by Kylie Walker
He pulled his head out of the hood of the car and smiled at Sam and Aaron. “Hi Sam, it looks like you got the Mustang running.”
“She’s purring like a kitten. Shawn, this is my brother Aaron.”
Shawn wiped his hand on his jeans and put it out. Aaron took it and Shawn said, “It’s good to meet you, Aaron. Do you race too?”
Aaron smiled. “Not yet.”
“Not at all,” Sam muttered under her breath. Drew pulled her head out from underneath the hood.
“Hi Sam, hi Sam’s brother. I’m Drew.”
Aaron’s face flushed. “Hi Drew.”
Sam fought the urge to roll her eyes. Drew is a pretty little red-head with dark green eyes and boobs that would make a porn star jealous. Aaron was currently staring at them. Sam tapped him on the back of the knee with her foot. “Hi Drew,” she said, ignoring Aaron’s glare. “So do you know who I’m racing tonight?”
“Conrad said to have you run first so you’ll be against a guy named Bennie Mendez. He’s been racing for five years. He drives a Mustang too, but his is a Cobra Jet.” The simple mention of Conrad’s name and the idea of seeing him tonight caused a flutter of heat in her belly. She had almost missed the “Cobra Jet.”
“A Jet? Are you freaking kidding me?” Shawn shook his head and she said, “Does he know how to drive it? Does he win?”
“Almost every time,” Shawn said. “Conrad has beaten him and so has Stew, once. He killed me our last race but that was also because I was having engine problems.”
“I’ve never raced against him,” Drew said. “Casey did once, it wasn’t pretty.” Sam could see her brother grinning at Drew like an idiot out of the corner of her eye. She wasn’t sure whether to be embarrassed that he was looking at her boobs again or sad that he was no longer that little boy she used to stick up for.
“I’m glad he won’t be easy,” she said, honestly. She was competitive enough that she didn’t want easy, she wanted a fight. It made the win that much sweeter. Trying to sound as casual as possible she asked, “Where’s Conrad tonight?”
Shawn looked at his watch. “He’s supposed to be here.”
“Is he racing tonight?”
“Yep,” Drew said. “He’s racing against Kyla tonight.”
“Kyla?”
“Yeah, this is Kyla’s crew. They’re pretty much the best there is in Southern California too. They’ve actually been racing up north for the past few months so we haven’t seen them for a while, but word has it she’ll be here. She requested Conrad.”
Samantha wondered why as she said, “So she’s good? What does she drive?”
“She’s better than good,” Drew said with a curled lip. “She’s been driving since she was ten. She grew up in Central Cali on a farm or something. Her dad used to be part of a pit crew for James Nash.”
James Nash was a retired NASCAR driver. Sam was only six years old when he retired, but he was a legend so she’d seen plenty of clips of his old races. He raced modified GTO’s before being picked up for NASCAR when he was almost thirty years old. He won every cup there was to win at least twice each over the next five years and then he retired. In interviews Sam saw later he’d said he wanted to spend time with his wife and five year old daughter while he was still young and healthy enough to enjoy it. Hearing he’d been on a farm somewhere in the valley explained why he’d just up and disappeared off of the racing scene when she was a little girl. Samantha didn’t have many positive memories of Darren, but she did have to give him credit for a lot of her NASCAR education.
“That’s her,” Drew said. A white GTO with pink racing stripes drove up to the curb. A big Mexican guy with biceps bigger than Sam’s thighs and lots of black ink tattoos got out of the passenger side. The driver’s side door was opened and a five foot nothing woman with soft curves and long honey blonde hair stepped out. If her brother’s tongue wasn’t out before over Drew and Casey, it really was now. Even Sam had to admit that the girl was drop-dead gorgeous. She may know how to drive, but Sam doubted she ever picked up a wrench. She glanced at the girl’s hands. The fingernails looked short from where Sam stood, but they were bright pink. Suppressing an eye roll she asked, “How old is she?”
“Twenty-two or three,” Drew said. “She looks like a little pixie, huh?”
“She definitely doesn’t look like a hard-core street racer.” She was wearing a tight Harley Davidson t-shirt that was the same color as her racing stripes and fingernails. It hugged the curve of her ample breasts before ending a few inches above where her designer label jeans started and showing off a flat, tan belly.
“I think it gives her an advantage actually,” Drew went on, “She mesmerizes her opponents before the race even starts.”
Sam swallowed bile at the thought of her mesmerizing Conrad. “So how long has she had her own crew?”
“Five years or so,” Shawn said. “She wanted Conrad to come in with her but once he found out who the rest of her crew was, he decided against it and started his own with us rag-tags.”
“Who is her crew?”
“Her uncle is President of the Southern California chapter of the Comancheros.” Sam’s face must have given away that information meant nothing to her because Shawn went on to say, “They’re an outlaw biker club. Her crew is all members of the club. They have a custom bike shop in Glendale and they also modify engines for custom cars. The rumor is that they’re involved in a lot heavier stuff than that but either way, they’ve got a lot of money invested in Kyla’s crew.”
“Nice, so Conrad is racing the MC club princess,” Sam said.
“And his ex-girlfriend,” Drew added. Samantha suspected that, but she didn’t like the sinking feeling that knowing it gave her in the pit of her stomach. She was trying to shake it off when she saw Conrad drive up in his Charger. He parked the car near her Mustang and stepped out. He was wearing jeans and a white t-shirt now and her hormones went just as crazy as they had when he’d been decked out in the suit earlier. His eyes landed on her face and he kept them there as he walked over toward her. The rest of his face was neutral, but his eyes were so expressive. He looked happy to see her and she had to resist the urge to lick her dry lips as she watched his lean muscle ripple under the tee as he moved. It should be illegal to be that damned sexy.
“Hi Sam.”
“Conrad,” she was trying to be cool, but inside she was burning up, so it was hard.
“You and Luke got the Mustang ready to go?”
“Yeah, it’s better than ever.”
“Cool,” she saw his eyes find Kyla over her head. At least she assumed it was Kyla by the look he got on his face. It was similar to the one Aaron got when he’d first seen her only more subtle. She watched as he smiled warmly and waved like she was an old friend. Suddenly she really wanted to know how long they’d been broken up and who broke up with whom. She reminded herself that was none of her business and instead she said, “Hey, Lee said you told him about Luke.”
He looked reluctant to have that conversation but finally said, “Yeah, I needed him to understand why I was requesting so much time off.”
“You didn’t need to do that. I’m going to take Luke for his treatments.”
Conrad raised an eyebrow and said, “We can work together on that Sam. I’m not going to be left out. If he doesn’t make it…”
“Don’t say that. You can’t be negative about this or around him. A positive attitude is half the battle.”
“Okay,” he said, letting out a deep breath. “But I mean it, Sam…I understand he’s your dad and not mine, but Luke means a lot to me and I’m going to be there for him.”
Samantha wondered what she meant to him, if anything. “That’s fine,” she said, “We can work out a schedule. I’m going to get ready,” she said, “Shawn says I’m up first.”
“Okay, you need any help?”
“Nope, the car is ready. I’ll see you at the finish line.”
He grinned and the igloo she’d been tr
ying to build up around her heart melted. “Good luck and be safe.”
She turned and glanced at Kyla. “You too,” she said before walking away. She felt shaky inside and it pissed her off. She watched her mother cowl down to Darren for all of those years and do whatever it took to keep her man. She watched her lose her own identity completely. Lacey allowed Darren to swallow it up and Samantha promised herself as she watched them that she would never be that woman. No man would ever have that kind of power over her. No feeling would ever be so strong.
She popped the hood on the Mustang and chanced another glance over at Conrad. He had walked over and was talking to Kyla now. Kyla had her hand pressed into his chest and a seductive smile on her face. Sam felt like she was going to throw up. What the hell was he doing to her?
CHAPTER 18
Sam sat at the start line and stared in shock at the 2012 Mustang Cobra Jet next to her. That car had to be worth over a hundred grand yet the dude sitting behind the wheel looked like he had just been kicked out of the county jail. She wondered if some of what the MC club was into was stealing cars and performance parts. She told herself not to concentrate on the car, concentrate on the track. It’s not always the car. If the guy behind the wheel wasn’t a driver, the car didn’t mean shit. But damn…a Cobra Jet! It made Sam’s mouth water. It was silver with blue racing stripes and it shone underneath the street lights like a brand new car on a showroom floor. She tore her eyes away from it and stared at the long expanse of asphalt in front of her. Revving her engine a couple of times, she checked her gauges as her pulse thrummed with excitement and anticipation. She glanced over again at the car and this time she noticed the driver smiling at her. It was like he’d been waiting for her to look his way. He winked, blew a kiss and then he revved his own engine. It sounded like he had a dragon underneath the hood just dying to get out. Fuck.
Shaking him off once more she watched as the big Asian guy in the bright yellow shirt stepped out in front and in between them. He held up his right hand and Sam put her hand on the gear knob. Her reaction time was on spot as he dropped his arm and the Mustang fish-tailed slightly when she dropped it into second and then let up on the clutch. She covered the brake with her left foot then and her right foot fell heavily on the accelerator. The car jumped off of its front tires and the smoke from her back tires filled the air. She loved the smell of rubber burning on the pavement. She inhaled deeply and her car was at full launch before she chanced a glance over at her competition. He was right beside her, so close that if she wanted to reach through the passenger window she could touch him. She dropped the car into third and pressed the accelerator to the floor. Thirteen hundred feet of road disappeared in mere seconds and the Cobra was so close when she saw the flag and started to downshift that she had no idea who won. She pulled her foot up off the accelerator and let the car slow down until it was coasting and then she feathered the brake and pulled the wheel around so it turned in a tight 360. She came to a complete stop then and she noticed the loser in the Jet was still grinning. She wondered if he knew he’d won or if he was just as stupid as that grin made him look.
Aaron was suddenly at the passenger window. “Sammy that was awesome! You smoked his ass!”
“Did I win?”
“Looked like it to me,” he said.
“Me too,” Conrad was behind Aaron. “Good job, Samantha.”
“Did I win?” she asked again.
Conrad laughed. “They’re looking at the video. It was close. Let me go find out.” Samantha climbed out of the car and watched Conrad walk away. His backside is as hot as his front side…seriously, it should be illegal.
“Hey Mama, that was a good run. Nobody has ever come so close to beating me before.” The short Mexican man with the shaved head and prison tats was suddenly at her side.
“Close? You think you won?”
Speaking of close, he was way too close to her and she could feel his hot breath on her face as he said, “I know I won, Mama.” He ran his eyes slowly across her body and let his tongue slide along his bottom lip before going on to say, “But there’s still a way for us to both walk away winners tonight, don’t worry.”
Sam snorted out a laugh. This pig actually thought she’d want to sleep with him. “I’m thinking I’ll be the only one walking away happy tonight. I’ll have five grand in my pocket and you’ll still have that little mouse in yours.”
The look on his face changed. He narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice to say, “Careful Mama, I don’t think you know who you’re disrespecting.”
“I don’t think you know that I don’t care.”
“Sam,” Keeping one eye on the parolee in front of her Sam looked toward the sound of Conrad’s voice. He was right behind her and he was smiling. “You won.”
Sam’s forgot about the creep standing next to her. Her face broke out in a wide smile. “I won!” She smacked hands with Aaron and went to do the same with Conrad. He opened his arms for a hug instead and she jumped into them. She squeezed him tightly and still holding on, she turned her face up to his. He looked like he wanted to kiss her and Sam wanted him too. She didn’t care that everyone was watching. She saw Conrad glance around them with a nervous look in his eyes. Obviously, he did care. She let go of him and stepped back.
“Where do I collect my money?”
Lowering his voice so only she could hear Conrad said, “After my race, we need to talk, okay?”
“Where do I collect my winnings?”
“Sam…”
“We don’t need to talk Conrad, I get it. I’m not a fucking idiot. Now, who has my money?” She was falling apart inside. She’d not only made a fool of herself she was once again forced to face the knowledge that Conrad simply didn’t want her.
**
While Sam was collecting her money the guy with the Cobra Jet approached her again. After she finished counting out the hundred dollar bills, she stuffed them in her bra and the guy said, “Congratulations Mama, you should be proud of yourself. Nobody beats me, even by a nose.”
He actually seemed like he was trying to be sincere so Sam smiled and said, “Thanks, I am proud of myself. I still can’t believe I got to race a Jet, much less beat one.”
He smiled again and said, “You beat me, not the car. You’re a hell of a driver for a hot girl.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “Thanks…I think.”
He laughed. “It was a compliment. I’m Hector.”
“Samantha,” she said, taking the hand he was offering. She had to pull out of his grip and his lips twitched as he said, “So how about you and I go get a beer after the last race is over and celebrate your win?”
“Thanks, but I have to get my brother home.” She looked over at Aaron who was talking to Shawn now and so did he.
“He can come too. We’ll have a beer at the clubhouse and he can play darts and pool with my nephew, they’re about the same age.”
Knowing what she did about this “clubhouse,” Sam was about to decline politely again. Then her eyes landed on Conrad and Kyla. They were getting ready to get in their cars for their race, but she was reaching up with one hand on either side of his face. She pulled him down and he let her and his lips met hers in a soft kiss. It didn’t last more than half a second and Conrad was the one to pull back…but it happened and it made her sick. Conrad’s eyes seemed to search the crowd until they landed on hers. She acted like she didn’t see him and smiled at Hector instead and said, “Okay. That sounds like fun.”
By the time she finished up and got her car out of the way it was time for Conrad and Kyla’s race. It took less than two minutes for Conrad to win. Kyla was still smiling when she stepped out of her car. Samantha tried not to look at them but suddenly she was a glutton for punishment. She watched as Kyla congratulated him for beating her with a kiss. This one was of the full-mouth, bodies pressed into each other variety. Once again Conrad broke it first, but judging by the look on his face he wasn’t angry about it. Finally decidin
g she’d had enough, Samantha found Aaron and then Hector and they followed him back to the MC “clubhouse.”
The clubhouse was a shop basically that had been converted into a party space. There was a full kitchen off to one side and a bar that looked to contain more alcohol than most of the clubs in town. Tables were set up throughout and pool tables and dart boards graced the section across the back. There was a jukebox playing loud rap music as well and a young guy in a black leather jacket that said, “Prospect” on the patch in front and “SC Commanchero's” across the back.
“Beer?” Hector asked Sam.
“Just some water,” she said.
“I’ll take the beer,” Aaron piped up. Sam elbowed him and said,
“He’ll have water too.”
“You don’t drink, Mama?”
“I stay high on life,” she said with a flat tone. Hector laughed.
“You’re too much. Okay, water and water.” He went behind the bar and sulking Aaron said,
“You’re no fun, Sam. You need to lighten up.”
“Lighten up? You think alcohol and drugs are the only way to lighten up?”
“Never mind, I’ll never win this argument with you.”
“You’re right, you won’t. It would do well for you to remember that those are the exact things that ruined both of our lives.”
He rolled his eyes and walked over toward the jukebox. Hector stopped and said something to him before coming back with the water. Sam watched with some anxiety as Aaron disappeared down the hallway.
“Where is he going?” she asked Hector when he came over and handed her the bottle of water.
“I told him my nephew was in the back playing video games with some of his friends. Don’t worry Mama, your brother looks like a big boy to me.”
“They’re not drinking or smoking weed or anything back there are they?”
Hector laughed. “No Mama. Stop worrying and let’s have some fun. You shoot pool?”
