Ryder
My phone rings in my back pocket as I stand at the counter, reading through emails from my team.
I have groups all over the United States and in Aruba keeping watch on Lilith.
I receive ample updates daily with photos and voice recordings of Lilith.
My guys installed hidden cameras in all her properties, which I have access to, but I don’t have the time to sit and watch them.
I answer the phone before it goes to voicemail, “What’s up?”
“She took the bait. She’s meeting our rat tomorrow at four in the morning.”
“Took long enough.”
“I know, I know, but you roughed him up pretty bad, man. It took a while for those bruises to heal enough that we could cover them up and make it believable.”
“As long as she took the bait, that’s all that matters. Make sure the guys know where to stage. Do we know who she’s traveling with yet?”
“We have confirmation that she is in Aruba. The team has sent you footage. They will update who she is with once she boards her jet.”
“Perfect. Thanks, man.” I hang up and shut my laptop.
I glance at my Rolex watch and realise Kelsey’s been upstairs looking through pictures for over two hours. I run my hands through my hair and step over to the fridge, pulling out two energy drinks before heading upstairs.
“Find anything?” I ask as I hand her one of the drinks.
“Nope, but thanks,” She says, taking the drink from my hand.
“The mission is set for early in the morning. I’ll have Hawke stay here, but I have to go with the team.” I take a seat on the edge of the bed.
Kelsey beams up at me through thick lashes, “She believed him?”
I nod subtly, “Yeah. I didn’t think she would either. I just knew the piece of shit would fuck it up somehow.”
“Well, why can’t I go with you?” She asks, disappointment crossing through her greenish-blue eyes.
“No, and I mean it. It’s too risky, and I can’t have you there potentially getting caught up in the crossfire.”
She drops her gaze to her hands that are picking at her nails. She’s been biting and picking at them more recently. I wish I could take away her pain and anxiety. She doesn’t deserve anything that’s happened to her. If it should happen to anyone, it should be me. I’m the evil bastard.
It’s almost time for us to head to the track, so I need to prep the Noire and ensure she’s ready to kick ass tonight.
I’ve never lost a race, and I don’t plan to now.
At this point, it’s not about the money, but my pride, and it’s the most the Vipers have ever bet.
After the bullshit they pulled with Kelsey, I plan on taking those sorry sacks of shit for every penny they have.
The gravel crunches under the Noire as I drive us around to the back of Hickory Speedway.
This is where all our races have been held.
It’s a smaller track, but we buy it out for all of our events.
Since I started these races, I hired my own security.
All tickets must be purchased by one of the squads personally.
You can’t just show up and expect to pay your way in.
Tonight is supposed to be our biggest night. The grand total of tickets purchased over four thousand and bets made by fans is still going up, but the last count was almost two million dollars.
I pull through the back entrance and idle at my pit stop. Cory, one of my pit crew members, taps my hood. “You ready, bro?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
Hayden’s Ferrari sits in the pit ahead of me. I see his arm hanging out the window with a lit cigarette. The smoke blows off in the cold winter air.
“This place is slammed tonight,” Kelsey says beside me as she leans closer to the windshield, eyeing the crowd.
“Yeah. Our biggest race yet.” I’ve never seen it like this before. Don’t get me wrong, we have a couple thousand attendees each race, but there are rows and rows of people all around the track. The stands couldn’t hold them all, so they have resorted to the grass areas and hills.
“I’ll be back,” I say to Kelsey before exiting the car. She exits too, although I expected she would stay in the warmth of the car until the race starts.
“I’m gonna go talk to Jessie.” She closes the door and meets me at the hood, standing on her tippy toes, she wraps her arms around my neck and presses a kiss to my lips.
I grip her hips, pulling her closer. My tongue presses against her soft lips, and she parts them, letting me in.
Her chapstick tastes like strawberries, and I’d gladly lick every bit of it off them.
I smack her ass when she pulls away and sprints off towards Jessie. Hayden tosses the cigarette out of the window as I walk up.
“You know what that shit does to your lungs, right?”
He chuckles, “And weed doesn’t?”
“It’s medicinal,” I quip.
He waves me closer with two fingers, “Anything feel odd to you about tonight?” He speaks low enough for only me to hear.
I look around at the booming crowd, and I spot the Vipers’ at their pit along with Russia, Mexico, and Spain’s squads at their stations.
Nobody here is friends. We all come with one thing on our minds.
Winning. They all know who wins every time, but they don’t leave empty-handed.
They still take a participation percentage, and that’s what keeps them coming back for every event.
I don’t feel anything off, but for the Vipers to have placed that large a bet is a little suspicious.
I’ve heard they’re a part of some Venezuelan mafia, but what squad here isn’t a part of something dirty?
The Mexican squad is open about their mafia connections, which is why nobody really fucks with them.
We all try to keep them on our good side for a rainy day.
Spain and Russia show up for their percentage and do only God knows what in their downtimes. Nobody’s ever questioned it.
“Other than the Viper’s betting another steep ass bet they probably can’t afford? No.”
“How the fuck do they keep getting this kind of money? It doesn’t make sense.” I agree, but I’ve never asked, because that’s not my business. I’ll keep taking their money until they’re dirt broke and begging on the streets.
I shrug, “You got my back, tonight?”
“Hell yeah, let’s kick ass!” We fist bump, and I head back to my car.
I stop halfway and find Kelsey in the center of the track with Jessie. I wave her over, since the race is about to start. She runs over with a big grin on her face. Her cheeks and nose are red from the cold. I drape my arm over her shoulder and pull her into my side for some warmth.
“You ready?” She asks, beaming up at me through thick lashes with those big green eyes I love so much.
I smirk and wink at her, “As ever.”
I grip the steering wheel and rev the engine to warm her up while I wait for my cue to pull forward.
“Just stay behind me, man,” I speak through the helmet’s Bluetooth to Hayden.
“I gotchu, bro.”
I get the signal and merge into my lane, slowly rounding the track. The gunshot rings through the air, and I press the clutch while switching gears until I’m passing the other squads. I check the rearview to ensure Hayden’s where he should be. The Noire vibrates as I reach max speeds.
“What the fuck is Alejandro doing?” Hayden hisses.
I flick my gaze to the rearview several times and see Alejandro swerving behind Hayden. “Just keep straight and steady. Press closer to me if you have to.”
We’re on the last lap, and my palms sweat as we near the finish line. I take the final curve with ease, heart pounding. “Something’s not right, Ry.”
I start to tell him to back off and let them pass, but before I can get the words past my lips, metal crunches and tires squeal through the Bluetooth. A massive blaze lights up my cabin, and I flinch forward from the heat that radiates off the explosion. I pull the e-brake and spin the car around.
“What the fuck!!” I run across the track screaming, “Hayden!!”
This isn’t fucking happening.