Full Throttle 2 (Checkered Flag #2)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

One Year Ago

I t was never a good time to have a difficult and painful conversation. No matter how many years had passed since that fateful night that changed Lila James and Brian Lockwood’s life.

She would have ignored it completely, but Brian said it was necessary in order for them to move forward.

He’d chosen an intimate dinner at a quiet, upscale restaurant. The candlelight flickered between them, casting shadows on the white linen tablecloth. They sat across from each other but were still connected as they held hands.

Brian used his thumb to stroke the back of her hand as a long pause hung between them. The clinking of silverware and the low murmur of other diners could be heard in the background. By the time their meal arrived, neither seemed interested in eating.

Brian shifted uncomfortably. “Lila . . . I know this isn't exactly a fun topic to bring up, but I think we need to talk about that night. The night we broke up.”

Lila traced the rim of her wine glass, avoiding his gaze. “I didn’t think you’d ever bring it up again.”

“I never wanted to, but it’s been sitting on my chest, and I just want us to truly move past it. You told me the broad strokes, and I...” Brian stopped short. “What Anthony did was criminal, but what I did was unforgivable.”

“It wasn’t your fault. I never should have trusted Anthony.”

“No. He was our friend. Normal people can trust their friends.” Brian tightened his hold on Lila’s hand. “I want to do what I should have done all those years ago. I want to listen. I think it would help us both to get closure.”

Lila squeezed Brian’s hands, staring into his eyes. She took a deep breath and let it out with a sigh as her mind returned to that fateful night.

Lila had stood outside of Anthony Luccesse’s dorm room. Her hand had risen, poised to knock, but she had frozen.

She had a moment of hesitation.

Lila wasn’t one to second-guess herself, but something felt off about tonight. Her boyfriend, Brian Lockwood, had mentioned a quiet evening in, but then his best friend called to say that Brian needed her. That Brian wanted Lila to meet him at his place. That was a weird request since she and Brian had recently moved in together.

“Shit. Where are you?!” Lila disconnected her cell. She had been calling Brian all evening but kept getting his voicemail. “I’m trippin’. It’s just Anthony. He’s harmless.”

Anthony had always been a bit of a character, charming, although a bit unpredictable. Rumors on campus had swirled about his family being some big crime family, but Anthony didn’t fit that description. He just seemed like a normal person, maybe born on the wrong side of the tracks and desperately wanting to fit in. That part...Lila understood because she was also born on the wrong side of the tracks, and being on a scholarship at this highfalutin college made it more apparent.

Shaking off the unsettling feeling, Lila knocked on the door. There was movement and a bit of rattling behind it before the door opened.

Anthony stood on the other side, smiling wide. He was all teeth. “Hey, Lady Lila, come on in.”

“Hey, Anthony.” Lila stepped inside and scanned the room. “I’m supposed to meet Brian here?”

“Yeah, yeah. He’s on his way. He got caught up at the gym.”

“Weird that he would ask to meet him at your place.” Lila glanced at her watch, noting that it was already a few minutes past their scheduled time. She was about to pull out her phone to text Brian when Anthony interrupted her.

“Look, I know this seems strange. I thought it was weird too. My guess is he just wants to surprise you at your place and couldn’t do that if you were there. Isn’t tomorrow your sixth-month anniversary or some shit like that?”

Lila’s eyes crinkled as she smiled. “Yeah. It is. I can’t believe Brian remembered.”

Anthony flashed a sly grin. “You got his nose wide open. Dudes in love. Of course, he remembered. You want some water or something while you wait?”

“Um . . . yeah, water is good.”

Anthony pulled a cold bottle of water from his small dorm refrigerator and tossed it to her.

“Thanks.”

“You and Brian...you two are kind of a big deal on campus.” Anthony leaned against his desk, the same big smile on his face.

Lila felt her cheeks flush. She wasn’t sure what to make of the compliment. “I don’t know what you mean,” she replied, forcing a light laugh. “We’re just regular people.”

“Brian talks about you all the time.” Anthony's eyes lingered on her a little too long, his expression a mixture of admiration and something more calculating. Lila quickly diverted her gaze. With nervous fingers, she twisted the top off her water, feeling the tension break as the sealed plastic gave, and took a few sips of water.

“Can you believe we graduate this year?” Anthony smiled as if he were trying to put Lila at ease, but something felt wrong. It’s like his smile doesn’t reach his eyes .

“Tuh. Y’all graduate this year. I still have one more to go.”

“You’re like some whiz kid, right? Didn’t you start college early?”

Lila didn’t like talking about herself. She had graduated from high school two years ahead of schedule and was now in her junior year of college.

“Um. Something like...I should probably call Bri...” Lila’s tongue felt heavy. She blinked a few times. Her head was starting to feel a little woozy. Lila cut her eyes to Anthony. “Did you do something to this water?!”

He laughed. “Sweetheart, you are much too trusting.”

Lila’s knees felt wobbly as her vision blurred. She brought her hand to her head. “Oh, my god. You did!”

“Don’t worry. I’m not going to do anything crazy.” Anthony’s laugh was diabolical as he walked toward her.

“Why would you do...this?” The words slipped out of her mouth in almost a whisper before she passed out, and everything went black.

Anthony caught Lila before she hit the floor. He continued to laugh. “Brian will never be able to top this.”

The door swung open, and Brian stepped inside.

“Hey, man, have you seen my phone? I think I left it here earl—” Brian stopped, his eyes locking on Lila and Anthony. The tension in his body was immediate, and his face hardened as he marched toward the bed.

Anthony hopped out, wrapping himself in a sheet, leaving Lila completely naked and exposed. “Hey, man.” He did his best to cover up his laughter. “I can explain.” His words were half-hearted and hollow in meaning.

"What the fuck?" Brian’s voice was dangerously controlled. Lila was coming out of her stupor, and she could hear the edge of anger in it only she couldn’t move to explain. Lila could barely open her eyes. She tried to move her lips, but nothing came out. Was she even talking? Lila’s brain screamed, It’s not what you think !”

Brian’s gaze turned to her, full of hurt.

Then Lila heard it—a sharp, furious shout, followed by the unmistakable sound of a punch connecting with flesh.

Anthony yelled, “You’re really trippin’ over a bitch?!”

Brian didn’t have the words to describe his pain. Finding the woman he loved and his best friend together was too much. However, he planned to make Anthony physically pay. The only communicating he could do was with his fists.

The two of them were locked in a vicious struggle, Brian’s fists continuously colliding with Anthony’s face, grunts of exertion punctuating each blow.

Anthony was trying to break free, delivering an elbow to Brian’s ribs that sent him stumbling back.

Anthony threw a wild punch, but Brian dodged it and shoved him back with all his might. They were both losing control, too caught up in the chaos of their emotions to stop and think.

Lila couldn’t wake up. Her mind was screaming, but the words just wouldn’t come.

Anthony was still on the ground. Brian’s chest heaved with ragged breaths as he looked from Anthony to Lila with anger, hurt, and disgust. “You went behind my back,” he said quietly, his voice an almost whisper. “You can have her.”

Lila’s heart shattered. Her mind continued to scream, This is not what it seems ! Please let me explain . Brian, help me !

Brian got off Anthony, who was still recovering from his beatdown. Anthony sat up slowly, wiping the blood from his split lip, his eyes full of something—jealously, resentment—but also a flicker of regret. He wondered if maybe he’d gone too far.

Brian stormed out of the room, leaving the door wide open.

The paralysis seemed to be wearing off. First, Lila could move a toe, then a finger. Once she could move her legs, Lila stumbled out of the bed. As she shuffled around the room, Anthony acted like she wasn’t there.

Lila whispered, “How could you do this to me?”

Anthony stood over the sink of cold running water, tossing it over his face. “I didn’t do shit. I didn’t sleep with you. So, there’s no need to get a Plan B.”

Lila was confused as she limped around, trying to gather her clothing. “Then why? Why would you do this?”

“Golden boy needed to be taken down a peg or two. And honestly, you’re better than him anyway.”

Lila couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Still mostly undressed but covered up enough not to expose herself, she was moving toward the door, ignoring his words, ignoring the lingering thoughts of betrayal.

She stepped into the chilly night air, her mind racing as she rushed to get home. By the time Lila arrived at their shared apartment, there were no signs of Brian. But there were several boxes thrown haphazardly around full of her things. He’d shoved her books, clothes, and the framed picture of the two of them inside.

Lila stood in the empty doorway of their apartment, numb, as tears streamed down her face. What could she do? There was no way Brian would believe her. Embarrassed and ashamed, Lila had done the only thing she could. She had picked up her things and left.