“Who do you think?” Puck grumbles beside me.
I let out a sigh. Jackson. This one is on him. Nate’s happily been getting about knowing he was in the lead the last time they faced off, but Jackson has never been able to let it go, despite knowing that Nate would have won anyway. No one can beat Nate. He’s the fucking king of this track. He holds all the records and not to mention, the kind of shit he equips his car with is ridiculous. He’s also an incredible mechanic. Hands down, Nate’s got this, but Jackson still won’t back down.
“Where are Elle and Tora?” Kaylah asks, glancing around.
“With the guys,” Courtney says, nodding down toward the track to where the bikini-clad woman is strutting between the Charger and Camaro, shaking her ass as if Nate or Jackson would even remotely be interested.
Oh, fuck. Poor Tora. She’s probably shitting her pants right now. We always watch Nate’s races together. She absolutely hates being up close and personal, you know, except for the times where she’s trying to prove a point that she’s a badass bitch and is the one behind the wheel. Elle, on the other hand, would be loving it. She’s wild and reckless, absolutely loves the adrenalin of a race.
The race starts and I pull Kaylah back in front of me, holding her tight. She may think that I’m just holding her like I usually do, but right now, I need the comfort. While I love the races, when it’s Nate or now even Jackson, anxiety pulses through my veins.
The guys take off like fucking rockets, spitting dust up behind them. Their engines roar to life and I can’t help the pride sailing through me, watching the Camaro go. Fixing that thing was the best damn decision I’ve ever made where Nate’s concerned. Seeing that joy on his face was so worth it.
They race around the track like professionals and for the first time, these idiots are probably enjoying themselves while they face off. They’ve come such a long way.
They hit the first corner and I grin as Nate pushes out in front. I’m not fucking surprised.
“Come on, Jackson,” Kaylah murmurs to herself. “You’ve got this.”
I tighten my arms around her. “Nate’s going to smoke him. You know that right?”
“You don’t know that. Jackson could still win.”
“No way in hell, babe. Do you have any idea what kind of shit I had them put under the hood of Nate’s Camaro? Trust me, Jackson won’t stand a chance, though Nate might let him think he does.”
Kaylah sighs looking defeated. “Seriously?” she says. “I’m never going to hear the end of this.”
“You and me both, babe.”
The guys hit the next corner just as a siren sounds over the noise of the revving engines. What the fuck? The whole fucking crowd spins around to find red and blue flashing lights pouring in through every fucking entrance.
Holy shit.
My gaze snaps back to Nate and Jackson who are still pushing themselves around the track and the realization hits me instantly, they’re going to see this through no matter what, even if it means that I’ll be bailing the fuckers out later tonight.
“Fuck,” I groan, holding onto Kaylah tighter as the crowd breaks into chaos. Everyone starts running and I take off, making sure Kaylah stays right by my side.
Cops continue pouring in, trying to round everyone up but lucky for us, they’re not moving too fast in fear of running over one of the many underage kids who are more than likely wasted.
They surround us but with so many of us, they’re outnumbered and it quickly turns into a game of chicken. We get to my car with Puck and Courtney right on our heels and we all dive straight in. Maxen shows up a second later, throwing himself in through the back of the car. “Go, go, go,” he chants.
I send one last glance down to the track, knowing that once we’re all out of here, the cops will mainly be aiming for Nate and Jackson, but I trust them. I don’t doubt they’re going to finish this, and when they do, they’ll get out of here and get home without an arrest warrant.
I hit the gas and we take off. My Range Rover is one of the first ones on the dirt road leading out of here. It takes a minute or two, but soon enough, we’re breaking out onto the highway, free of any red and blue flashing lights.
Cars shoot out onto the highway behind us and I slow my pace as they speed away. My car blends in with the other cars already occupying the highway and we laugh as a cop car shoots past us, chasing after one of the guys who pulled out behind us.
Maxen is getting around in the backseat and when he squeals like a teenage girl and raises his hand, I find myself glancing back in the rearview mirror. “What the fuck is this?” he asks, holding something up in the darkness that seems to be stuck to his hand. He shakes his hand but it doesn’t come off.