Mason I scratched my chin. Rick came in from the bathroom after his shower. He had his towel wrapped around his waist, and he looked over at me, curious about the call. I sighed. “Yeah. I’m in.” “Fuck yeah. I’ll tell him. I’m going to keep the car at my place, and I’ll bring it for you on Saturday. I think it would be smart to keep this low-key. Sid and Mark think you don’t have a car—at least, I’m assuming they think that because let’s be real, they’re most likely the ones who jumped your brother.” I glanced up at Rick. At his bruised jaw, black eyes, busted nose, split lip, and bruised ribs. “Yeah. Most likely.” “Let’s let them keep thinking you’re out of the race until the last minute. Then maybe we can avoid whatever crazy shit they might try to throw at you if they think you’re driving on Saturday.” “Good plan, Benji. Thanks for getting on this.” “No problem, man.” I considered asking him about La

LainaI got to work at the restaurant twenty-five minutes early for my shift. It gave me time to change into my uniform, black jeans, a black short-sleeved button-up, and black heels, and also put on some lipstick. Tips were tips, and having a pop of color seemed to earn me a couple extra bucks by the end of the night. A couple of other waitresses who were also waiting for the shift change started trickling in as I sat in the break room thinking about that kiss in Mason’s kitchen. If I thought on it hard enough, I could still feel the warmth of his hands in my back pockets. It was pleasant. I wanted to be back there, trapped between his arms, being kissed. He made me feel more alive than I had in ages. The way he held and touched me and teased me lit little fires in my veins. They were still burning now. By the time my shift started, I was doing everything in my power to stop thinking about Mason. He was a huge distraction. I tied my apron around my

Mason Benji took a left turn. “Sometimes. Sometimes, I think it’s good for both of you. I know how things have been for you for the last six months. And I’ve met the other guys Laina has dated in the past. I keep trying to tell myself you might be good for each other. But don’t get me wrong, it’s still fucking weird.” I laughed. This was more than a little uncomfortable. “If you don’t want me to—” Benji shook his head. “No. It’s not my place to tell either of you what to do. Just… don’t fuck her over, okay? She’s a good girl with a heart of gold, and I can’t stand by and let her get hurt. And I don’t want to have to step in. You get what I’m saying?” I nodded. “Yeah. I get it.” In other words, he was saying he’d be forced to do something about it if I hurt his sister. We talked about anything but Laina for the rest of the drive back to my place. The race, the new car, how much I wished I had my Fastback, Mark Denning, Sid, an

Laina I looked at my feet and nudged some loose pebbles across the asphalt. “Thank you.” “Don’t mention it,” Benji said. “Seriously. I don’t want to know the shit the two of you are up to.” I grimaced. “I wouldn’t talk about any of that with you.” “Good.” “Good,” I agreed. We fell quiet for a while. I sidled up beside him and leaned against the side of the car. “Are you nervous for the race?” He shrugged. “Nervous? No. Excited? A little bit. It’s sort of lost its appeal since the assholes took this place over. It used to be about who the better driver was. And putting it all out on the road. There was respect. And trust. Nobody was in it to hurt someone else. But now? I don’t know. It’s different.” I nodded. “You’re talking about Sid and Mark.” “Yeah.” I wrapped my arms around myself to ward off the chill of the night. That was the only problem with being the flag gi

Mason We closed in on the last stretch of track. I didn’t look in my mirrors to see where the rest of the cars were. It didn’t matter. The finish line had emerged at the end of the street, a good mile or so away, and I focused all of my attention on pulling away and taking the lead. I couldn’t pass on either side of them. Sid and Mark were driving beside each other with just enough space between them for me to move through. They were baiting me. I knew it. I knew it, and I didn’t give a damn. If they were going to force me to make this move, then fuck it. I’d do it. I had to try. And I was running out of pavement. I floored it and took the space between them. They both turned inward and boxed me in. Sid slammed into my left side and Mark into my right. I owed Tobias a hell of a lot more money than twenty grand now. I clenched my jaw and fought the steering wheel to maintain control as they steered me with their cars, overpowering me.