#Junkie (GearShark #1)(46)

I had a second of worry where I thought he might try to clip my back end to get me out of the way. I slid over a fraction to make him think he was gaining some leeway.

An oncoming car came racing toward us. The road was so narrow it would force Lorhaven to fall back, to make room.

I pushed forward again and recovered the couple inches I put between our cars, forcing him to fall back as we barreled toward the headlights.

The car started beeping its horn frantically and swerved away from us as I blew right by.

Lorhaven dropped behind me, and I took advantage to spur ahead. The bridge came into view. It was two lanes, and I knew he’d be beside me within seconds.

I needed to think beyond the bridge. I needed to be the one to take the lead once the road narrowed again.

Behind us, another set of headlights bounced around, and I glanced long enough to know it was Arrow in the Camaro.

My tires rolled onto the bridge, and I pushed hard, looking ahead. Lorhaven started to swing up to the side, but I cut over at the last second, narrowly avoiding smacking into his front end. The sound of his brakes squealing wasn’t lost on me as I took the side of the road he wanted.

It pissed him off, and I heard the rumbling of his car as he sped forward and came up on my passenger side.

“What are you doing?” Joey asked.

“Hang on,” I said and downshifted. The car responded immediately, and Lorhaven nudged ahead of me just slightly.

The road narrowed, and soon there wouldn’t be room for both of us to take the curving asphalt at the same time.

So I let him have it.

I went off the road. My tires ripped into the ground, tearing up the dirt and barren grass as I went. The undercarriage was hit with pebbles and debris as I shifted again and hit the gas. The back end fishtailed and spurred forward as I cut through the grass in a straight line as Lorhaven drove around the curve on the road.

“You’re ahead,” Joey yelled. “It’s close.”

I didn’t glance over to see what he was doing. Instead, I kept my eyes focused on the glowing path ahead of me provided by the headlights.

“He’s right there,” Joey yelled again, and I slid my finger down beside the seat and felt for the button to release the NOS.

If I hit this button and didn’t keep control of this car as we transitioned from the grass to the road, it could be very, very bad.

Fuck it.

I hit the button and gripped the wheel with both hands.

The Mustang rocketed forward. Everything outside the windshield became nothing but a blur. The road was right in front of us now, and I held my breath as the Mustang slid into the street, sliding sideways just a little. I let it go a tad, not trying to fight it too hard, and then strong-armed it back into a straight line.

Once I was sure all four tires had a grip, I punched the gas once again and shot over the crudely drawn white line across the narrow street.

The people and cars lined up at the finish line all started jumping and moving around, but I continued forward, letting the car wind down and my heartbeat to return to normal.

“Oh my God!” Joey said, pushing at her hair. “That was so much better than track racing!”

“My off-roading didn’t freak you out?” I asked, slowing the car even further and pulling off to the side so I could make a U-turn and go claim my cash.

“No, but I thought for sure you were gonna wrap us around a tree.”

“Ye of little faith,” I muttered.

Lorhaven was already near the line and pacing at the front end of his car when I pulled up.

“Stay here,” I told Joey and got out.

People started cheering and yelling. A few of the other drivers offered me their hand, and I could have sworn I saw some awe in Arrow’s eyes, but I’d never call him out. He’d get in trouble with his boss.

“What the f*ck was that!” Lorhaven roared, stalking up to me.

The others surrounding me parted ways.

“That was me winning,” I drawled.

“This was a road race,” he said. “Not a f*cking dirt track.”

“Oh, was that in the rule book?” I asked, glancing around. Lorhaven flushed. “Oh. Right. There isn’t one. You said get from point A to point B first. I did. If I had to take an alternative route, it’s because that big-ass Corvette of yours wouldn’t share the road.”

“Aww shit,” a few people called from the crowd.

The man holding the pot was close by, and I signaled to him. “Yo, man, I’m here to collect.”

“Like hell,” Lorhaven growled. “You cheated.”

“Why’s that?” I asked, deadly. “Because I didn’t cheat using your particular rules?”

Everyone went silent.

You weren’t supposed to challenge Lorhaven on his own turf in his own race. But that’s why I was invited, wasn’t it? Maybe some people were tired of him getting away with all his bullshit.

I reached for the fat stack of cash, but Lorhaven lunged forward and shoved me back. My body tensed and something in me snapped.

Apparently, the race didn’t help blow away some of the tension inside me; it only made it worse.

“Careful,” Lorhaven intoned. “Your bodyguard isn’t here to protect you tonight.”

The mention of Trent did it.

I surged forward in a running leap, fist extended, and plowed it into his face. We both went down, and I went to hit him again, but he rolled and pinned me beneath him. He leaned back, drawing back his fist to hammer it down, and I twisted, rolling beneath him, causing him to lose his balance. I shoved him back and jumped up at the same time he did.