Page 21 of Intolerable Bishop

Theo

This felt strange. I didn’t usually allow anyone to come to the races, but somehow, Ren had talked me into letting her and Myles tag along.

I glanced back at Myles as he followed me through the streets to the meet up. Ransom said that they had to change up the routes ‘cause it was getting too hot with police. Riding around the next corner, I could see the bikes lined up off to the side and the makeshift starting line. There were a few other fancy cars and girls wearing bikinis or shorts and crop-tops, lying on the hoods. Eyes followed me. I was the new guy, fresh meat. At least, that would be the initial thought.

As we got closer to the action, it was easy to pick out the squids. They always stood out from the crowd. The guy with the extra girls who acted taller and was louder than the others. Guys pretending to be alphas. Pathetic. I cruised by with my hand on my thigh and didn’t bother to look their way even though they tried to get my attention.

There were a few Lightning LS-218s. I’d tried it, and it was fast, but I still preferred my Ducati. Some relationships just worked. No explanation needed. My girl back home was called Polly, so I decided to call this one Vinculum or Vinny for short. The one thing that I wished I had were my slicks. The dealership didn’t have any to sell, and the few places that Ransom had told me to check out for the tires said they didn’t have any. It was bullshit, I could see the stacks of them in the back, but I was the new guy, and I needed to earn my stripes here to get respect. It was fine, I’d opened the girl up a few times on the way here to warm up my tires. I would be ready.

I spotted Ransom. He wasn’t hard to pick out since he was the only one speeding around in a wheelchair, his shoulder length hair flowing out behind him. It was one of those fancy racing chairs that I’d seen on television. I guess once you were hit with the need for speed, you always had the bug.

I pulled into an empty spot big enough for the car and my bike. Myles backed in beside me. I dismounted, and as soon as I did, those closest inched in to inspect the competition and the Lambo. It was the most expensive car here and stood out like a crown jewel among the other luxury cars.

Ren stepped out of the car, and I was happy she couldn’t see my face. She looked like she belonged, even though her eyes screamed that she was out of place. I loved the tight black jeans and the tall shitkicker boots on her. The ripped rocker top gave you the perfect peekaboo effect of her skin underneath, and the crop style leather jacket looked lit. She’d done her hair partially up, and the rest was flowing down her back in waves. This was not the same girl I saw daily at school. This was the girl who saved my brother and stood up to Nash. I didn’t hang around her enough back home to see this side of her, but I was getting an eyeful now.

“Remember what I said. You’re here ‘cause you’re my girl. Myles, you’re my mechanic. They don’t like randos or bystanders at races just coming to hang out. They don’t trust people outside of their circle.” They both nodded, and Ren reached up to undo the buckle on my helmet I was struggling with. “Thanks.” Pulling it off, I ran my hand through my hair and did the predatory stare around at those looking a little too long in my direction.

I took a deep breath and sighed with the scents of the night. Everything from the fuel, lingering burnout, vape smoke, and perfume wafted on the soft breeze. It was perfection. I worked my ass off to be the best at school and had high expectations of where I saw myself after graduation, but this right here was my escape. Racing filled a part of me that felt empty the rest of the time and made my heart pound like nothing else could.

“Hey, hey! You made it, and you brought a hell of a ride.”

I slipped my arm around Ren’s waist. “I sure did,” I said, and Ransom laughed.

“So, this is your girl?”

Ren held out her hand. “Name’s Ren,” she said, rubbing herself against my side and nuzzling at my neck. Just like that, she had my mind racing with other ideas that didn’t have anything to do with being here. She was good, and Ransom was eating it up as he looked her up and down. He nodded his appreciation. I glanced at Myles, silently warning him to keep his mouth shut.

Ransom nodded in Myles’s direction. “And he is?”

“My mechanic and best mate. This is Myles. He’s trustworthy,” I said as Myles crossed his arms and nodded.

“What’s up,” Myles said, and I rolled my eyes. He looked more like my bodyguard than a mechanic, but it would do.

“Alright, I can fit you into a race. But I’m warning you, this one has some wicked twisties, and I already took the liberty of drawing the name for your race. This guy is not going to go easy just because you’re an out of townie.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” I said.

“Follow me, and I’ll introduce you to your competition.” Ransom turned and rolled off.

I looked at Myles. “Stay here and make sure no one touches my bike. I don’t care who it is.” Linking my fingers with Ren, we followed Ransom. I looked at her out of the corner of my eye, and she held herself like she owned the place. I liked it, and I liked how the other guys stared. Laying her out on the car and making them more jealous was quickly becoming a fantasy. I gave my head a shake. I was here to race, not pretend with Ren.

Was I surprised to be walked right up to the best rider here? Not one bit. Ransom smirked at me as he introduced us. I knew who Vesper was, and he was a freaking legend. I had no idea why he was in Canada, but it didn’t matter. I either took the race against the best, or I bowed out, and I could consider myself done in racing circles everywhere.

“Dude, it’s nice to meet you. Ransom said he had a new guy he was throwing my way, but I didn’t realize it was going to be Murk,” Vesper said.

“You know who I am?”

Vesper smiled. “I knew this day was coming. You always keep an eye on anyone coming for your pipes. Didn’t think it would be here, though.”

“Likewise. Good to meet you. What are we racing for?” He looked back the way we walked. I knew before he opened his mouth that he was going to say pink slips.

“You got it in you to race for slips,” he said.

Some of the girls standing around gave Ren cut eye, but Ren gave it right back, impressing me further.

I looked at his machine and rubbed my bottom lip. “You sure you want to lose your ride tonight?”

Ransom oohed and then laughed as he clapped his hands. “That sounds like a challenge accepted if I ever heard one. You know the drill. Slips come to me, and I award the winner with both. To forfeit after the race will get you banned and blacklisted everywhere. Understood?”