Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CRASH
My skin is crawling having Valarie so fucking close to me, and her little touches piss me off, but Racer gives me a look that tells me to suck it up and deal with it for tonight.
It was decided that I would keep her happy, in the hopes that she would give me information on her crew, but so far nothing. With what Stevie heard, and what I have been told by my old street racing friends, a big deal will go down tonight.
The 749 crew are out in force. We spot them dealing and there is nothing we can do about it— there are way too many people here tonight.
No one wants a blood bath, and we know that her crew fucking carry guns and knives. Shit, we have witnessed them fucking people up.
“The car ready?” Racer asks.
“Yeah, Pres.”
“She is purring like a bitch in heat,” Savage tacks on, and I chuckle.
“Such a way with words, Savage,” Val chides.
“Much like you then,” he smarts off, looking bored.
Val huffs, looking around the space where we stand. There are over two hundred cars here tonight, and close to three hundred people. Bets are being taken, food and drinks are flowing from the vendors, that are here like us, illegally. But, who gives a fuck, right?
A hot dog is a hot dog.
On more than one occasion I have seen Val focus on one area of people, her head giving the slightest of nods and her hand moving in a certain way.
She is fucking signaling people here with the drugs.
What she doesn’t know is that Forge and Flame and one of the prospects are slipping between people, handling it.
Racer is also on guard like the rest of us— we need to take this crew down before more people get hurt. He’s in communication with Sheriff Palmer as well, to help catch these pricks.
“You have raced this track before?” Savages asks.
“Raced it. Logan is unbeaten on this track,” Val air quotes when she says the word ‘track.’
Savage gives her a deadpan look, before turning his gaze to the people surrounding us. Val looks over her shoulder like she is looking for someone; she is also puffing out her chest, and glaring at any women who come too close.
She is acting like my girlfriend, and it makes my skin itch.
Racer discretely looks to where she is looking, his face showing no emotion, and giving nothing away. He is fucking calculated, and that is what makes him a good president. I inch away from Val, but she follows, moving with me.
Savage smirks at me, knowing that this is pissing me off. He is fucking loving the hell I am in right now. It was him who I talked to about Stevie; it felt right being able to talk to him about my shit.
“Hey, Logan, glad you could be here, man.” Alex comes up to us, Carlos with him but I don’t see Oscar.
We fist-bump and do the one-arm hug thing.
“Hey. Big turn out, man,” I say, smiling.
“Yeah, biggest fucking ever.”
“It might have something to do with the fact you texted every fucker, letting people know that our boy here was back to race,” Carlos adds.
“They really want to see our brother race that much, huh?” Target asks.
“Yeah, man.” Alex looks at him.
“Few people could beat Logan Vaughan. Even in the best souped-up cars,” Carlos chimes in.
“No shit.”
“It is why all the ladies wanted him, but ya know…” Alex nods to Val, who is sneering at my friend.
They never liked her, but she was with me, so they put up with her.
“Yeah, but he’s mine,” Val snaps, her teeth baring at my friends.
Savage grins, and I know that whatever he is about to say will piss her off more.
“Was. Crash was yours, not anymore. He belongs to someone else.”
Val’s face gets red in anger and I swear if she had a knife, she would have slit his throat. Instead she spits her words, and folds her arms, popping a hip in her ridiculously short skirt.
“Oh, but does he, though? He has spent the last few days with me, not her. If they were together, surely, she would be here with him.”
“Shut it, Val.”
“Bitch, you and that trashy mouth need to fucking watch it,” Savage growls.
Her face loses some of its color because Savage sounds inhuman when he growls. I know he is doing it to knock her down a peg or two.
“Whatever,” she huffs, leaning against me again.
We ignore her for a time, talking about cars and people I have raced.
Her body stiffens a little, then she steps closer to me. I have to fight not to pull back when her mouth moves close to my ear. Why the fuck did I agree to pretend to be her man for the night?
Fucking stupid, if you ask me.
“We can celebrate after you win. Like old times.” Her hand touches my forearm.
I go to speak but movement catches my attention when someone calls ‘sorry sweetheart.’ I turn to see Stevie standing there, looking like I just ripped her heart out.
I shrug off Val, who fucking giggles, and it fuels my anger.
Storming toward Stevie I am pissed that she is here, when she could be in danger.
I hated when she used to come to these things back in high school.
It was fucking dangerous back then but it is even worse now that Val has put a target on her back.
“What the fuck are you doing here?”
“W-what?” she stutters, blinking rapidly at the harsh tone of my voice.
Tears fill her eyes, but none roll down her cheeks yet. It fucking guts me but I know that the 749 and Val are all watching.
“You shouldn’t be here.” My voice is deep, showing my anger. My tone makes Stevie stiffen, and her heartbroken look vanishes, replaced with rage.
“Who the fuck are you to tell me what to do?” A tear rolls down her cheek.
“You do not get to say shit about my life anymore, you lying piece of shit. You are a coward, Crash, a fucking coward. All you had to do was fucking tell me that you didn’t want to be with me anymore. That would have hurt less.”
I wince at her words, her anger washing over me. My fists clench at my sides, fighting the urge to pull her to me and take her away from all of this bullshit.
“Some shit has been happening and I will explain later. Please go.”
“Oh, fuck you, Crash.”
“Stop.” It pisses me off that she is using my road name.
“No,” she snaps back. “You hurt me; you made me feel like a fucking fool. Well, I hope that you and your bitch girlfriend had a good laugh at my expense. That is all you will get from me.”
My anger boils hearing her swearing; Stevie never uses swear words unless she is angry and hurt. Clearly, she is both right now, but it is warranted.
“You need to leave,” I snarl
My tone makes her eyes widen, and she takes a step back. I fucking hate doing this to her, but she needs to leave so I can protect her and find out who the fuck tried to hurt her.
Her arms wrap around her middle, her gaze dropping to her feet. My heart is pounding in my chest at hurting her but she needs to leave; I do not want any more attention on her. I will make it up to her when this shit is over.
Stevie’s gaze comes back up to mine, the pain in her eyes that stares right at me, almost makes me drop to my knees and beg for forgiveness. I want to explain everything to her but I hold firm.
“Good luck with the race, Crash.” Licking her lips, she delivers her parting words. “We are done. If we were ever anything. Stay away from me, or I will have my cousin arrest you.”
She spins on her heels and walks away from me, her step sluggish. I fight everything in me not to run to her, and pull her in my arms.
A throat punch would have hurt less.
“You are up next, brother.” Savage is at my side.
“Crash, focus on the race. I will have a prospect follow her,” Racer adds.
I keep my gaze on her retreating back until she gets lost in the crowd, then I turn to my pres.
“Thanks. I need this to be fucking over with.”
“She will understand, Logan,” Alex says, and I snap my head in his direction. “I am not stupid, brother. We are here to help.” He nods to Carlos and Oscar.
I take in a deep breath, and turn back to my car and get in, ignoring a pissed off Val who is not happy that I am not giving her attention. People call out bets and good lucks, but I focus on what I need to do.
My baby growls around me, her engine purring as I drive her to the starting line. I focus on the desert ahead of me, a track I have raced before. I don’t know if anything has changed, but this is what I live for.
The racing. The adrenaline. The rush of winning.
I take a deep breath, calming my erratic beating heart. I have to believe that she will forgive me when I explain everything to her. Pushing all thoughts of Stevie out of my head, I close my eyes, and focus on the sound of the car.
The smell of oil and gas, the chatter, and music all fade away until it is me and my car.
The baby that will help me win this race.
My club will be on guard while I race, digging for information to take the 749 down once and for all. Val included.
A tap on my car has me slowly opening my eyes. I nod to Alex as he walks over with the chick he is dating, who will start the race.
Alex kisses his woman, before walking to the side of the track. We all know the rules: we go when she drops the cloth.
I focus on her, my car revving, along with the three other cars waiting to race me. It is like time slows down. The second she brings her arms down and the cloth falls, we’re gone.
Pedal down, focus on the front, we race. Into turn one, and the one car gets in front of me, making me smirk. “Too soon, motherfucker; you will spin out.” As I say the words, he does just that.
Not breaking early enough, he clearly does not know his car or the track.
I take the lead and it stays like that.
I cross the finish line, my brothers running to my car, except Racer who hangs back watching. Still, he gives me a nod.
My street friends come to congratulate me, then Alex’s girl slips something into my pocket while she kisses my cheek.
“Congrats, Crash.” I look at Alex and he nods.
He knows what she just did.
Val rushes to me, her hands up ready to touch my face, but I sidestep her.
“Do not touch me.” I snarl at her. “I am not yours to touch and you fucking know it.”
Her eyes widen and she steps back, but not far since my brothers are there.
“Take her back to the club,” Racer orders, and the prospect listens.
“Do not fight him, Val.”
“I will go,” Rogue calls, I nod.
“Fucking hell, I need a drink,” I state, scrubbing my hands over my face.
I search the crowd for Stevie, even though deep down I know she is not here. I fucking hurt her, so why would she stay.
“Now we celebrate, brother,” Savage slings his arm around my shoulders.
And we do back at the club. We drink and party. My street friends join us, and the only thing missing is my girl. I drink more to numb the pain of missing her, until I pass out.
Not my finest moment.