AllFreeNovel
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These kids are going to be the damn death of me. Why I ever thought managing a dirt track in the middle of nowhere with underage kids partaking in a dangerous activity was a good idea, I have no idea. Actually, I take that back—it was the perfect idea. No one would have ever guessed. I watch as the expensive cars speed by. Some of these cars were bought by mommy and daddy. Many of these kids are no stranger to money; most are parented by an AMEX. But then there’s a mix of kids from the poor side of town to straight off the street that hang out here too. They build these cars from scratch and race them in hopes they will win. Once drivers sign a few release forms, this is mostly legal. For the parts that aren’t . . . well, boss man knows the right people.
He pays me to manage the business, but that is not my only job. Keep these kids alive, off the street, and don’t let it get out of hand. And lastly, but most importantly, keep an eye on his son. That last one isn’t easy; Jesse Callaway has his own set of rules. But I don’t worry too much because he’s got it under control. I feed his father just enough to satisfy him but not enough to take Jesse on. He’s my boss man but I’m not loyal to him.
“Shady, a new guy wants to race. We don’t have anything on him. Want to check him out?” Roger says, pulling out of my thoughts. I look over to the lanky boy with braces. I hire local kids to work the track with me, but none of them are allowed to bring in new people without release forms and a thorough check of the vehicle. This place is crawling with liabilities.
“Yeah, get Crank to look his ride over. I’m coming,” I say as I zip my jacket up. It’s cold. The middle of October here feels like winter. The track is only able to stay open due to the heaters James had installed a few years ago. Who knew there was money in kids with cars? James Callaway knew. That man would do just about anything for a dollar, but money can invite evil.
I round the corner and see Crank under the hood of a sleek Mercedes—a car too nice to be on this track. Even with parental funds it doesn’t belong here. It’s not flashy or jacked up; it’s solid black. If the black Mercedes emblem wasn’t attached on the front, you wouldn’t notice the vehicle. The owner wants to be inconspicuous. “Crank, what’s the verdict?” I ask, knowing the answer already. I don’t need to know cars to know this one is solid.
“It’s good. Better than good. I wouldn’t put this vehicle anywhere near that dirt. It’s perfect.” Crank says as he drops the hood down.
“Well, it seems to be the only way to get noticed around here.” His smooth voice glazes across my skin like silk, leaving goosebumps in its path. My body could never forget that voice.
I glance up, meeting the eyes of a person I never thought I’d see again. Eyes I’m not sure Iwantedto see again, but he’s looking back at me like I’m the only lifeline he has left.
“We’re good here, Crank. Thanks,” I say.
“You got it, Shady,” Crank says before he walks away, leaving me alone with my past.
“Nikolas.” I look over the man. It’s him but not really him. The boy I knew was clean cut, even if his clothes were hand-me-downs. The man before me has tattoos peeking out from under his collar and from the cuffs of his sleeves onto his hands. His hair is buzzed and lined, and with the black leather jacket he looks like a real punk. A punk leaned up against a vehicle that costs six figures and doesn’t match the vibe coming off the guy standing in from of me.
“Nah, it’s just Niko now,” he says as he lifts off the side of the car to settle himself right in front of me.
“What do you want?” I ask.
“Is that how you greet an old friend?” The side of his mouth quirks up into a sexy smirk.
I step back away from him, finding space in my new-found hell. I grab the pack of cigarettes out of my pocket and put one to my mouth with shaky hands. I take a long drag before I feel brave enough to look back at him.
“How did you find me?”
He leans back onto the hood of his car. “Just kept looking. Eventually I found your trail.”
“I’ve been waiting for you to pop up. I figured it would’ve been sooner than now. You gave poor Kenny a scare at the store. No one comes looking for me,” I tell him.
He huffs out a short laugh. “Yeah, yo, think how surprised I was to find you in the dirtiest place in town.”
I smile and shrug. “Yeah, well, seemed like a good place to not be found.” I meet his eyes again, and I sober. “Why are you here? Why did you come looking for me?”
“You’ve been gone for five years. I’ve been looking for you since you left,” he says quietly.
“Yeah well you should’ve given up. If you hadn’t noticed, I didn’t really want to be found,” I say through gritted teeth. “Who else knows where I’m at? Nate?”
He smirks again. “Nah, just me. You know I wouldn’t do you like that.”
“No, I don’t know. I don’t know you, not anymore. Look, are you gonna race or not? I’ve gotta get back to work,” I tell him.
He nods. “Yeah, I’ll race, but not against no kid.”
“Look around. All we got here is kids. Get off my track,” I say as I walk back towards the dirt, my place, my sanctuary. Well, itwas.
“Good to see you too . . .Shady.” I cringe at the way my nickname sounds rolling off his tongue. No part of me has forgotten.
Niko
The way she cringes at the nickname I gave her when she was only sixteen hits me in the gut. That nickname is part of the beginning of our story. It’s how I started to weasel myself into her life. I mean, I was already in her life, but I was just her older brother’s best friend. At least, that is how she thought of me. I was sold the first moment I saw her, she just didn’t know it. But dammit if I couldn’t keep my eyes off of her. I took everything in my power not to cross that line.
That all changed one night. Nathan and I went out with a few sorority chicks—his bright idea. It was fine until he decided he wanted to bring them back home. I couldn’t tell him I didn’t want to do that because I didn’t want to bring another chick around his sister. Especially not after the cold shower I’d taken earlier trying to get her out of my fucking head. But when Nathan got an idea in his head there was no turning back. I swallowed the dread and rode along as I always did.
