
The council will have to determine the details of the new legislation on motorcycles, but the ban has been lifted.
That means that we’re free from Mason’s blackmail. Involving his uncle was Lev’s mom’s idea, and it was a genius move.
Being the owner of the racetrack takes away any financial stake Enzo Morelli might have had in Mason’s illegal racing ring. The Morelli family also owns several betting companies in town. That makes the illegal betting scheme Mason and Dave Fox were running an unnecessary risk when everything can be done above the board.
We won.
We should feel relieved. And yet, we all run out of the town hall building when Scott storms out after the council approves our motion with eight votes in our favor and only two against.
The ride home is fraught with tense silence.
Ares parks his Jeep in the driveway a mere couple of minutes after our parents arrive.
“I’m sorry.” Mom appears on the threshold one second before we open the front door. “Your father doesn’t want to discuss what happened right now.”
Ares’s tone is calm but adamant when he insists. “I understand that he feels betrayed, Kelly. Let me assure you that wasn’t our intention. There are some things Dad should know. Things that forced our hand and that will help him see today’s vote under a different light.”
“I don’t know.” Mom hesitates. “What could you possibly say to change the fact that the law that was at the front and center of your father’s campaign was just abrogated by a motion presented by his own kids?”
Chance intervenes. “That’s what we want to explain. For the past two years, Dad has erected a wall between him and the rest of the world. This has to end today.”
“That’s unfair, Chance.” Mom objects. “Your father has always had an open door for every citizen of Star Cove. And from where I’m standing, he’s always been there for his kids too.”
“Yeah.” Chance shakes his head. “As long as nobody mentioned any of the things that Dad didn’t want to hear about. You’ve seen it yourself, Kelly. The way he reacted every time anyone even mentioned Atlas’s name. Everything since the day of the accident has been a ban, a prohibition. Rather than face our grief together, Dad built some impenetrable walls around himself. Ares is right. There is some other stuff that we couldn’t say in front of half the town, but Dad should know. Please let us in.”
Mom steps aside, exhaling a heavy sigh. “Fine. But you know your father. He’s furious right now. I don’t know how receptive he’s going to be to anything you guys have to say.”
“It’s a risk we’re going to have to take.” Ares follows Chance into the house.
We find Scott in the living room.
