The Peer and the Puppet (When Rivals Play, #1) (108)
“You do know Vaughn is just as domineering as Ever? Maybe even more so.”
“There’s no way he’d get me over his knee without a fight.”
“Don’t be so sure. If I hadn’t used my wits, he would have succeeded.”
She groaned and sighed. “How did we get here, Four? I can’t remember a single moment before Vaughn.”
“I don’t think I can, either.”
We left each other to our thoughts, and an hour later, we drove through gates with a sign that read Hoarders Paradise and discarded junk waiting in piles beyond.
“I’m glad to see you’ve still got it even though you and I both know you held back,” Mickey groused.
I’d just finished a few test runs, committing the course to memory. There was also no way in hell I was going to trust my life on an untried bike. The makeshift course was about a couple of miles long. There were more than a few tight turns and lanes that would barely fit one rider, not to mention the difficulty seeing what was ahead with all the heaping piles of junk to navigate through. The natural terrain wouldn’t make winning easy, but it was nothing I couldn’t handle. I was actually looking forward to the challenge. Being faster wasn’t going to be enough. I’d also have to be the most cunning and daring.
“It’s better if my competition believes they have the win in the bag. The assumption will make them sloppy.”
He rubbed his hands together and nodded slowly in approval. “Keep it up, snow bunny. I like my women wily. Win this race, and I may have to propose.”
“Mickey…”
“Right. Right. No racial slurs. I know your rules.” He then flicked his chin to Tyra, who was looking around nervously. “What’s up with your friend? She got a man?”
“Seriously? You were just hitting on me.”
He smiled wide. “What can I say? I like to gamble.”
“And the house always wins, Mick. She’s very much taken.”
He shot me a skeptical look. “Are you just saying that because you secretly have a thing for me?”
“Yeah…no. Her boyfriend’s a quarterback with a jealous streak a mile long, so watch where you point those beady little eyes.”
He lifted his shirt to show off the gun tucked in his waistband. “I’m not worried.”
Suddenly, I was very grateful for not having invited Ever and Vaughn. Mickey may have lost a few screws, but Ever and Vaughn weren’t exactly working with a full deck, either.
A whistle pierced the air, and after a quick glance over his shoulder, Mickey turned serious. “Do I need to remind you of my rules?”
“I remember. Is anyone going to try to kill me this time?”
“I hope not, but I’ve got your back, and I’ve got a few men out there to ensure sportsmanship at all times.”
I breathed a little easier, but I would still keep my eyes open. Mickey couldn’t be everywhere at once, and you never knew what evil might slip through the cracks.
I WAS CAREFUL TO INHALE only through my mouth to avoid breathing in the horrible stench of the junkyard. The black bandana I had wrapped around the lower half of my face did little to mask the smell. It was a cold night, and the hoodie I wore under my leather bomber warded off most of the chill. I was having a harder time keeping my irritation in check.
Shortly after arriving, I didn’t catch more than a glimpse of the man I assumed was Fox before a gun was shoved in my hands and the order to ensure our rider passed the finish line first was given. Shane warned there were men standing guard about a quarter mile apart who wouldn’t hesitate to kill me if they spotted me. Taking heed, I made sure to find a blind spot between the last sentry and the finish, but I still hadn’t figured out how I would accomplish the task. I was only willing to damn my soul for one man, so spilling the blood of an innocent wasn’t an option.
Wary of this all being a trap, I made sure to enlist the help of Eddie and Siko, who were somewhere out there laying low and observing. Vaughn and Jamie had also insisted on having my back tonight, adding to my confidence that I’d live to see another day.
Checking the time, I realized the race would start any minute, and I couldn’t help but think of Four. This was her world, and for a moment, I worried if somehow she’d found a way back to it. I debated texting her to assure myself that she was safely tucked into bed and waiting for me with the door unlocked.
The sudden roar of engines in the distance drowned out my thoughts, and I ducked inside one of the rusted school buses that reeked of mold. I didn’t want anyone to see me before it was time.
There were only a few hundred feet between me and the finish line, so whatever I did had to be done with stealth.
The sound of the engines grew increasingly louder as they closed in. Since the race was unsanctioned, and they couldn’t risk the police being tipped, I would only have one shot. Making sure the other rider didn’t cross the finish line was my ticket to getting close to Fox. How far was I willing to go for that chance?
The ground began to shake, so I took that as my cue as I sunk into the shadows behind the partially opened door and waited with a gun in my hand. I figured flashing it would be enough to unnerve the rider. I just had to wait for the right moment.
The lead rider turned onto the straightaway, and I grimaced when I deduced that it wasn’t Hannibal, Fox’s rider. He wasn’t far behind, but the first rider’s lead was enough to make me break a sweat. If I failed, Hannibal wouldn’t win. The bus had been dumped at the end of the straightaway just where the curve began with the door facing the oncoming. My position was perfect. I just had to ensure my timing was, too.