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Chapter One

Seven years ago:

This was it!The race of a lifetime had River’s mind on the track while her nerves were on edge.This is it—this race could get the points for a pro license, bigger sponsor, a real team.In no way was she bashing her team—but face it, her friends would rather be off doing something else with their time, especially when they weren’t getting paid to sit at the track with her. Hell, they were lucky she was able to afford to have them shacked up in a crappy motel, because she sure as hell couldn’t afford to put any of them up in luxury. They all knew the deal. They were just lucky they got pizza and beer for their time. Cypress told her when she started down this road, she would have to earn every dime. Boy he wasn’t kidding. Luckily, she still had a trust fund coming to her in two more years.

She worried about her brother. He seemed unhappy lately. River worried it was because she didn’t like his girlfriend. Wasn’t her fault Laurel was a grade A bitch that slept with every hard dick that presented itself.God, I hate that two-timing bitch. If it were up to River, she would shove Laurel into oncoming traffic. The only saving grace was that Laurel had no luck getting Cypress to let her move into their home.His home.

River stayed with her boyfriend Riot all the time, so what did it matter if Laurel moved in or not. It could get interesting with Jason and Michael staying at the house all the time. River had caught the trio coming in and out of the guest room multiple times.

Even with her mind going in multiple directions, River kept a watchful eye as she walked the track. She heard Mal on the radio alerting there was a section of loose gravel on the inside of the track.

The last thing anyone needed would be to come into contact with gravel. With twenty bikes blasting down the straightaway at one hundred eighty-five miles an hour, dipping into the curve and hitting loose gravel did not make for a great result. She should know. She’d been there, done that, and it resulted in three jammed fingers, a baseball-sized knot on her forehead, and a fractured scapula. She knew how damn lucky she had been because everyone made sure to remind her of that one simple fact. It took a long time to shake that feeling, the feeling of impending doom. Not in the mood to repeat that fucking moment, she paid closer attention to the track.

The team chatted amongst themselves, bitching about the heat. They had no idea how hot it could get on the track after ten laps in the midday sun, going into the second half with twenty left to go. Just putting on the gear made you sweat before you ever got on the bike. Had they not seen the pretty little girls with their boobs popping out of their tops while they held an umbrella over the riders while waiting for the race to start?

“When I get my points for my pro license, I’m requesting an umbrella guy.” She wanted a hot guy with a body of an Olympic swimmer, shaggy, sandy brown hair with hazel eyes, to stand shirtless while he held a golf umbrella over her. “If women can be exploited on the track, so can men.”Note to self: put umbrella boy on my pro notes later.River heard the conversation switch from her race to the Indy race happening later that day at Fontana Speedway.

“River, what time is Cypress and Riot’s race today?”

She shoved the hair from her face as the warm Georgia breeze rushed across the track. “Focus, people!” is what she wanted to yell, but instead she smiled. To say she was proud of Cypress would be mild. Her brother never did anything halfway, it was all or nothing. “He’s in the lead with points going into this race. That gives him an advantage on his position. Colton Donavan is on his ass at the moment with Riot trailing him by two points, Fisher’s tied with Michael, and Jason is back of the pack after his last two races.”

“What time?”

“They’re racing at eleven.”

“Basically, you’re all racing at the same time.”

She pointed at Tony and replied, “Bingo.”I need to get a real team and stop using my friends to come with me. This shit is getting old. Please don’t screw up today.

“Don’t be snarky.”

If snarky was the only thing she was feeling, that would be awesome. Up ahead she could see the finish line and couldn’t wait to get off the hot track. A few hours to relax and wrap her mind around what needed to be done that day. Checking the time, she realized she needed to call Cypress and wish him a good race. They never missed calling each other on a race day, never. “All right, thanks for walking the track. Go get some food and I will see everyone in an hour.” The grumble was audible. She shook her head but kept her focus on the upcoming race—although her mind went to the phone. Cypress hadn’t called, and it wasn’t sitting well.That bitch Laurel is up to something. I just know it.

She pulled out her phone and saw that there were no missed calls or texts from her brother. “Fuck it.” She hit the call button and listened as it went to his voicemail.“Hey big brother, I’m sending you lots of good luck today. I love you and we will celebrate when I get back in town.” As she hung up, her chest hurt. Things were changing between them, and it wasn’t something she was ready for. The vibration alerting a call was coming in had River scrambling to answer. “Hello?”

“Hey kid.”

She looked back at the number, but she still wasn’t sure who had called. “Cypress?”

“Yes, I know, this is Ben’s phone. Seems I misplaced mine.”

Not likely, but what did she know. “That’s not like you.” She needed to stop being so suspicious. Just because he misplaced his phone did not mean the backstabbing, two-timing girlfriend took it. The bitch must have a pussy made of gold the way men flocked to her. Including Cypress. Who was she to judge? Maybe he didn’t mind sharing.

“I know. So, tell me, are you excited about the race? This is it kid, you win this, you could get enough points to get your pro license.”

“Don’t make me more nervous than I am already. Stop laughing asshole.”

Cypress heard Ben, his team manager, calling him to do a meet and greet with a few of the other drivers. He hated cutting the call short, especially today of all days. “Listen, they’re calling me. You know how it is, interviews and shit like that.”

“Not yet.” Hopefully soon she would know what it felt like to be interviewed.

“Okay, I have to run… River?”

“Yeah?”

“Make me proud.”

“Always. Love you.” She heard him say it back as the phone went silent. Her chest was hurting again. Maybe it’s the Taco Tico coming back to haunt her. “You should never eat fast food before the race of your life,” she grumbled.Time to get in the right headspace.

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