Page 6 of Vicious Temptation

People still fill the lot, and another race is already starting beyond the crowd, but none of it keeps my mind occupied for long. AJ was right. Val is in Russia, she’ll be in Spain tomorrow, and I’m going home alone.

I know what happens when I give myself too much time to think. The grief comes first, followed by memories I’ve spent years trying not to revisit and tears that still find me some nights.

“I need to move.”

I jump back into my car, fire up the engine, and peel out, cranking the music loud enough that I won’t have to think about any of it.

My fingers drum against the steering wheel as I hum along with the bass thumping through the speakers, but the car suddenly stumbles beneath me.

“What the fuck?”

The throttle feels sluggish under my foot.

“Come on...”

Easing off the gas, I roll back into it. The response is delayed, followed by a sharp cough from the exhaust. A second later, the check engine light flickers to life. Of course it does.

I glance down at the gauges.

Oil pressure is fine.

Coolant temperature is steady.

Fuel sits just under half a tank.

Another violent shudder rattles through the chassis.

“This is just fucking perfect.”

The impact from the Camaro must have knocked something loose. That son of a bitch.

I flip on my hazards and guide her onto the shoulder just as the first fat drops of rain splatter across my windshield. By the time I throw the car into park, the sky opens up.

“Oh, great,” I mutter.

Popping the hood, I step into the downpour, already reaching for my flashlight. Rain soaks through my shirt within seconds as I scan the engine bay, checking hoses, clamps, wiring, and belts for anything out of place.

“Talk to me, baby.”

Another flash of lightning splits the sky, followed by a low rumble of thunder as I work through the obvious possibilities first. Everything looks exactly where it should be.

“Come on. Give me something...”

I grab my toolkit from the trunk and get to work. Fifteen minutes turn into twenty, and I’m no closer to figuring out what the hell is wrong. Water drips from the end of my nose as I wipe my hands on my jeans, smearing grease across the soaked denim.

“You’ve got jokes tonight, huh?”

There goes my evening. I was already looking forward to a hot shower, a movie playing in the background while I scrolled aimlessly, and maybe finally trying out that little toy Val mailed me last week.

I laugh under my breath.

“Always looking out for me.”

Thinking about her makes me realize how much I fucking miss her.

I’m happy she found the kind of love she has with Maksim because she deserves every bit of it. I just wish a small, selfish part of me didn’t miss when it was just the two of us against the world, convinced we could burn the whole damn thing down.

“She’ll be back soon,” I murmur, leaning over the car again as I resist the urge to take a crowbar to this bitch.