Page 1 of Fast

Part One

Chapter 1

Need For Speed

CHANCE

Two Years Ago,

Bridgeport, California Indie One Thousand Super Bikes League Qualifier

The scent of gasoline in the air is so strong it makes my head spin.

“Ready?”

My older brother clasps my shoulder and I nod. “As ready as I’ll ever be,” I chuckle to steady my nerves.

Ares lifts the visor of his helmet and grins at me. “You got this. You’re the second fastest Hunter brother on the planet. Don’t tell Atlas I said that.”

“You’re just buttering me up,” I snort, shaking my head. “Don’t think I can’t see through it.”

His smile widens. “Maybe. Atlas and I owe you, though. We won’t forget how you stepped up for us today.”

I don my own helmet, busying myself with the chin strap to hide the tremor of my fingers. “He shouldn’t have gone to Florida with Heather. It’s hurricane season and he’s really takena stupid risk. All flights were canceled and fuck knows if he’s going to be able to fly home tonight.”

Ares sighs. “Heather is his girlfriend and that cheerleading invitational is the biggest deal in the country after nationals. I don’t blame him for wanting to support her. But you’re right, the timing could have been better.”

No shit. “Whatever.” I grunt. “But he’s stuck in a storm, and I have to cover for him.”

“Atlas and I won’t forget that you stepped up when we needed you.” He says, suddenly serious.

That pretty much settles it. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for my brothers. Having their gratitude is huge. Maybe they’ll finally see me as an equal, rather than their annoying little brother.

I have no doubt that Ares and Atlas love me, but their bond is something I’ve been looking in from the outside since forever. No matter how much I have been yearning to be a part of it, I’ve always been an outsider.

I’m two years younger than them and, while there’s a definite family resemblance between us, they’re identical twins.

I know I’ll never share what they have, but there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to get as close to them as they’ll let me.

Maybe today is my opportunity to prove myself to them. If I qualify for tomorrow’s race for Atlas, he’s going to finally see me as his peer; they both will.

“Come on, bro,” Levin’s hand lands on my shoulder too. “Let’s show this town that we’re the fastest on and off the ice.”

My nerves settle, at least partially. “I fucking hope so. At least in my skates, I know I have no rivals. If I end up last, or I put even one tiny scratch on Atlas’s precious bike, I’ll have to move to New York with my mom. My brothers will never let me live it down.”

“Ha,” Lev chuckles. “Your brothers are going to be the least of your worries.”

My eyes follow where his gloved finger is pointing and I bark out a mirthless laugh. “Are you fucking kidding me? What the fuck is Coach doing here?”

Lev’s smile doesn’t falter. “I can only assume your old man invited him. I guess we’ll have a lot to explain. Especially if we don’t qualify for tomorrow’s race.”

I roll my eyes at my best friend. “At least I can tell Coach that this is a one off. What’s your excuse for joining the Star Arrows?”

“Whether it’s on the ice or on the tarmac, the need for speed runs in my blood. Anything that’s worth having in life is fast and I love a challenge.”

I kinda get it. I love taking out one of my brothers’ bikes for a run along the coast. I’m more than happy with one of their street legal bikes, though. Hockey is where I excel. I’ll leave the racing to them. Today’s the exception, I guess.

“Have you thought about what you’re going to do if we have a game on the same day as a race?”

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