Page 179 of Finish Line

“Nope, stay the hell out of it.” I shake my head. “It’s between Nick and Cin. Now, come here and kiss me. I have a race to win.”

They each kiss me and tell me they will see me at the race.

I pull up to the storage unit. Mark and Ricky back up Nick’s truck to hook up the trailer with Demon in it. Cin’s inside arranging the equipment she’ll need.

“Damn, you guys were fast this morning,” I say as Mark gets out of the truck.

He thumbs toward Cin. “You know what she’s like when she’s in a bad mood.”

I don’t reply.

Demon’s loading is smooth, but Billy exits with his brows drawn. “Trouble, where are your racing suits?”

“Hanging in there?” I point inside the unit.

“Umm, hate to tell you, but it’s empty.”

“No, it’s not. They were in there this morning!” I hop into the unit, only to find the rack empty.

Shit, did I use my last one this morning and didn’t realize it? I’m almost sure I had one or two left.

I don’t have time to figure out what happened, though.

“I’ll go home and get a spare suit. Start prep, and I’ll meet you at the track. If I run late, Ricky can fill in at the driver’s meeting,” I rattle off as I climb on my bike.

I take off for home, cursing myself for this. It’s good we don’t live far from where we keep the car.

I pull up, turn off my bike, throw my helmet on my seat, and jog to the front door.

Opening it with my keys, I look up and scream.

Nick sits in the middle of my living room, his left eye swollen shut.

Behind him, Roger holds him by his hair with one hand, and his other hand presses a knife against Nick’s throat. “Monkey, thanks for joining us.”

My stomach churns. “What did you do to him?”

“Nothing he didn’t deserve,” Roger hisses.

I take a step forward. “Is he alive?”

He pokes Nick in the head and shrugs. “I think so.”

“You think so?” I yell back. “Killing my mom wasn’t enough? Now, you want to hurt my brother?”

I’m mad as hell. I’m tired of this psycho ruining my life. One of us won’t be leaving this house today.

He yanks Nick’s hair, making Nick moan. “He should have stayed out of my business.”

“You should have stayed out of mine,” I growl back.

“No, that’s where you’re wrong. You are my business.” He pokes Nick’s neck, and a small bead of blood forms.

“You made a mistake coming here, Roger. You’re slipping. The guys will come for me.”

He throws his head back and laughs. “That’s where you’re wrong. I have a surprise for them at the races. Why don’t you take a seat?”

I cover my mouth, my breakfast threatening to come back up. What the hell does he have planned for the guys? I have to warn them.

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