Page 26 of Forsaken Oath

It still takes my breath away, just a little bit.

I’ve been to The Alley a couple of times before, but just as a spectator. And never during anything that has to do with theGauntlet. I have no idea how many people are in the race tonight or how many people just showed up to watch the show.

The clearing is alive with activity, the energy practically crackling in the air. Cars and trucks are parked haphazardly across the grass, their headlights cutting through the dusk like a patchwork quilt of light. People mill about, some huddled in groups, others leaning against their vehicles with an air of practiced nonchalance.

Avalon Falls Alleyway, now just called The Alley, stands proudly on the opposite side of the clearing. I don’t know what happened to the original owners exactly, but I do know that it sat abandoned and vacant for decades before the Carters reclaimed it for their own.

I don’t know much about the Carters except that they run The Alley. A crew in their own right. Not exactly Seven Pines’ enemies, but not besties either. I stay out of all that stuff, anyway. I like to think I’m Seven Pinesadjacent, not that I’ll ever tell Nate that. Or, fuck, Levi. There are only a few things in life that truly frighten me anymore, and Levi Walker is one of them. The leader of Seven Pines got his reputation earnestly, and I don’t ever want to get on the bad side ofThe Hook. I’ve heard the stories of how he used pieces of someone as bait for one of his infamous fishing expeditions.

Margot flicks me in the shoulder, jolting me out of my head and back into the present. “Hello, Earth to Louie. You still with me?”

I blink, refocusing on the scene before us. “What? I’m right here.”

The Alley pulses with life, a stark contrast to its abandoned past. Strings of lights are draped between poles, bathing the area in a warm, inviting glow. The excited chatter of the crowd fills the air, punctuated by bursts of laughter and the revving of engines.

Food trucks line one side of the clearing, their delicious scents wafting through the air and mingling with the sweet fragrance of wildflowers on the breeze. The savory aroma of grilled burgers and the sugary scent of funnel cakes make my stomach rumble, despite the nerves fluttering inside. I can’t remember the last time I ate. That can’t be good.

“Good. Get your head in the game, sis,” she says, her voice taking on that no-nonsense tone.

I fall in line behind a string of vehicles that look souped up and ready to race. Personalized paint jobs, custom rims, and I swear I can feel the thrum of their engines through the soles of my shoes. My own car feels pedestrian in comparison, even though I’ve spent countless hours tuning it and optimizing the engine. At the end of the day, it’s still an older model. It was brand-new when my dad got it, but he’s been gone for over a decade now.

Besides, I knew the Alley would attract some serious competition.

But fancy cars only get you so far. It’s the driver that makes the difference.

My hands tighten on the wheel as I inch forward, the ground crunching under my tires. Nerves flutter in my stomach, a swarm of angry hornets pausing to sting me every few seconds.

“I’m trying,” I murmur, glancing around at my competition.

“You’ve got this, I know you do.”

I dip my chin in a sage nod. “I’ve got this.”

“Hell yeah, you do,” she says, clapping a couple of times. “Fuck ’em up, Louie.”

I can’t get in my head yet, though, not until Nate gets here. I can’t focus until I know that my sister is safe. The crowd here is bigger than I expected. People fill both stadium stands, spilling into the grassy areas around the track. They huddle in close groups, drinking and laughing and eating.

“As soon as you kick their asses, we’re getting tacos and tequila to celebrate,” Margot crows.

I slide her a disapproving frown. “You have school tomorrow.”

She scoffs, huffing a laugh. “Like I’ve never gone to class hungover? C’mon, Louie.”

I turn to face her completely. “Please tell me you’re joking.”

Her eyes sparkle as she looks me dead in the eye and lies through her teeth. “Okay, I’m joking.”

I move up in line a little bit, sighing and leaning my head back against the headrest. “You know what? That’s a problem for tomorrow. Our current problem is that Nate is fucking late.Again.”

She messes with the music again, switching the song to something heavier. “Problem solved: sister duo crush the Gauntlet’s pre-qualifier.” She drags her hand across the air as she says it, like she’s picturing the headline.

I’m already shaking my head. “Oh, hell no. Not a chance.”

“Well, if Nate doesn’t get his ass here in the next five minutes, it’s gonna happen, sis. So get right with it now, hm?”

Someone raps against the passenger window, and Margot and I yelp in unison. I press a hand to my chest as Margot rolls down her window all the way.

“You’re late, and Louie ispissed,” Margot sing-songs. I can tell by the smug tone in her voice that she’s smirking, eating up every second of me possibly laying into Nate again.

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