Annoyed, I shove my arm into my black-and-white leather motorcycle jacket and zip it up. Tonight, I need to clear my head, or I’ll lose it.
Marry. I’m supposed to marry the woman my brother wanted. The woman who apparently actually has feelings for him. And who stirs up a very irrational anger in me.
Just thinking about it makes me sick, and that painful tug hits my chest again. How could my father possibly think this is a good idea?
The bass reverberates through the old factory grounds as a crowd begins to throw a massive party. It’s time for the weekly race. Bikers from all over the area gather each week at a different spot, chasing the ultimate adrenaline rush. I’m one of them, along with Cedric. Damien doesn’t care for these races, and is a bit too aristocratic for it anyway. His father is one of my father’s ministers, part of Harlington’s nobility, and Damien can’t completely hide that. He loves his life and stands by it.
“I’m supposed to marry that uptight throne-seeker. A woman who doesn’t want me, and whom I don’t want.”
Damien gives me a tortured look, grimacing.
“Phil loved her,” he says quietly, quickly looking at the ground so I won’t see the pain in his eyes. Suddenly, my irrational anger at this woman mixes with grief, forming a heavy, miserable knot in my stomach.
“She could have said no. She could have just said no, damn it. Instead, she’s going along with this farce. Why? Does she want the crown that badly?” The resentment builds, and though I know I’m talking nonsense, I can’t stop. It hurts. Everything hurts. And I hate it. I hate her for reminding me of Phil and my own failure.
Cedric looks at Damien first, then turns to me, his expression serious.
“As if Amelia ever had a choice, Nic. She’s as powerless as you are, my friend,” he remarks in a cautionary tone, and damn it, I know he’s right. But I still can’t get a handle on my overwhelming emotions.
“It doesn’t matter. I’m going to clear my head and hook up with Sarah.” My plan doesn’t sound very solid, but it’s the only distraction I have right now.
“Maybe it’s not so bad. I like her. She’s cool.” Cedric speaks quietly, cautiously, but his words hit me like a sledgehammer.
What the hell?
My head snaps in his direction, and I squint at him.
“Are you drunk? Or high? We’re talking about Amelia Perlington, you do know that, right?” I look at him in disbelief. Ced and I have always been on the same page about women, until now. And I had no idea he even knew Goldilocks.
“She was at my university until last year and was in two of my classes. She’s actually really cool. Totally different from your noble crowd,” he explains with a shrug.
Cedric doesn’t come from the upper class; his dad is our head of security, so he likes to call us the “noble crowd.” But his words genuinely shock me. I’m honestly surprised my jaw doesn’t drop.
Damien’s lips twitch slightly at my expression, but he’s smart enough to keep quiet.
“Amelia and cool?! I… don’t know what to say, except that I’m definitely not hooking up with my brother’s castoff. I… hell, I’m done talking about her. Bad enough that I’ll have to put up with her every day starting next week.”
End of discussion. I’m tired of thinking about this mess. I want to race. I need the distraction.
Cedric presses his lips together and closes his jacket, reaching for his helmet. He’s already on his green machine, as he’s up first.
“See you on the track, you jerk. And this time, I’m winning.” He winks at me, puts on his black-and-green helmet, and lowers his visor.
“Keep dreaming.” I flip him off, and he laughs softly as he revs his engine.
Time for some fun.
“Good luck, honey,” a voice purrs in my ear as two hands slide around my waist from behind. Damien rolls his eyes and heads off, as he can’t stand Sarah. If I’m honest, I can’t either, but she’s good in bed, and it’s always been uncomplicated. Apparently, that’s changing.
Fuck.
More complications I don’t need right now.
Taking a deep breath, I pinch the bridge of my nose and turn to face her.
“What’s this about?” I snap, grabbing her hands and pushing them off me. Sarah’s eyes flash with anger before she puts on a wide-eyed look, batting her lashes.
“Oh, don’t be like that. We have so much fun together, and I thought you wouldn’t mind making it a bit more exclusive.”
