Chapter 1
Eight hundred miles from home, I was tearing the roads up.
I was driving through North Carolina when smoke started coming from my hood the same time I heard rattling.
Pinky was my prize possession, so there was no way I was about to disregard whatever was going wrong.
Grabbing my phone, I typed in nearest car shop into my GPS and followed the route.
I saw a sign that said Diamond Cove and exited there.
From the population, it let me know it was a small town, but it might have some action if you looked in the right places.
I was a city girl through and through, so I knew the slow life wasn’t for me.
Back home, I would be posted up on the block, while someone bbq’d on the sidewalk, with the whole hood out there kicking it.
The skyline always showing in the background; giving you a hint of beauty even when you were in the roughest parts.
Riding through Diamond Cove, people were sitting on their porches quietly.
The grass looked full and green, the buildings were intact, and I know I looked out of place.
From the way they turned their heads, to the way they crossed the streets.
Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion.
Knowing how shit goes, and what I was running from, I knew not to take that for granted.
Slow didn’t mean safe, so I was gone have to keep my head down.
Seeing the old stores along the way had me wondering if this was the kind of place someone like me could settle down and live. Yeah, it was enough distance because I had about eight hundred miles between here and Chicago, but gah damn this town seemed too quiet for me.
I had a hundred thousand and it would hold me for now, but I couldn’t live off that forever. The only way I knew how to get money was by racing, and I was sure there was no way a town like this raced or had tracks. Hell, they probably didn’t even know what tracks was.
Grateful the shop wasn’t that far, I pulled into the lot.
Looking at the exterior, I could tell this was a high end spot.
Nothing about this shop looked like the neighborhood mechanic shops back home.
Dodge Customs was branded on the chrome signs.
Knowing I didn’t have a choice, I climbed out and walked inside. It was more luxurious than the outside.
I had no idea how they called this a car shop and wasn’t an oil or dirt spot in sight.
It was an old school, and a damn Lambo jacked up.
It looks like he was adding a wrap and some rims to the cars.
Definitely wasn’t filling a radiator or changing a hose.
The shit looked immaculate, and I was about to turn around and leave back out.
Just as I went to turn, a fine ass man came from the backroom carrying a box.
The chocolate that was oozing from this man had my girl purring harder than Pinky.
Shifting uncomfortably, I continued to stare at his features.
He had faded scars along the right side of his face, but other than that, he didn’t have a blemish.
The scowl on his face let me know that he wasn’t friendly, but it gave him a mysterious sex appeal.
His eyes were low as if he had been smoking weed, but since they looked clear, I didn’t think he had smoked anything.
His hair was in a low nappy fro that completed the look, but it was his body that turned me on the most. He had to be about six three, so his height made his weight balance out well.
It was a cross between muscular and slightly heavier.
If I had to guess, I would say he was about two seventy.
The dick print in his work pants didn’t go unnoticed.
Trailing back up to his eyes, I noticed he was looking at me strangely.
“Shorty, you lost?”
“What makes you say that?” I wanted to tell him no baby, I’m exactly where both of my cats led me. So, I needed to be right here.
“Because I can tell you not from around here. Look, I don’t have time for the bullshit back and forth. What’s up?” My lust went out the window, and the Chicago in me came out.
“I didn’t know a potential client was bullshit, but that makes sense why this mufucka so empty.” I could tell I was annoying him, but he started it.
“Either tell me what’s going on, or you can bounce your ass back to where you came from. As you can see, I’m busy.” Knowing I needed his help, I decided to let him make it.
“My car is smoking,” I said dryly.
“And you drove it here?”
“Naw, nigga. I pushed it. How else did you think I got it here?” His jaw line jumped, and I tried to muffle the laugh that escaped my mouth. This nigga was ready to throw me out on my ass.
“It’s a park down the street.” I looked at him confused.
“Why would I go to a park when I need my car fixed?”
“Cause I’mma need you to go play with something safe. Look, we can do this all day, but as I said, I’m busy.” Sighing in frustration, I dropped my attitude and started over.
“Look, I’m new here and I’m annoyed that my baby acting up. She’s never done that before, but then again, I’ve never driven her this far. I’m Storm, and I would appreciate it if you took a look at my car.”
“I’m Dodge, and you can’t afford me. Next time, get a rental or don’t drive yo lil trap car out of town.
” My mouth dropped as he walked to the door and held it open for me.
Not about to beg this jerk ass nigga, I stormed past him and walked to my car.
When I climbed in, he looked back over his shoulder, and I could see a look of shock on his face. “Hey, hold up.”
“What you gone say now? I gotta clean up the fluids my car leaking?” Dodge smirked, but that was as far as it went. I had a feeling he wasn’t the type that laughed often.
“Naw, I was gone ask were you a part of the Hellcat Barbies?” I looked at him confused again.
“The who?” He nodded as if he was trying to get me to look across the street, so I turned my head.
It was a bar that said HC Barbies, and the lot was full of Challengers.
From the colorways, one would assume they were owned by women.
“Naw, but I will say I’m shocked. I would have never guessed this town had car clubs. ”
“Maybe you shouldn’t assume.” I looked at Dodge like I know you fucking lying.
“Like you did me and my trap car?”
“Touchè. Look, it’s not usually what I do, but I’ll look at it and see if I can help you out.
I’m not really a people person, so find you somewhere else to hang out.
Give me your number, and I’ll call you when I’m done.
” He pulled his phone out, so I dialed my number in his phone and walked off.
Sighing, I made my way across the street.
I wasn’t trying to join a car club, but I was interested to see how they were coming in this small town.
When I walked inside, it’s like the music stopped. I must have been wearing a sign saying I wasn’t from around here. Looking around, I took in the faces that was staring at me before heading to the bar. Taking a seat, I people watched while I waited on the bartender to make her rounds.
I’m not gone lie; it was a lot of bad bitches in here. I never would have imagined seeing them in a place like this. They were huddled up while staring at me, so I assumed they were the Hellcat Barbies.
“What can I get for you?”
“Double of Don,” I said feeling completely out of place. I was wearing my hair in a ponytail and had on a t-shirt and joggers, while these chicks looked like they just stepped off the runway. The lady behind the bar placed my drink in front of me, and I handed her my card.
“You want to run a tab?” Not knowing how long it was going to take, I shrugged my shoulders.
“Fuck it. Why not?” She laughed and walked away. One of the girls from the table got up and made her way over to me. She was gorgeous and very obviously pregnant.
“I don’t mean to get in your business, but was that your cat you pulled up in?”
“I’ve never rode anybody else’s cat. I don’t really swing that way.” I could see she didn’t catch my joke, so I shook my head and answered her. “Yeah.”
“Well, if you haven’t figured it out, we’re a car club. Hellcat Barbies. I’m Sass, that’s Dashai, Imani, Zora, Cress, and the one behind the bar is our founder, Aubree.” I nodded not really understanding where this was going.
“That’s what’s up.” I didn’t want to be rude, but I wasn’t really a friendly person.
“Are you just visiting?” Seeing she wasn’t gone let me be, I said fuck it and engaged.
“I don’t know yet. I need a new place to lay my head, but I can’t be in a zombie town. Is it some lit shit to do around here? It seems pretty quiet.” A smile crossed her face, and I could tell she got excited.
“You have no idea. I’m going to the racetracks later, you want to go? You can get your feet wet, and then maybe-…” I didn’t mind being friendly, but I cut her off right there.
“I race alone. I’m not into the crowd thing, but thanks.” Reaching her phone to mine, she bumped it transferring her number to me.
“Well, think about it. Everyone doesn’t race, and you don’t have to in order to be a part of Hellcat. Trust me, I came here on a whim trying to leave my past behind me, and it was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“How you figure I’m running from something?”
“People don’t just end up in Diamond Cove.
I’m not asking you to tell me your story, I’m just saying in a town full of strangers, it’s easier to have a group of genuine people in your corner.
If you change your mind about tonight, let me know.
” I didn’t know if I would ever join them, but I did like her vibe. She was cool.
“I’ll let you know. My car overheating, so I may not be able to race anyway. Oh, and I’m Storm by the way.” Sass smiled at me in a mischievous way.
“If Dodge is fixing it, trust me, it will be ready.” She walked off and left me to ponder over my thoughts and finish my drink alone.
This lil town might be aight after all. It takes a while for me to warm up to people, but once I did, shit was good.
If I was gone have to stay here, I might as well figure out everything Diamond Cove had to offer.
I’ll swing by, but I wasn’t going to race as a group.
As I said, I race alone. Didn’t hurt to go look though.