Zodiac Academy: The Awakening(4)

The city lights sped by and I added an extra circle to my route just to make absolutely sure that no one had followed me. And if I was being totally honest, I wasn’t going to complain about giving this beauty another five minutes of my time either.

My bones thrummed with the power of the engine beneath me and for a moment I let myself feel the ache to just keep the bike for myself. Of course the idea was absurd. Where would a girl who could scarcely afford a cellphone have gotten a limited edition super bike from? No, I was destined to ride the bus as usual and my night time exploits would have to remain hidden.

Once I was doubly confident that no one was tailing me, I turned the bike down a sloping alleyway and rolled it to a halt beside the black shutters which marked the service entrance to Joey’s.

I revved the engine once before cutting it and stepping off of the machine I so wished to keep.

The seconds dragged as I waited for Joey to let me in and the tension in my gut coiled tighter as I glanced over my shoulder towards the road at the far end of the alley. If he didn’t hurry up I was going to reacquaint him with my left hook.

With a deep rattle which made me jump half out of my skin, the shutter was lifted. I didn’t wait for it to open all the way, pushing the bike inside and ducking beneath it quickly.

The shutter fell to the ground and I kicked the stand down before pulling my helmet off and turning my gaze to Joey.

He was a tall man, his dark hair slicked back with gel and his leather jacket stamped with the insignia of his bike gang, not that I had any interest in that. He was in his late thirties; not old enough to have stopped him from trying his luck with me in the past but too old for me to be interested. I was eighteen. He'd been my age when I was born. Gross.

Joey let out a long whistle as his gaze traveled over the bike. I didn’t waste my breath pointing out all of its features; he was one of the few people I knew whose knowledge on these machines rivalled my own.

“Pretty good, huh?” I asked with a smirk. This was by far the most expensive bike I’d ever stolen for him.

“Depends on your definition,” he replied, his gaze raking over the machine hungrily.

“C’mon, I know what it’s worth, don’t try and screw me over,” I said irritably.

“Yeah, it’s worth a lot alright. It’s also a limited edition.”

“I’m aware,” I replied dryly.

“As in very limited; they only made eighty-five of these beauties. How do you expect me to shift that? It may as well have a big flashing sign on it saying ‘stolen’.” Joey tore his eyes from the bike, raising an eyebrow at me as my heart sank.

I’d been caught up in the challenge of it. The moment I’d seen the bike I knew I just had to ride it. What I didn’t think about was this situation.

“Shit,” I cursed. “What does that mean for me?”

Joey tilted his head, eyeing the super bike again. “Four-hundred.”

“Fuck off, Joey. That bike cost over forty grand new and it’s only a few months old.” My palms grew slick as I kept my face in a mask of outrage and worry began to gnaw at me. We needed the money from this job. I’d been hoping for three grand at the very least and that bike was supposed to secure it for me.

“Take it or leave it,” he said with a shrug, moving towards the shutters as if he was going to open them again.

“Please,” I bit out, the word nearly burning my tongue. “I need the money from this.”

“Why are you so desperate for cash all of a sudden?” he asked, eyeing me with something that almost looked like concern.

Because I need every penny I can get to get me and my sister the hell out of this backwards corner of nowhere and start our goddamn lives.

“None of your business,” I replied steadily.

Joey tutted. “Eight-hundred. Not a penny more.”

“Done,” I growled. It wasn’t as much as I’d wanted but it was better than nothing.

Joey moved away to locate the cash, heading up a wooden staircase to the building above us.

I pulled the old leather jacket off of me before I followed; it smelled of tobacco and peppermint. The guy I’d stolen it from obviously believed he could cover the one smell with the other. He was wrong.

I kicked the baggy jeans off next. Beneath them I was wearing a pair of skin tight yoga pants and my black boots came up to my knee. The red vest I’d coupled with it was just dressy enough to pass for something I’d wear clubbing, especially as I tugged it lower to make my cleavage more prominent.

I yanked the clips from my hair last, letting my black locks tumble to my waist as I ran my hands through it. No one would recognise me now. The man who had stolen that bike was long gone and I was just one of many girls out enjoying a drink tonight.

I followed Joey up the stairs, pausing outside his office as I waited for my money. He handed me a thick envelope and I didn’t bother to count the contents; he was always good to his word where finances were concerned.

I gave him a nod before heading further along the corridor and through the back entrance to the bar which acted as a front for his less than legal exploits downstairs.

The stench of strong liquor and unwashed man assaulted me as I passed through the crowd of bikers.

The bartender spotted me and poured a shot of tequila into a glass before sliding it my way. I slipped between the bodies and accepted the drink as I leaned an elbow on the bar. I had no intention to stay long but I couldn’t turn down free booze.