“Shades, go show him the proof, brother.”
Arlo pouted and frowned as Shades showed him the evidence of my win. His head snapped up and found me.
“I’ll get you next time.”
Snorting and giving me ayeah fucking rightlook, I slung my arms around Stevie and Tequila’s shoulders. “Doubt it. Whoever is teaching you, you can personally tell them from me that you need to up your game.”
“Tell that to yourself, Ortiz!”
The fuck? Where did he get off calling me by my last name? We weren’t tight.
“I didn’t teach you shit,” I snapped.
Again with the stupid grin splitting his face.“Not intentionally, but YouTube videos of your races sure did.”
That little punk! “You think you can outsmart me? Shades, bring me the fucking finish line photo.”
A phone was thrust at me, as well as the stack of cash. I zoomed in and made my way to Arlo.
“See this, Linetti? That is your proof that you’re still fuckingmilesoff knocking me from my pillar. And this?” I held up the thirty grand I’d just earned. “This is why the pussy comes to me and not you.”
I turned my back only to still when his taunt cut through the music.
“One day I’ll be the one taking the pussy from you, old man.”
A wave ofboosrang out through the crowd and pushed the adrenaline coursing through my body to fever pitch. The fuck did he think he was?
Before I could think, I was all up in his grill and growling like a maniac. “The fuck, boy? You haven’t proven shit yet. So, how about you wait until you can walk the walk before you go talkin’ the talk?”
“Hit a nerve, did I?” He grinned, feeding off my fury and using the strength against me.
The frenzied shouts and taunts and the pumping music completely faded and took a backseat to the kind of anger I hadn’t felt in years. It was the type of rage that ended in rash decisions and eventual regrets. Provoking the kind of temper that had me itching to pull out my handgun and press it to Linetti’s temple.
Instead, the crowd surrounding us collectively hushed as I balled his shirt in my fist and growled into his face. Now it was just me and him and the music that pulsed into the darkest part of our souls.
“Get in my fucking car, kid.Now!”
“I don’t fucking think so.”
At least he didn’t immediately drop-balls and piss himself. That, in my book, earned him a little respect.
My lip curled. “I’ve got a job offer for you, so I suggest you get in my fucking car.”
Indecision swam in his eyes as they darted left and right, seeking assistance. No one dared breathe a word against the King. Not a fuckingword.
“It’s not a request, Linetti,” I growled.
If I hadn't been so pissed, I would have laughed at his bewildered expression and actuallyexplainedmy intentions. Instead, I was getting off on putting the ever-loving fear of Hades in his eyes.
The truth was, I’d made my decision; Arlo was the one I was talking to Colton about, but that didn’t mean I had tolikehim.
When I roughly shoved his chest with a menacing leer, he flinched for the first time. Another refusal was on the tip of his tongue, right before a singular shout came from somewhere at the back of the crowd.
“Fuck!Cops!”
Chapter 12
-Greer-