RickThe fight was on as soon as we left the starting line.We didn’t have as long of a straightaway as we did in the last race, so a lot of the other drivers were right in the front with us as we came into our first corner. The road opened up into a short, straight shot and then a gentle bend that led us to busier streets.By the time we took the curve, there were only five cars left at the front of the pack. I decided to use them to my advantage.I created space between Torq and me by letting the other drivers ride up between us. I didn’t let them get ahead of me because I wasn’t interested in playing catch up in the last few miles of the race, but I did let them linger in between us for a few more corners until we were out on busier streets.Then I made a couple moves, swerved around some traffic, and pulled ahead to take the lead. Then the rain started.At first, it was nothing to worry about. Traction was still good, and it wasn’t raining enough to slow down the other civilian dr

HarleyI held my breath as I watched the crash unfold.Rick and Torq bounced off each other as they came racing down the road toward the finish line. It was all I could do not to scream as Torq drove into the side of Rick’s Saleen over and over, pushing him toward the outside lane, forcing him over, and nearly sending him veering into the cement median.“Oh God,” Laina breathed beside me.Oh God was right. It was going to get worse before it got better. I could feel it in my bones.Mason stepped up beside me. I spared a glance up at him. His jaw was clenched, and every muscle in his body was strained. “Come on, little brother. Come on!”“He’s got him,” Benji said, trying to sound confident.From where I was standing, it looked like things could go either way. Torq pulled away, creating a decent gap between the two cars. I exhaled as I realized I was growing dizzy and bit down on my tongue.“Keep her straight,” Mason said. It almost sounded like he was pleading. He knew how dangerous t

RickI landed heavily on the wet pavement after managing to climb out through the passenger window of the Saleen. My right leg was tender and bruised from Torq driving into me, and my chest ached from the seatbelt and being jostled around roughly as I’d lost control of the car.But I was alive, nothing was broken, and there was no blood. So, overall, things were pretty good.Aside from the approaching police.I used the car to push myself to my feet, slicking my wet hair off my forehead as I rose. Then I stood and waited for the dizziness to pass. I didn’t think I’d hit my head at any point, but it sure felt like I had. Maybe it was just severe vertigo from whiplash.It didn’t matter. I could figure that out later. I had to focus on getting the hell out of there and making sure Harley was safe, too.She had a lot to lose if this race got busted, and so did I. She was everything. If I lost her, I would lose my damn mind. After all this time, we were finally together, and there was noth

HarleyIt was a wonder that the Saleen had even started back on the track, and it was even more mind blowing that it made it back to my house without losing several more pieces along the way.I parked at the back of my building in the private parking lot. I didn’t want to leave it on the curb in case any police drove by. It would be easy for them to link the Saleen to the scene down by the docks, and then we’d be done for.After parking the car, Rick had to climb out of the passenger window again. Every move he made was gentle and controlled. I knew he was hurting and hated that there was nothing I could do to take the pain away.Once he was out of the car, I climbed across the console and slipped out too. He offered me his hand, and I took it but didn’t lean on him for support. I was pretty sure he wasn’t in much of a position to be offering it in the first place.We walked soundlessly across the parking lot, our footsteps drowned out by the sound of rain pinging off the metal garbag

RickAll the aches and pains that had plagued me on Saturday night were still with me when I woke up on Monday morning. I was lying on my back, and Harley was tucked into my side. Her cheek was on my chest, and her left leg was draped over me. Her breathing was deep and slow and soft, and I didn’t open my eyes.I just lay there and listened to her. And felt her closeness.Yesterday had been dedicated to recovering and covering our tracks from Saturday’s race. I hired a tow-truck driver to come get the Saleen and bring it back to my place, where I got it in the garage so that if the cops came looking for it, the car wasn’t sitting out somewhere. It needed a lot of work, and the downside of street racing was obviously that it didn’t have insurance. I couldn’t claim a hit and run when the car was beat to shit on both sides and the rear end.Fucking Torq.But it was just a car, and I liked working on vehicles. The Saleen would be my project for the next year or so while I figured out what