‘What is it?’ I ask, following his glare to where a group of boys are graffitiing a brick wall in the alleyway with the stupid ECU symbol, a three-pointed crown with the wordsWe Riseunderneath it.Lame.They look familiar. I think it’s the same boys from yesterday but can’t properly make out their faces.
‘Fucking Empire City.’ Ryker scowls. ‘Don’t go anywhere without us for the next few days,’ he says seriously.
I remember the incident with the dog yesterday. The ECU guys are a shitty bunch and they’re seriously messing up the town, but I don’t think I need to worry about my safety. ‘What’s with you guys? Why are you both scared about me being alone all of a sudden?’ I try to keep the situation light, and end my words on a ridiculous laugh.
Only Ryker doesn’t laugh back. ‘I mean it, Gianna. This year is the most intense the rivalry has ever been.’
I chew on my bottom lip and nod. ‘Okay, I hear you.’
He hooks an arm around my shoulders, bringing me in close. I don’t even think as I snake an arm around his waist, letting his chest warm my skin. It feels natural.
‘Good.’ His chest rumbles. ‘I can’t let anything happen to you.’
Ryker releases me when we get to Fernando Garage. The red-brick building has a large roller door that’s open during working hours. It’s industrial looking, though the inside of the building is a stark contrast to its exterior. The foyer is paved with glossy white tiles. There are glassdisplay cases throughout the open area and the lighting makes everything sparkle. The entire wall at the back of the store is lined with chrome, matte black and gold-plated rims. To the left are all the subwoofers and speaker systems. There’s always someone testing out what audio they want to invest in, making the music reverberate through the space in a deep echo. The place is a car lover’s dream.
I follow Ryker as he pushes through a door that saysEmployees Onlyto the mechanic shop out back. A cocktail of oil, exhaust fumes and solvents hits me as the white tiles turn to grey concrete. There are four car hoists, each with a car either lifted high or in the bay. Renny looks up from the engine bay of a new Camaro. When we approach, he bumps Ryker’s fist.
‘What’s up, Little G?’ Renny jerks his chin at me before reaching into his back pocket for a shop cloth. He wipes his hands while Ryker admires the Camaro’s engine.
‘I’m good, Renny. How’d everything go with my truck?’
‘Yeah, good.’ He nods. ‘She’ll be sweet now.’
Behind me, I hear Mr Fernando mumble a few curses. I turn to see him scrunching up a piece of paper and tossing it toward the trash. It misses, rebounds and rolls toward my feet. I pick up the ball and unravel it, taking in the sketch lines of flames. He almost has it.
I smooth out the paper before placing it on the desk beside him.
‘Hey Mr F.’ I smile, reaching over him to grab a graphite pencil. ‘Do you mind?’
‘Show me how it’s done, Gia.’
My chest warms at his belief. ‘You’re using spray paint, right?’
He nods. ‘Airbrush. Not from the can.’
‘For the hood?’
‘Front quarter-panels,’ he corrects.
I extend the flames, letting the licks curl at different heights and taper on the ends for a natural transition into the different chassis panels. When I finish I slide the paper back to him.
Mr Fernando whistles. ‘When are you gonna work for me, huh?’
‘Ma wouldlovethat.’ I almost laugh, picturing the sour look on her face if I blurted out that I’d be doing automobile bodywork.
‘Gia, really. I’ve been at this all day and you did it in five minutes!’
I shrug. ‘It’s no problem, Mr F. Did Jace already pay for the Camino?’
‘Que? Pay?’ He laughs.
‘You guys are family,’ Renny chimes in.
I turn as Renny tosses the keys to Ryker.
‘Actually …’ Ryker then unexpectedly tosses them to me.
My eyes widen as I fumble but manage to catch the keys.
