to make sure you have a friendly face in the crowd when you cross the finish line.”
I blew out a breath, knowing I was about to give in against my better judgment. “Stick close to Mickey. He’s a flirt, but I’m confident you can resist him.”
She tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Maybe I should invite Vaughn and let him see for himself that I have options.”
“Mickey isn’t exactly the boy next door, and Vaughn is much too whipped to care. It will be the brawl of the century.”
She cackled and banged her fist against the steering wheel. “You might be right.”
I checked my new phone for the thousandth time to ensure my absence hadn’t been discovered. It didn’t escape Tyra’s notice. “Why didn’t you invite him? I’m sure he would want to be there with his nose in the air and a hand on your ass to stake his claim.”
“Somehow, I don’t think he would approve given what happened the last time I raced.”
“He won’t like you lying about it, either. I wonder which offense will get you spanked?”
“You’re relentless.”
“I’m also right.”
“I should have never told you about him trying to spank me.” I could feel myself flushing from the memory.
“Don’t worry. You and Ever’s kinky secrets are safe with me.”
“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