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“I should have told you.”
“Told me what,” he asked curiously.
“About Cash being my dad or at least that was what I thought.” I looked at my hands. “We might have avoided all this.”
“It would have come out eventually,” he contended, taking my hand. “All I could have told you was that Cash was dead.”
“Maybe that would have been a good thing,” I mused.
He bumped my shoulder. “I disagree.” I glanced at him questioningly. “You wouldn’t have stayed.”
I smiled, knowing he was probably right. “Then I’m glad I didn’t.”
“Even though your life is in danger because you came here,” he reminded me ruefully.
“Even though.” I leaned over and kissed him hard, taking him by surprise. “I’ve never had a place to call my own. A reason to stay. A reason to fight.” I pushed my lips out. “I’m starting to understand why the hero always stays when common sense says to get the hell out of Dodge.”
His mouth curled. “Are you admitting you’re a foolish heroine?”
“Yes,” I declared. “The one who winds up with the hot cop who saves her life.”
He laughed out loud. “Of course.” He bumped his head against mine. “I have to go back to work,” he groaned and I exhaled loudly.
“I have to go back to Leroy’s.” He nodded his head against mine.
“For a little while. Tonight we can go home.” My forehead wrinkled in worry. “I took some extra precautions. You’ll be safe.” He narrowed his eyes. “If you didn’t race tonight we could go home sooner,” he pointed out and I shook my head.
“I want to know what’s going on,” I replied, unable to shake the thought that Dwayne was hiding something important. “Have some faith.”
“Oh, I have faith,” he assured me. “And a whole lot of respect for you. Everyone else….” He trailed off and I smiled.
“It’s going to be fine,” I promised and he sighed, his expression resigned.
“Famous last words.”
***
“Sure you don’t want to tell me what we’re racing for?” I questioned Dwayne as I buckled myself into the car.
“Just win,” he growled, pushing off the car, tension radiating from him. He glared at me. “There’s no room for error.”
I grinned. “You shouldn’t have asked a newbie then.” I revved the engine, drowning out his next words, and wiggled my fingers at him as I pulled the car toward the starting line. Noah stood on the sidelines, his gaze alert as he scanned the crowd milling around the area. I blew him a kiss right as Nico pecked at his ear and he winced.
“You know what you’re doing?” Johnny’s question distracted me from Noah and I frowned. He glared at the other driver. “I’ve seen that idiot drive. He doesn’t care if he dies.”
“Good, then I won’t feel bad when he does,” I remarked off handedly and Johnny shot me a sharp glance. I gave him a close mouthed smile. “I guess we’ll see if I know what I’m doing,” I paused then added mockingly, “Daddy.”
He looked like I’d just shot him with a stun gun and I rolled the window up, eager to get on with the race and go home. There were people milling around everywhere and the idea of Noah’s uncle hiding among the crowd made me jumpy.
A familiar face caught my eye and I realized it was Crew and he wasn’t the only Rebel here. Once I knew to look, I could pick them out of the crowd. Over a dozen guys wearing leather kuttes marking them as Rebels wandered around, not exactly blending as they inspected the throng of people. The sight of them eased some of my nerves along with the thought that the Chief wouldn’t be stupid enough to show up here of all places.
A woman strutted out in front of us, a checkered flag in one hand, and the road cleared as everyone got ready for the race to begin. The guy next to me started revving his engine, but my focus was on the flag. The second she released it my foot pressed on the gas and the car shot forward. The road we were racing on was narrow and curved and I knew my best bet was to take the lead quickly.
The other car gained ground almost instantly as he took the inside curve, risking his car in an attempt to overtake me. I refused to damage my own car and let him take the lead, knowing there was a straightaway in the final leg where I could smoke him as long as I didn’t let him get more than a yard in front of me in the next three curves. I stayed on his ass, watching every attempt he made to try and shake me. The straightaway was coming up and he seemed to realize what I was going to attempt because his efforts to knock me out of the race became more desperate.
