Chapter 13
Expendable
LEV
Things are easier now that the races are out in the open between us. Chance and I don’t have to worry about finding an excuse with Zara to disappear in the middle of a post-game party.
I hate that Zara has been caught up in the same trap we’ve been trying to get out of since initiation night, but not having to lie to her is definitely a perk.
The clearing at the end of campus is even more crowded than last week when we arrive once the party at the Gamma house begins to die down. The race is probably the reason why the attendance at the party is dwindling faster than normal.
“Morelli is a dumbass if he thinks he can keep flying under the radar much longer.” Chance shakes his head, pulling Zara closer to his side.
“Every week the amount of people seems to double. There’s no way the cops won’t be tipped off by such large gatherings, even if we’re in the middle of fucking nowhere. ”
I can’t say that I disagree with him. “Morelli is cocky. He thinks he can intimidate the entire town.” I bite out. “His uncle’s reach is probably wider than we think. We don’t know who he might have on the payroll.”
Zara catches my drift. “Do you mean the cops?” She looks around before entering the hangar where we agreed to store our bikes, since we now race for the house. “Don’t get caught saying stuff like that in front of Heather. You know she adores her dad.”
“Speaking of the devil,” I lower my voice, spotting Fox and his brother within earshot as they push Cal’s BMW out of the hangar. “Where is Heather? I didn’t even see her at the game or at the party.”
“She texted me earlier that she had a migraine and would have to miss out on tonight’s events. I offered to keep her company until it was time to come race, but she said she was miserable and she just wanted to take her meds and go to bed with her curtains shut.”
That doesn’t surprise me. “I feel for her. My mom suffers from migraines. Thankfully, she doesn’t get them very often. But a bad migraine is the only thing that has ever forced her to work from home.”
“I was a little relieved that she didn’t want company,” Zara admits. “Because there’s no way I could have skipped tonight’s race.”
Ares’s voice reaches us from the entrance. “I would rather know you were with Heather than about to take part in this race.”
Zara hands me the helmet she had just picked up and runs to greet Ares.
“Hey,” she surrounds his neck, pushing up on the tips of her toes to kiss him. “I thought you were on duty tonight.”
The stony expression on Ares’s face softens as he cups her jaw. “I was, princess. I asked one of my colleagues to cover for me. I would have been useless anyway if I had gone to work; my head would have been here the whole time.”
I don’t blame him. We’re all on edge after last week’s race.
Ares was hoping that my parents would come through with some kind of magic solution that would allow us—or at least Zara—to skip tonight’s race.
But when I spoke to my dad at lunchtime, he told us he needed a couple more days before we could make our move to end everything.
“Ares,” Zara’s voice is soft as she brushes his lips with hers. “I’ll be fine. I promise.”
The words intended to soothe him have the opposite effect.
“You can’t promise me that. What if that bike comes back? What if you get hurt? Maybe we should take our chances with Morelli and tell him that you aren’t racing, no matter what.”
“No.” She shakes her head vehemently, taking a step back from him.
Her leather clad body is shaking. “I would rather risk being hit during the race than having to live watching my back for the rest of my life. You weren’t there when he confronted me at the Country Club.
If I don’t race, he’s gonna hurt us all. ”
Ares opens his mouth to argue, but I intervene, backing Zara.
“Zee is right. You heard my parents, Ares. I don’t think Morelli was bluffing. His aren’t empty threats.”
He knows that I’m right, but Ares is the most stubborn guy I’ve ever met. He could give his father a run for his money. “So what are we supposed to do? Let Zara risk her life? Either way, her safety is in jeopardy.”
“Chance and I will keep her safe.” I say after exchanging a look with Chance. “We have a plan.”
“What’s your plan?” Ares’s interest is peaked. “I’m ready to do anything to keep our girl safe.”
Our girl.
Not my girl. I stifle a smile at the thought that maybe there’s hope after all. Maybe Ares will come around to the idea that we’ll all be happier if we don’t ask Zara to choose between us.
“Chance and I will keep an eye on Zara. We don’t give a shit about winning the race. We’ll try to stay as close to her as possible, and if that bike comes back, we’ll protect Zara.”
Chance nods. “We won’t let anyone close to her.”
Ares doesn’t look entirely convinced. “I guess that’s better than nothing.”
I would take offense at his lack of faith in mine and his brother’s ability to protect the woman we love, but Zara’s reaction comes before I can say anything.
“Absolutely not.” She crosses her arms over her chest.
“Come again?” We’re all confused by her reaction.
Zara’s scowl darkens as she glares at each of us. “I appreciate the fact that you want to protect me. But I feel the same about each of you, guys. How do you think I would feel if, to protect me, one of you got seriously injured or worse?”
Fuck.
She isn’t wrong, but I would give my life to save hers, and I’m pretty sure Chance and Ares feel exactly the same way.
“We’ll be fine, Zee.” I try to appease her. “We won’t take unnecessary risks, I promise.”
“Bull-shit.” Her eyes are narrowed suspiciously when she calls my bluff. “I don’t believe you, Lev. I know you and Chance way too well, and you would totally risk your ass to save mine.”
I’m racking my brain to find something to say that will convince her that we know what we’re doing, but Chance decides to confront her head-on.
“You’re right. We will risk everything to keep you safe. So accept it and help us protect you.” He’s mimicking her stance, his arms crossed over his chest; the corners of his lips are curled in a defiant smile.
Zara’s mouth drops open with surprise. “What the fuck? You’re admitting that?”
Chance’s smile widens. “Yup. We love you, and we’ll protect you. No matter what. There’s nothing you can do to stop us.”
Zara’s temper has the best of her. “Watch me.” She walks right to his face and pushes on his chest with both hands.
Chance has over a foot and a hundred pounds on her, and he doesn’t budge. “I love you, baby. And I’m gonna protect you whether you like it or not. But you’re cute when you’re mad.”
That was the wrong thing to say.
“Oh my God.” Zara gasps. “I thought the asshole between us was Ares, but you’re even worse than your brother.”
“Gee, thanks.” Ares chuckles, partially offended and partially amused.
Zara’s lips tip into the beginning of a smile at Ares’s reaction, but she returns her glare to Chance. “I’m not cute. I’m fucking mad. And calling me cute makes it worse.”
My best friend doesn’t back down. “You can call me an asshole all you want, baby. But that doesn’t change the situation. At the risk of repeating myself, I love you so much that it makes me crazy.”
The air in the dilapidated hangar is charged with electricity as Zara and Chance stare each other down.
She lunges at him and for a second, I debate if Ares and I will need to pull her off Chance, but there’s no need.
Rather than hit him, Zara crushes her lips on his. “I love you too.” She pants as Chance lifts her and holds her against him by the backs of her thighs. “But don’t ever call me cute when we’re arguing.”
He nips at her bottom lip, squeezing her toned, leather clad ass with both hands. “Then stop being cute. But I don’t think it’s possible.”
“Guys.” Ares raises his voice, his hands on his hips. “I hate to interrupt your argument—and by the way, sorry, princess, you are fucking cute—but the race will start soon. Sorry again, Zara, but I like Lev and Chance’s plan. If that bike comes back, your safety is our priority.”
Zara jumps out of Chance’s embrace, turning around to argue with Ares too, but I pull her close, wrapping one arm around her shoulders.
“Don’t worry, Zee.” I kiss her temple. “Chance and I will be careful. On the other two times, the person on that bike was at an advantage because we were surprised. This time when he shows up, we’ll be ready to react.”
She lifts her face to look at me. “If you got hurt trying to protect me, I—”
I silence her with a kiss, and she melts against me. “I know. After all, you decided to get involved and resurrect JJ Smith to watch over me and Chance, right? So you understand our need to watch over you.”
It isn’t a question, and Zara has to admit it. “It’s true. Just… be careful.”
“Right back at ya.” I say, handing her helmet to her before I grab mine. “Now, let’s get out there and get this done. Then we can go home. I don’t care where we stay, but I missed having you in my arms last night.”
Chance
We push our bikes out of the hangar, headed to the starting line where Angela is getting ready to drop her scarf to signal the beginning of the race.
The deputy mayor’s daughter whispers something in Fox’s ear, and he slaps her ass with a wolfish grin before covering his face with his helmet.
I’ve known Angie since we were kids, but I can’t really say that I know her.
She’s never talked much, content with being Heather’s sidekick.
Atlas used to tease his girlfriend about needing to get a third friend to complete her mean girls crew.
Not that Heather has ever been that mean to anyone, but she was definitely one of the most popular girls in our school, and Angela enjoyed that popularity by association.
Zara’s arrival in town has been like a hand grenade to their friendship.