Unfiltered & Unhinged

by Payge Galvin

  Instead of pulling away, Cass turned into his body, catching him off balance. “You never specified I had to ride one of your bikes.”

  “I didn’t think you had one ready.” His grip tightened on her arm.

  “Then it’s not my fault you didn’t call for it in the deal. I ride the Ducati.” Now, she yanked her arm out of his grasp. Bending down, she scooped up the leathers from the ground and flung them back at him. “And the deal didn’t include colors, either. You like them so much, you wear them.”

  Wrex’s hands clenched into fists, making Cass wonder if she’d pushed him too far. She needed him off-balance and not thinking straight. She knew it was dangerous—Wrex wasn’t what anyone would call stable—but the more scattered he was, the more likely she’d get through this in one piece and out of debt.

  Dev took that moment to roll the bike up next to her. Wrex’s jaw clenched so hard Cass though his teeth would shatter. “Where’s your mechanic? Might as well let him take a look now.” Dev’s voice was casual, light, as if he hadn’t a care in the world. He looked at Wrex like he was something he’d found in the trash can.

  Wrex turned and stalked off, yelling for his mechanic.

  Cass took a moment to run her hands over the Ducati. She’d practiced with it enough to feel comfortable. It wasn’t an extension of her like her Superhawk, but it would have to do.

  Dev wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. They leaned against the Jeep together, watching the posturing of the other riders.

  A few more races were called while they waited. Bets were placed and won or lost, and Wrex’s men worked the crowd, collecting. Eventually he returned, followed by three men flanking a Suzuki Hayabusa with a honey of a custom paint job. She looked at it curiously—she’d never seen this one before. It must be someone’s from out of town. She didn’t recognize any of the three men either.

  Wrex gestured at her Ducati and his men swarmed over it as someone turned on the lights of a car to help them see. Cass knew they couldn’t take it apart to check for nitrous canisters, but she had no doubt they’d be thorough. She also had no doubt that Dev would have to check over the Ducati once they were done to make sure they hadn’t “accidentally” sabotaged it.

  While she watched them, Dev went to work on the Hayabusa. After only a few minutes, he emerged with a small nitrous canister. “Look what I found.” He set it down on the pavement.

  Cass cocked an eyebrow at Wrex, who shrugged and said, “Don’t know how that got there.”

  “Who am I up against?”

  “That wasn’t part of the deal. You’ll find out who on the line.” He flung a knife-sharp grin at her. “You satisfied?”

  Cass shared a look with Dev, who nodded slowly. They’d done the best they could. Now it would all be decided on the line. “Yes. But if nitrous is used during the race, the deal is off.”

  “Not my motorcycle, Cass. I’m not responsible for what’s in it.” He spread his arms helplessly.

  “Bullshit,” Dev snarled. He rose from his crouch and came to stand beside Cass.

  Wrex’s eyes flared dangerously as he looked from Cass to Dev. His lip curled in disgust. “Get your ass ready. We leave in five.” He turned, gesturing for his men to follow him.

  Cass called after him. “Tell your guy! No nitrous!”

  “Don’t do this,” Dev said, taking her hand.

  She shook her head. “Wrex won’t stop. You know that. I want to be done with all of this.” Cass turned to face him, putting a palm to his cheek. “It’s got to be tonight.”

  Dev moved so he could kiss her palm. “I’ll be watching.”

  “I know.” She pressed her forehead against his chest. “I need you at the finish line to keep Wrex honest.”

  “I’m there. I’ll bring someone with me.” He kissed the top of her head. “The more eyes, the better.” He wrapped his arms around her. “Please be careful.”

  She nodded, holding him tightly against her. She’d never been this nervous before a race before. Then again, she’d never had so much riding on the outcome of one before.

  Wrex signaled it was time. “Highway!” he cried, pointing to the car he’d be riding in. “Follow the car.”

  She nodded, then went over to the Jeep to grab her jacket and helmet. Dev gave the Ducati one last going over. “Looks good.”

  Cars and motorcycles roared to life. They pulled out in a line, heading for the highway. Cass gave Dev another kiss, then put her helmet on and started up her motorcycle. She waited until she spotted the Hayabusa go by, then she pulled into line. Dev followed in his Jeep.

  She merged onto the highway, riding with the group. Cars began to fall back, slowing down and eventually stopping. They would block traffic, keeping all other drivers away from the race, giving them free reign to run the 11/44-mile without any interference. Wrex’s car broke away, heading toward what would be the end point of this race. Dev’s Jeep and several other bikes followed after. The Hayabusa stopped, its rider waiting for her to discuss terms.

  Cass pulled up alongside, lifting her visor so she could talk. They still had to agree on the break. Other bikers had stopped behind them and along the shoulders of the highway, waiting for the race to start.

  “Gimme two and the break,” a familiar voice said from the seat of the other bike. “You’re lighter than I am.”

  Her jaw dropped.”Wrex?” When had he gotten out of the lead car? He never raced; she remembered him saying once that it was bad for his business. He handled the betting and the running of the races. He left it to others to take the actual risks.

  Except tonight. Tonight was different.

  “Two and the break,” he repeated, not looking at her.

  “Fine,” she snapped, suddenly feeling out of her depth. Two and the break meant he got two bike lengths and he left from the line first. She’d react to him. Cass was lighter and she had the faster bike—marginally. In order to make the race fair, she had to make concessions.

  Wrex dropped the visor of his helmet down. He flashed his headlights on and off as a signal to the others. Cass did the same.

  He started the burn out, thick clouds of smoke pluming out from the rubber hitting the pavement. She gunned her engine as they moved the bikes into position at the starting line. Her tachometer was hitting the redline as she twisted the throttle. She knew Wrex was doing the same.

  He took off with Cass just a moment behind him off the line. She could hear the high-pitched howl of their engines as they rolled up the gear range, thundering down the highway. Her speedometer climbed higher as she lay flat against the machine, trying to keep low to eliminate as much wind resistance as she could. The bike was up to 90 miles per hour already and she’d drawn even with Wrex.

  She leaned into the curve, the Ducati almost parallel to the ground. She eased off the throttle, adjusting her speed to avoid wiping out, then accelerated as she came out, trusting her instincts. The motorcycle jumped forward, hitting speeds of 120 miles per hour now as she raced through the straightaway. Wrex was to her right, slightly behind her.

  She heard the roar of his engine as he engaged his nitrous tank, zipping past her in a blur of orange paint. Cass cursed. He’d had two tanks—one that was easy to find and another that was hidden. Son of a bitch. He hadn’t just been signaling the crowd when he’d flashed his lights. He’d been priming his nitrous tanks.

  She hit her own nitrous button, hoping she wasn’t too late. She’d had the guy who was prepping the Ducati for the race add a hidden tank inside the air ducts, just in case Wrex didn’t keep his word. The bike took off like it had been shot from a cannon. Cass had limited experience with the speed a nitrous boost gave the Ducati, but she had to hope it would be enough.

  Wrex was just ahead of her.

  She twisted the throttle, demanding more speed from the roaring engine, and slid past him as the lights of the finish line cars came into view. Then she was rocketing past them, slowing to a safe speed before she made her way back to
the finish line.

  And to Dev.

  Wrex was already there, bike overturned and helmet on the highway. The face shield was cracked from where he’d flung it on the ground. As soon as Cass stopped, Wrex grabbed her and dragged her off the bike.

  “What the fuck was that?” His blond hair was plastered to his head, and his mouth was pulled back in a snarl.

  “I could ask you the same thing.” She tried to jerk away, but his grip on her arm was too tight. Again. She was getting really tired of him yanking her around like he owned her. “We agreed no nitrous or the bets are off. You cheated, and you still lost!” She shoved at his chest. “And get your damn hands off of me!”

  The sound of running feet was the only warning she got before Dev punched Wrex, sending them both to the ground. Cass scrambled back to her feet, watching as Dev pounded the other man’s face with his fists.

  “You don’t ever touch her again,” he was shouting between blows. “Do you hear me? If you lay a hand on her again, I’ll kill you myself!”

  Cass grabbed Dev’s arm in both of hers and dragged him off of Wrex. They were on the shoulder of the highway—this was not the place to get into a brawl. Traffic was moving slowly once again now that the race was over. They needed to get out of here before the cops showed up.

  “Come on. Just let it go,” she whispered, still holding him back. “He’s not worth it.”

  She glanced over at Wrex to see if he was still conscious. He stared at her, something very close to hurt flitting across his bloodied features. It was gone just as quickly. A cold smile spread across his face.

  “I’ve laid hands on her plenty,” Wrex said, spitting out blood as he climbed to his feet. His voice was soft, but it carried, the poison in his words there for all to hear.

  Cass felt her legs tremble. He was not doing this now, not after all of this. “Shut up, Wrex.” Her voice sounded like ground glass to her ears.

  Dev pushed away from her, eyeing Wrex carefully. “What’s he talking about?”

  “I’m not surprised she didn’t tell you.” He walked over to Cass, wiping blood from his mouth. She glared up at him, willing him not to say anything else. “Tell me, Dev, does she still do this thing with her hips where she—”

  “It was ONE night!” she snapped, furious that he would do this here, now. What was wrong with him? Why did he do this stuff to her? “It was one night,” she repeated. “And it was a mistake.”

  “A mistake you don’t mind repeating though, right?” He walked over to Dev, once again wearing his snake smile. “Did Cassie tell you the stakes for tonight’s race?”

  Dev looked over at her, his brown eyes wide. “It was to pay off Liam’s debt. If she won you’d leave him alone.”

  Wrex chuckled, throwing Cass a wink like she was in on the joke. “But she didn’t tell you what happened if she lost?”

  They were both staring at her now, and she wished the ground would just open up and swallow her. She balled her hands into fists, unable to do anything that would make Wrex shut his mouth.

  “No.” Dev never took his gaze off of her.

  She wanted to go to him, to stop his ears, to drag him away before he heard the words Wrex was bound to say next. She wished she could stop time. She wished she’d never even heard of motorcycles or racing.

  “We had a deal, Wrex,” she warned, knowing it wouldn’t stop him. Not now.

  “If she lost, I got her for twenty-four hours. To remind her how good we are together.” His gaze skipped to Dev and then back to her. “Wonder why she didn’t tell you about that part?”

  Dev looked down at his blood encrusted knuckles. Cass took a step closer to him, stopping when his gaze found her. The look of betrayal in his eyes hurt her more than anything else ever could have. She’d done that to him. She’d put that there.

  “Dev, I…,” she began trailing off when he held up a hand. Then he turned and climbed into his Jeep, pulling out in a spray of gravel and dirt.

  Cass watched him go, wrapping her arms around herself. She felt cold and hollowed out. She didn’t move, not even when she heard the crunch of footsteps beside her. A tear spilled over her lower lashes, tracking its cold path down her cheek. She was just as much a screw-up as Liam. At least he only gambled with money. She’d bet with someone’s feelings.

  “He didn’t deserve you,” Wrex said softly.

  Wiping away her tear, Cass faced him. “And you do? After everything you just did? Everything you just said?”

  “I care about you, Cass.” He reached for her. “I’ve waited. I raced you myself.”

  She shook her head in disbelief. “This is not how you show someone you care about them.” She backed away. “I don’t know what happened to you that you think it’s that way, but it’s not.” Dragging her helmet back on, she threw a leg over her Ducati. “We’re done, Wrex. You lost. You know the terms of the bet. Stay away from me and Liam.”

  “You’ll come back,” he said.

  “No,” she said. “I won’t. I don’t want to see you ever again.”

  Chapter 17

  Dev slammed his Jeep into gear like he was still beating on Wrex, imagining the feel of his knuckles hitting bone. He wished Cass hadn’t tried to protect Wrex. He wished he never met Cass at all. What kind of game was she playing?

  He slammed a hand into his steering wheel. Once. Twice. A third time. “FUCK!” he shouted, hoping it would make him feel better.

  It didn’t.

  He pulled into the back parking lot of the Blind Tiger. If he couldn’t make himself feel better, he could at least make himself not feel at all.

  ‡

  Signaling the bartender for another refill, Dev polished off his fourth round of double Jacks. The bar was crowded, but not to the point that he couldn’t carve out a quiet space for himself at the end of the bar. The noise from the televisions and the people helped drown out the noise inside his skull. The alcohol did the rest.

  A heavy hand slammed down on his shoulder. Dev stiffened, slowly turning his neck to see who it was. Baron stood behind him, grinning. “How you doing, man?”

  Dev waved him to the empty stool beside him. He caught the bartender’s eye and indicated a drink for Baron. “Getting wasted.” He watched while the bartender refilled his glass, then toasted B. “Join me?”

  Baron raised his eyebrows. “How many you had?”

  “Not nearly enough.” Dev scouted out the bar. There were a couple of prospects in the girls hanging out tonight. Tops tight enough, jeans low enough to display the tramp stamps on their low backs.

  “What happened to you tonight?” Baron sipped at his Crown, his gaze following Dev’s to the girl with the tribal stamp. “I thought you were with Cass, man.”

  “Thought so too.” He knocked back the rest of his Jack, then levered himself to his feet. “Found out otherwise.”

  Baron caught his arm. “Dev, man. What happened?”

  “Wrex.” Dev shook off Baron’s hold, staggering a little.

  “If she lost tonight, she was going to go with Wrex.” Dev wanted another drink, badly, but he knew if he didn’t slow down, he’d be done before he got to item number two of his forget-Cass list: find a willing girl.

  Baron leaned back against the bar. “Did she lose?”

  Dev shook his head, admitting grudgingly, “She can ride.” He’d never seen her ride before. It had been like the bike was an extension of her body. Dev had been impressed.

  Baron took another swallow of Crown.

  “She should’ve told me about the damn bet.” Dev shoved away from the bar and left Baron behind as he wove his way over to the tribal girl.

  “Couldn’t help but notice your work,” he said by way of opening. “You get it done around here?”

  The girl turned, giving him a ready smile. “Thanks,” she said. “Got it over at Sinners.”

  Dev was familiar with the place; Adam had inked one of his tats. “Who did it?”

  “Betsey.” The name wasn’t familia
r to him. The girl ran her eyes over the ones on his arms. “I’m Lana.”

  “Devlin.” He knew the effect his name had on women. “What are you drinking?”

  “Tequila.”

  He caught the bartender’s gaze and signaled another round for the two of them. “You don’t play around.”

  She put her hand on his arm, leaning into him. “Sometimes I like to,” Lana answered, giving him an encouraging look.

  Dev wrapped his arm around her waist, smiling when she pressed herself against him. “Sometimes I do too.”

  ‡

  Dev pushed Lana’s back against the rough brick wall. His mouth latched onto hers, hungry and bruising as he thrust his tongue into her mouth. Lana wrapped her arms around his neck, yanking him closer to her. He braced his hands on either side of her head, trying to keep his balance, as he slid his tongue along hers.

  She moaned against his mouth, sucking on his bottom lip. Dev broke away so he could bite down the length of her neck.

  Lana’s hands slid down the front of his shirt, stopping when they reached the top of his jeans. Clever fingers worked at the button and fly of his jeans.

  She kissed his mouth, and this time he could taste the tequila she’d been drinking. He opened his eyes, trying to concentrate on the feel of her mouth and hands.

  She was a good kisser, but she didn’t taste like Cass either.

  He pounded the side of his fist against the brick wall. Why couldn’t his brain fuck off?

  Dev wanted to stop thinking so he could just enjoy Lana’s body without the running comparison to Cass, but his brain had other ideas.

  He stepped away. “I can’t do this.”

  Lana looked dazed. “What’s wrong?” She looked around. “If it’s the location, we can go back to my place—”

  “No, it’s not the place.” He offered her what he knew was a rueful smile. “And it’s not you.” Running a hand through his dark hair, he said, “It’s just…I can’t stop thinking about someone else. And that’s not fair to someone as sexy as you.”

  Lana’s dark look changed into a smile. “You’re not hard on the eyes either.” She made a grab for him, but he stepped back.