Page 63 of Fast

Ares looks just as furious as our old man. “Zara isn’t your girl, Chance. I like her too.”

Fucker. As if having to compete with Lev for Zara’s attention wasn’t hard enough.

“Too bad I kissed her first.” I challenge him.

“You’re so childish.” Ares snaps. “If that’s how you think we’re going to decide who gets a shot with Zara, I saw her first. Or did you forget who stepped in when her ex was beating on her?”

I’m ready to argue, but Dad looks ready to blow a gasket. “Someone was beating up your sister? How could that happen without me and Kelly knowing about it? Did her ex come to the house?”

Ares shakes his head. “We met Zara for the first time two years ago in Bridgeport, at the Super Bikes…” his voice dies down when he realizes what a fucking huge mistake he just made.

It’s ironic that he didn’t think that Dad doesn’t want to talk about that weekend in Bridgeport, since he acts exactly the same way. Since Atlas’s death, both Dad and Ares have made it clear that they can’t handle any reference to my late brother, nor to the circumstances of his death.

“You better explain what you mean.” Dad’s tone is scary. I’ve never seen him looking like this, at least not since that day at the racetrack; his skin is ashen gray, his mouth flattened into a grim line.

We have no choice but to revisit the worst couple of days of our lives, and I know even before Ares relays the events of thebonfire party that most of Dad’s fury is going to be directed at me.

“You did what?” he seethes. “You’re telling me that the girl in the mini skirt tied to your back while you raced on the sand was Zara? Kelly’s Zara?”

I flinch.

Dad saw that video once. He saw the short version that showed only the actual race. In that, both Zara and I are wearing a full-face helmet and the video cuts at the end, right after I take my helmet off, but before she does.

“You know how I feel about motorcycles,” Dad bites out. “And you know that Kelly feels exactly the same way. That’s one of the reasons Kelly insisted with Zara that she moved in with us. With our town’s ban on motorbikes, she can be sure to keep Zara away from that reckless, dangerous world.”

I should know when to cut my losses. I should fucking know that arguing with Dad about this won’t change his mind, but I do it anyway.

“You can’t keep us and the whole town wrapped in cotton wool, Dad. Bad things can happen anyway, and motorcycles aren’t responsible for?—”

He cuts me off. “Every statistic in the county, in the state, in the entire world proves you wrong. Motorcycles are dangerous and they’re illegal within Star Cove city limits. That will never change as long as I’m this town’s mayor. I vowed to keep the youth of this town safe. I owe it to your brother’s memory.”

I look at Ares, but he won’t meet my gaze. I know that on this particular topic, he agrees with Dad.

“But we weren’t talking about bikes. Kelly and I expect the two of you to be nice to Zara, to help her settle down in town and at school. To treat her with respect, like a sister.”

Finally my brother grows a fucking pair and argues with Dad. “But she isn’t our sister. We aren’t related to her by blood, and we aren’t children. You can’t dictate our relationship with Zara.”

Dad glares at us. “Maybe you’re right. And maybe Ares has a job and his own place. But that can change. It would take one word to the sheriff. And you, Chance, still live under my roof and so does Zara; so I expect you to live by my rules.”

I can’t fucking believe this. “Would you really get Ares fired and cut me off?”

He exhales, his expression furious and pained at the same time as he looks at me and Ares. “No, I wouldn’t. Unless you two forced my hand. I’m serious about this. You two need to stay away from your stepsister. Nothing good can come out of pursuing her the way you have. And before you keep arguing, what’s your end game in this?”

I’m confused. “What do you mean?”

Dad sighs. “Look son, I’ve always given you boys all the freedom you could have ever wanted. Without mentioning what happened in Bridgeport, you’ve never had a curfew, and I’ve never tried to control you. Your brother Atlas was the only one who had a relationship, but the two of you? Do you think I don’t know about the hookups and the one-night stands you’ve been having for years? Other than making sure you knew about safety, I’ve let you do what you wanted. Is this what you’re planning to do with Zara? Have fun for one night and then move on?”

Ares begins shaking his head. “No. It isn’t like that with Zara. I?—”

“Then how is it? What are you going to do? Fight each other for her? How is that going to work out? One of you is going to be forced to watch his brother with the girl he wanted. How is that not going to affect your relationship? And our family? I love you guys. I’ve given you everything since the moment you took your first breaths. I’m not asking you, I’mtellingyou. Treat Zara likea sister, or there’s going to be hell to pay. I’m going to do what’s necessary to protect our family and your relationship with each other.”

He raises from his chair. “Now I’m going to go back to the Country Club to my wife. Whatever has been going on between you and Zara ends tonight. Don’t disappoint me again.”

Silence descends in the living room after Dad walks out.

He said again.

We both know when he thinks we disappointed him before. He blames us for what happened to Atlas.

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