Drive

by Sidney Bristol

  Matt stared at her for several moments. She couldn’t see his expression in the shadows, and she was glad she couldn’t. “I don’t want to see you hurt.”

  Was the flirting fake? Did Detective Smith have some sort of a thing for her? It couldn’t be real. Sure, he was a good guy, upstanding, probably with the savings account and 401(k) she so wanted her future significant others to have. But he wasn’t for her.

  “I’m a tough cookie.”

  “Even cookies crumble.”

  “You’re cute.”

  A tall figure with wide shoulders came around the corner and she sucked in a deep breath.

  Aiden.

  The sight of him turned her insides to goo. The thrill of his nearness set her off, but she knew it couldn’t last. Still, being with Aiden made more sense than returning Matt’s awkward flirtation. Besides, he made her feel safe, which was something Detective Smith had never managed.

  Aiden strode toward them and without asking her, took her sweaty bag of gear and shouldered it.

  “You did good, babe.” He leaned down and buzzed her cheek with a peck. Quick, harmless, and very public.

  Heat rushed to her face and her stomach seemed to be trying to twist itself into a pretzel. Her reaction was silly and Aiden’s caveman claim didn’t mean anything.

  “Ready to go?” Aiden asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “Nice to see you again, man.” Aiden shook Matt’s hand before urging her forward with a palm against her lower back.

  “Lily brought some boxes for me,” she said, pitching her voice low. They rounded the corner into the well-lit parking lot. It was beginning to clear as people headed for the after-party, which would undoubtedly be crazy.

  “Do you know where she’s parked?”

  “Yeah, right there, the blue Prius.” She pointed at a little car a couple spaces away. The doors were all open and a couple of girls were clustered around while heavy rock music blared.

  “I’m over in the grass lot. How about I go get the car and drive it over here. Cool?”

  “Perfect. I can take my bag.”

  “I’ve got it.” He turned, heading toward the overflow parking lot, leaving her at odds for a moment.

  She strolled to Lily’s car, trying to ignore the curious gazes of her friends.

  “Need a ride home?” Lily asked.

  “No, Aiden’s taking me.” Madison and Lily had talked about this, but it was clear her friend was still less than enthusiastic about the arrangement.

  Lily turned toward another girl, dismissing Madison. Lily would have to get over it or tell her she wasn’t okay with Aiden. If it came down to that before her deal with Aiden was done, well, she didn’t know what she’d do. Madison hadn’t told her about the deal with Aiden or what Dustin wanted from her, and it was probably for the best. She wanted her friend to be safe.

  “Hey.” Madison edged closer to Sindercella.

  “What’s up her cooch?” She nodded toward Lily.

  “She doesn’t exactly like Aiden.”

  “Doesn’t like him? What’s not to like? He’s hot, polite, and flirted with Sobo.”

  Madison grinned. Aiden had held his own pretty well. “Yeah, well, she doesn’t know him. No big deal.”

  “It’s the best friend thing. He’s competition for your time.”

  Only for right now.

  It hurt to admit that now, but it was the truth.

  “Hey, do you know what ever happened to Alison Plunderland?” Madison asked.

  “Ally? Damn, what makes you ask about her?”

  “I saw that guy she used to date the other day at Stoke’s.”

  Sindercella leaned closer and whispered, “She moved. That guy was bad news. Last I heard she’s in Atlanta on their alternate roster. I bet she gets on a team within the month, and Lord knows their travel team could use her. They were not good this last season.” Sindercella sighed and shook her head.

  Madison nodded. That was good to hear, for Alison. Not so good for her. What if Raibel caught her next?

  “Damn, that’s a sweet ride.” Sindercella leaned back, peering around Madison.

  She felt the rumble of the car before she heard it. Aiden’s Chevelle was really a thing of beauty. He parked it just behind Lily’s Prius and popped the trunk.

  “Enjoy that one, okay?” Sindercella winked and gave her a quick squeeze. “Don’t forget to ice your knee.”

  Lily unlocked her trunk without another word spoken and Madison grabbed the first box she could.

  The white boxes didn’t appear any different than the others they’d looked at, but she had a good feeling about these. The drive had to be here.

  They loaded eight boxes into the back of Aiden’s car.

  The hair on Madison’s neck rose. She glanced around, and found a red sports car parked at the curb, driver’s window rolled down and Raibel Canales staring at them.

  “A-Aiden.”

  “I know.” He closed the trunk and pushed her toward the passenger side. “Get in.”

  She plopped into the seat, the last of her energy leaving her, and buckled in. Aiden slipped a Bluetooth headset over his ear as he started the engine.

  “Hey. Eleventh is here. You guys still around?” he asked someone that wasn’t her. “Great. He’s probably got some friends around here somewhere, so be careful.”

  “What’s going on?” she asked.

  “Nothing.” Yet he reached under his seat and took out the same gun he’d toted around the night before. He tucked it under his thigh.

  “Then why the gun?”

  “Just in case.”

  “I don’t like this.” Racing was one thing, being followed by someone she knew wasn’t afraid to hurt people was another.

  * * *

  Aiden hated the fear in Madison’s eyes. It didn’t belong there, and he had no idea how to fix it.

  Canales was escalating things, and while he might tell Madison to not worry about it, his concerns were very real. Bashing the bike was one step closer to hurting actual people, and according to Madison, that had already taken place. This was his fault for underestimating the Eleventh, and Canales in particular.

  Aiden needed to take Canales off the streets. He hadn’t had a moment to get CJ up to speed and on the same page about bringing in the DEA yet, but when he could make that call—it was happening. There were already too many threats to Madison’s life without the Eleventh involved.

  “What are we doing?” Madison’s voice had risen and she gripped the edges of her seat.

  “Waiting.”

  “For what? Raibel to come over here?”

  “No.”

  He loved the Chevelle, but it didn’t have the modifications to beat Canales’s Lancer. The little car didn’t have a piece of stock still on it. It was a badass racing machine.

  A high-pitched whine split through the night.

  “That’s what we’re waiting for.”

  A sleek, black GT-R zipped down the street, barely missing people. Its tires squealed as the brakes were applied and it skidded to a stop directly in front of Canales’s car. Nose to nose.

  Julian had the windows rolled down. Even from this distance, Aiden could see the gruesome smile Julian gave Canales. Aiden needed to come up with a plan fast, or Julian would take care of it. Canales might deserve it, but the last thing Julian needed was another drop of blood on his hands.

  “Hold on.”

  Aiden gunned the engine and shifted. The Chevelle shot forward, cutting through the parking lot, headed away from Canales. They jumped the curb and he cut the wheel the same moment he stomped on the accelerator. In the rearview mirror, Canales shifted into reverse. A blue blur shot past Aiden going the opposite direction. The blue Lancer turned ninety degrees in a hand-break turn.

  “Roni?” Madison craned her neck to peer back at the quickly fading cars.

  “Just giving us a little cover.”

  “But won’t he go after them, too?”

  “Proba
bly, but for some reason, he’s fixed on me.” Which was what he didn’t need right now.

  He took turns too fast, passed cars by swerving into oncoming traffic and all the while, the one thing he could hear was Madison’s panting breath.

  Lights lit up his back window. Three—no, four cars turned onto the feeder road maybe a quarter mile behind him. It wasn’t much of a lead, but it was something to work with.

  This late, the highway wasn’t busy, but there were still too many people on the road for his tastes. Especially with Canales and whoever this other driver was.

  He shifted into a higher gear and let everything else go. The Chevelle’s engine rumbled as they flew forward, passing big rigs, SUVs, and other cars. Though the Chevelle could perform at higher speeds, he was limited to how fast he could push it with this many innocent people around.

  The other cars were closing the gap.

  Julian and Roni’s cars zipped back and forth in front of the other two, slowing them down, but there was only so much they could do. Canales was a man on a mission.

  The fourth car he recognized. The silver Scion racer from the trip up to Boca. A careful kid. Aiden pitied him. This was no place for a kid, and yet, he’d made his choice. The red Lancer crept up on Aiden’s right, while Julian pulled up dangerously close behind Aiden.

  “Don’t do it, Jul,” Aiden muttered. He eased off the gas and Canales drew up next to them.

  His window was down, creating drag, no doubt. He would glance at the road, glare at Aiden, check his mirrors, and repeat. Behind them, Julian and Roni had the silver Scion boxed in against an eighteen-wheeler.

  This was too dangerous. Far too many people around.

  Aiden eased off the accelerator a bit more. Canales kept pace with him.

  What if the man had a gun? Of course he would. Aiden had escalated it by pointing one at Canales. There could be a gun aimed at Madison right now. He was on her side.

  Aiden felt the press of his gun under his thigh. If he needed to, he’d use it. To protect her. They continued to keep pace for two miles. Enough distance and time that Aiden was starting to feel on edge. What was Canales planning?

  He kept one eye on the red Lancer, and one on the road ahead of him. Which left them blind to the rear.

  A flash of headlights in the rearview mirror was all the warning Aiden had that something bad was about to happen. The car lurched forward and the steering wheel was nearly ripped from Aiden’s grip.

  “Oh my God,” Madison screamed.

  “Fuck.” He held on tighter and accelerated, putting distance between him and the silver Scion that had just fucking bumped them.

  Julian’s black GT-R swerved toward the Scion. The silver car jerked away and Aiden’s view was cut off by a big rig.

  The Chevelle vibrated on a new note that set Aiden’s teeth on edge. They needed off this crazy ride. Now.

  The black GT-R shot forward and cut in front of the big rig and Aiden, until Julian was in front of Canales. Right now, Canales was between Aiden and any exit ramp he might try to take, forcing him back toward the heart of Miami.

  Aiden accelerated, pulling up alongside Julian. Canales jerked his car to the right, but Roni shot forward, cutting off that avenue.

  “What’s going on? What’s happening?” Madison’s breathing was erratic, scared, and he couldn’t blame her.

  He cut across in front of Julian, then Roni, and into the far right lane.

  “You know how derby girls make a defensive line so the jammer can’t get through?” He checked his mirrors, watching for the silver car, but it was gone.

  “Y-yeah.”

  “Julian and Roni are my defensive line.” If Madison weren’t with him, if they weren’t potentially carrying the shit Dustin wanted, sure, he’d be tempted to show Canales a lesson. The Chevelle could take a whole lot more of a beating than the Lancer.

  Canales sped up, slowed down, but each time, Julian and Roni kept pace with him.

  Aiden exited the highway, and wished his crew well. It was another two miles to the closest exit, and by then, he wanted to be long gone.

  “Oh my God.” Madison twisted to peer out of the rear window.

  “We’re okay.” He reached for his phone, scrolling quickly through his contacts until he found Gabriel, their most resourceful asset. Anything they needed, any car they wanted to boost, Gabriel was their guy.

  The Bluetooth rang and rang....

  “What’s on fire?” Gabriel asked.

  “Not yet. I need a place, though.”

  “Are you hiding or is this for a name?”

  “Need to keep a low profile.”

  “I got a place. It’s mostly empty. It’s off Fifth and Twenty-sixth above a lighting store. Loft space. That work?”

  “Is there a bed and a microwave?”

  “It’s got sheets and towels.”

  “Perfect. How do I get in?”

  “There’s a key hidden inside of a fake rock that’s in a planter for a hibiscus plant that’s to the right of the door.” Gabriel rattled off a security code and exact address.

  “You’re a lifesaver, man.”

  “Yeah, just give me something more interesting to do.”

  Aiden glanced at Madison, who hadn’t lost the dazed look.

  “Soon, man. Real soon.”

  He hung up and turned the car toward South Beach and the Arts District, while keeping an eye on his phone. But it wasn’t his that rang, it was Madison’s. She dug it out of her pocket and frowned at the screen.

  “Who is it?” he asked.

  “Matt.”

  He tightened his grip on the wheel. Another problem that needed handling.

  “Hello?”

  Aiden felt Madison’s gaze on him, but he wouldn’t look at her. Not while she was talking to that fucking cop. His reaction was extreme and out of line, and he didn’t care. For now, Madison was his. His responsibility. His to care about. His. And the cop needed to learn that lesson quick.

  “That’s—that’s awful. Is everyone okay?” She paused and he could actually hear Matt Smith’s voice. “No, we aren’t anywhere near there. Actually, we just stopped for some food. I hope everyone’s okay. . . . Okay. I will. Bye.”

  Madison blew out a breath and leaned her head back, slouching down until she could rest her head on the back of the seat.

  He refused to ask what that call was about.

  “That silver car crashed.”

  Fuck.

  “Was anyone hurt?” he asked.

  “The driver. He clipped another car, but the people in that one were okay. Matt thinks we were involved.”

  They were. But it would take the golden detective a while to figure that out. Aiden didn’t like the thought, but he was going to have to lean on CJ to make Matt Smith go away.

  “Damn it. I’ll get Emery to find out who it was, see if we can’t do something for them. Offer them a deal on repairs or something.”

  “That would be nice of you.”

  “Fucking Canales.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “Someplace safe. We’re going to stay at a friend’s place for tonight. Do you need anything? Like . . . a toothbrush or something?”

  “No, I keep an overnight bag in with my derby stuff. Usually I stay over at one of the girls’ houses after a bout.”

  “Reliving the game?”

  “Taking a bath.” She chuckled, some of her good humor recovered. The shock of their short race was wearing off. “One thing that doesn’t fit on a boat. A tub.”

  “I see.” Good thing Gabriel was providing towels with the digs. “Hungry?”

  “Starved.”

  “There should be a little place around the corner from the loft. How about you take your bath, clean up, and I’ll grab us some food. Then we can go through the boxes.” Granted, that meant he’d be hauling them up and down the stairs. Some aspects of this job sucked.

  “Sounds amazing.”

  As they neared the loft, Aiden pull
ed up a map on his phone until he found the exact building. There was a bright yellow shop advertising the latest fashions, a perfume wholesale store, a couple places he couldn’t quite tell what they sold, and on the corner, a two-story white building with red doors. It had an industrial appearance, but he could make out a set of stairs leading up to a landing.

  He circled around the building and parked in an alley. It wasn’t much to hide the Chevelle, but it would have to do.

  “We here?” Madison asked.

  “Yup.”

  He got out, stashing his gun in his waistband, and flipped on the flashlight app. He held his breath and circled around the back of the car.

  “Motherfucker.” He knelt, pressing his hand into the dinner plate–sized dent.

  “Oh no, I’m so sorry, Aiden.” Madison bent at the waist and they both took in the destroyed bumper and chipping paint.

  “Do you know how hard it is to find a bumper in good enough condition?” Fuck. This was going to take weeks of searching. Again. And a new paint job.

  That kid better be glad the cops had him, because Aiden wanted a piece of his hide.

  He sighed and unlocked the trunk.

  Madison gasped. The boxes were overturned, the contents everywhere. So much for hauling the boxes up to them. By the looks of it, they were going to have to go fishing in the trunk. Tomorrow. One glance at Madison and he knew her energy was fading.

  He grabbed her bag out from the mess of his trunk and his overnight kit.

  “Is it safe?” Madison asked.

  Aiden jostled the trunk and tried to pry his fingers under the hood, but it held fast.

  “Yeah. Looks like it’s just the bumper and some paint.”

  “I’m so sorry.”

  “Why?” He placed his hand on her lower back, urging her toward the street. Once he had her settled, he’d do a sweep of the area then get her food.

  “Because . . . I don’t know.”

  “Canales has issues with me. Not you.” Though if Aiden hadn’t been at the game, would Canales have gone after Madison? It was a possibility he didn’t want to contemplate. He was supposed to be getting her out of harm’s way, not into it.

  They walked toward the street. It was late enough the immediate area was shut up tight for the night. Good for them. Bad for anyone searching them out.