Page 109 of Fast

One of the latter is our frat president. “Well played, Hunter. I’m five hundred bucks in the hole since none of my bets panned out.”

They say quit while you’re winning, so in true loser fashion, Dave places bets on some more stupid shit on the second heat.

Money changes hands and more and more bets are made.

Chance bets his winnings on no one coming closer than five seconds to his winning time.

The second heat is slower than the first, and by the time it’s over, my best friend has an impressive wad of cash in his hands.

“Pledges,” Dave grumbles, clearly not satisfied with the outcome of his own gambling. “Bring everything back into that building and then come to wait out here.”

We do as we’re told. I have no idea how Dave got these motorcycles or what he’s going to do with them, but it’s not my problem. Riding again was cool, but if I felt the need to be on a bike again, I’d rather go ride in Shell Cove, the next town over. Or anywhere but in Star Cove.

“Pledges!” Tucker yells. “Line up to receive your Gamma Delta Tau pins, and to recite our pledge of allegiance to the Gamma brotherhood.”

Corey opens an antique wooden box with the Greek letters Gamma, Delta, and Tau carved on the lid in intricate detail. It contains eight pins.

The president begins calling our names, and I realize he’s doing it in the order we placed in the race, from fastest to slowest.

He runs out of pins when every pledge, but the two who came in last, have received a pin. “Winston and Zack, I’m sorry. You failed your initiation. You won’t be offered a place in Gamma Delta Tau this year. Your legacy status means that you’ll be able to pledge again next year. Of course, we expect you to keep what happened here tonight a secret. Penalty would be the loss of the chance to pledge again for you and the loss of legacy status for your families. Is it clear?”

Once the two men confirm that they understand what’s at stake, should they reveal what happened tonight, Dave continues.

“Hunter, as tonight’s winner, you get the premium room I promised in the house.”

Chance nods, a cocky smile on his face. “Thank you. Pleasure doing business with you.”

“Not so fast,” Dave’s grin doesn’t reach his eyes. “You won easy tonight. Lev was your only real competition. I lost over a grand thanks to you, so you owe me a rematch. We race again here next week, double or nothing.”

I don’t like his tone one bit. It feels like there’s a trap somewhere.

“Whatever,” Chance shrugs. “I can make anyone you want eat my dust. Except Lev, maybe. Besides, these bikes aren’t even worth racing on.”

To my surprise, Dave agrees. “True. What if next week, I could get you better bikes and worthy opponents?”

“You’re on.” Chance agrees.

I step in. “I think you should move whatever this is somewhere else. Unsanctioned races are illegal anywhere, buthere we’re breaking the law just having a motorcycle within the town limits.”

Our frat president looks at me as if I were a total idiot. “I’m well aware of that. That’s what makes some people even more eager to race here, and it makes betting on it more exciting.”

Yeah.

The feeling that this is going to get out of control gets stronger with every word Dave says.

“Dude,” I warn him. “This is a bad idea. Besides, who is willing to bring more motorcycles and race here?”

“Someone who has been waiting two years to even the score with the Hunters and with you too, Reilly. Remember Calvin Fox?”

This is really, really bad news. “We remember him.” Chance bites out, his voice low and menacing. “That motherfucker didn’t even stop when the race my brother died in was suspended. He kept running laps over the skid marks of where his bike was hit. How the fuck do you know him?”

I know the answer before he confirms my hunch.

“He’s my older brother.”

Lookslike Chance and Lev might be running into some major trouble. If getting involved with Zara against his father’s wishes isn’t enough, will Chance also defy his motorcycle ban?

Calvin is back on the scene too, how will that affect Zara and her new life in Star Cove?

And finally, will Ares be able to find out anything about who caused Atlas’s death?

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