Page 26 of Played

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Standing in the doorway, Riot watched Michael working. The man was a business deal in the making. He was lost in thought, thinking about his own business dealings, when Michael jolted him back to the now. Riot pushed off from the doorjamb and stepped into the room.

“You need to start making noise when you enter a damn room. You could get yourself hurt like that,” Michael said. Riot saw Michael check his watch, realizing it was late.

“Evening, Michael. I thought I would see Jason today.”

Easing back in the office chair, Michael made sure to pay attention to all the small details about Riot. It only took one slip up for someone to completely fall off the wagon. “He’s taking care of a ton of last-minute details for the charity event.”

“If there’s anything I can do to help, don’t hesitate to ask,” Riot told his friend as he moved further into the office. He smiled as Michael laughed. “Don’t let Jason hear you say that unless you’re serious.”

“If he needs help, I don’t mind.”

“It’s volunteers canceling. He’s got a backup list. You know Jason, he has lists for lists.”

“That is not a lie.” Riot nodded in agreement, having seen the lists stuck all over Jason’s office. It looked like a Post-it note factory had exploded in there.

“How did River look earlier at the track?”

The change in subject made Riot realize he couldn’t get anything past him. Riot had hoped they could ease into this conversation. “She’s off. It’s that or the bike is underperforming.”

Michael didn’t know why Riot wasted his time with River. She had said no in a big way, not once, but twice.

Riot reminded him, “I’m aware of her refusing our offer, but the deal is she needs a strong leader.” Just because River was known to be aggressive on the track, completely focused undeterred did not mean off the track she was the same. To say the girl was a disaster was mild.

“Are you expecting your girl to say yes the next time you ask?”

“Maybe the third time is the charm and she’s not my girl.”

“You may as well say she’s your girl. All involved in this harebrained idea knows it. May as well own it.”

“I don’t know what will change her mind other than that shit bike finally going out on her.” When Riot looked at Michael, he saw the look on his friend’s face. “Don’t even think about it.”

“Just thinking if she needs a reason… we could give her one.”

“No! If I need to do something about the bike to get her on our team, it will be new bikes to entice her with—not sabotaging the ones she’s already got.”

“Your call, but I know some people.” Michael laughed.

Shaking his head, Riot got up to leave. “Tell Jason to call me if he needs any help. Tomorrow I have a conference call with Ducati. Also, an online meeting with the Church and Dwight Company. I’m also waiting on a call about a meeting with Cycle Gear.”

“Damn, son, you’re hitting hard. I’m impressed. Really impressed, Riot. Keep it up.”

“I have a goal.”

“Yes, you do. Who’s Church and Dwight?”

Riot stopped right inside the door, smiling as he looked over at Michael. “Trojan.” As he walked down the hall, he could still hear Michael roaring with laughter. Yeah, he was going to get any sponsors he could. He didn’t care if the bikes said “Summers Eve” on the side, a sponsor was a sponsor.

Chapter Eleven

The drinks were flowing, and the food was good—not great, like River and Mal expected for a swag party at the country club. All the movers and shakers were dressed to the nines trying to get the skinny on each other. There was nothing to get from her and Mal—everything there was to gossip about had already been said. That old saying, been there done that, applied fully to River.

This was Jason Davenport’s fundraiser for a charity he and Michael Trios had started for injured racers and their families. Definitely a good cause. Moving through the crowd, River smiled and nodded as people did the same to her. This was not her scene. Mal and Dan had made a little headway mending some fences, but River not so much. Cypress was the one that knew how to get the dollars from the wallets, not her. One of these days she would have to let Cypress go, but not tonight. Stepping up to a roulette table, she placed her, bet reminding herself it was for a good cause. Watching the wheel spin around with the tiny ball bouncing from slot to slot reminded her of how her life had been lately. When it stopped it landed on her number, she thought maybe her luck was changing. For the night.

She took her winnings and moved along to see what game she wanted to play next. Standing alone, she watched a game of blackjack and a dice game. Neither interested her.It’s one and done, she thought.

“You have to play the game, sweetheart.”

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