I drifted toward the outside as we approached the dip, letting him think I was taking the bait. He hung just behind and to myleft, too close and eager. Then at the last possible second, I cut tighter, using the line Nitro had pointed out earlier, the one their rider hadn’t accounted for because he’d built his confidence around sabotage instead of skill.
His bike wobbled when he realized the trap hadn’t done a damn thing. Just a tiny crack in control, but at these speeds, those became wide-open doors.
I took the opening, and the bike surged under me as I opened the throttle through the exit, gaining distance. The sound of his engine shifted wrong, just hesitation, and that was all I needed. I pushed harder, leaned deeper, and rode the track like I’d built it. The crowd’s roar rose higher, feeding the air while the Serpent tried to recover ground he wasn’t good enough to take back.
By the final stretch, he was done, he just didn’t know it yet. The finish lights burned ahead, and I let the bike run. I crossed with enough distance to make sure there was no question who’d come out on top.
The yard erupted, and I eased off the throttle, and circled back toward the pit, the bike vibrating beneath me. Almost purring like she knew she’d done exactly what she was built to do.
The Diesel Serpents’ side looked ugly from where I rode past, men shifting, shoulders tight, arrogance curdling into something closer to fear. Guess they had some sense in their thick heads. They should be afraid. The race settled the public terms, but the private debt still had blood on it.
15
SAYLOR
As soon as Levi crossed the finish line, I took off running toward him. My heart was pounding with relief, pride, and pure joy. He barely had time to swing his leg off his bike before I reached him. But his reflexes were so quick that he still caught me mid-stride, lifting me clean off my feet like I weighed nothing.
His arms banded tight around me as his mouth crashed down on mine in a hard kiss right, there in front of everyone. It was a public declaration that I was his.
When he finally set me back on my feet, I was breathless and flushed. He kept his hands on my waist for a moment longer, studying my face like he needed to reassure himself I was really okay. Then his expression shifted.
The victorious racer disappeared, replaced by the lethal biker he rarely showed me. “We’re going to deal with those motherfuckers now. Probably won’t be back until tomorrow.”
An uneasy shiver ran through me. I didn’t ask for details, but I understood what he meant. This was part of Levi’s world, and after everything that other club had done, I couldn’t pretend they didn’t deserve whatever was coming. Still, the idea of himdisappearing left me feeling a little unsteady. I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do with myself while he was gone.
I forced that fear down, though. The man I loved was about to go into a dangerous situation, and the last thing I wanted was for him to be worried about me. “Okay. Be safe.”
“You don’t need to worry about me, baby. My brothers will have my back.” He brushed his lips against mine again before he asked, “You want to talk to your sister? She’s at the compound. Figured you might want to give her the news yourself.”
Before I could answer, he added, “I don’t have to see Sutton if you don't want to. I won’t think less of you either way. I just wanted to give you the option.”
A spark of anger lit in my chest, surprising me. Grinning at him, I nodded. “Oh, I want to see her all right.”
Smirking, he leaned in, his breath warm against my ear. “That fiery attitude is making me hard as fuck right now.”
Heat flooded my face, making him chuckle. He kissed me again, slower this time but no less possessive.
When he pulled back, his eyes were full of sensual promise. “Go handle your shit while I handle mine. Afterward, we’re going home to talk.”
The emphasis he put on that last word sent another shiver through me. I knew exactly what kind of conversation he had in mind.
Levi looked over my shoulder and lifted his chin at someone behind me, silently summoning them. A prospect appeared at my side like he’d been summoned out of thin air. Levi gave him a nod, then turned back to me.
“I’ll see you at the clubhouse.” He pulled me in for one last kiss before stepping back. “Stay safe.”
I watched him walk away with a group of his club brothers, knowing the night wasn’t over for either of us.
Since I’d ridden with Levi on his bike, the prospect led me over to a black SUV waiting near the edge of the lot. Axle was already behind the wheel. He greeted me with a nod as I climbed into the passenger seat.
The drive back to the clubhouse was quiet. Axle wasn’t much of a talker, and I was grateful for the silence. It gave me time to think about what I was about to say to Sutton. And how I actually felt about everything that had happened.
When we reached the compound, the prospect at the gate waved us through without question. The familiar sight of the clubhouse should have calmed me, but my stomach was tied in knots. I knew Sutton was safe for the moment, but that didn’t untangle the messy ball of anger, sadness, loyalty, and exhaustion twisting inside me.
Axle parked near the clubhouse and turned to me. “She’s in Kane’s office.”
“Thanks.” I took a deep breath, nodded, and stepped out of the SUV. My legs felt a little unsteady as I headed inside.
Wrench was standing just outside Kane’s office door. He gave me a nod and stepped aside without question, letting me pass.
