Page 55 of Fast & Reckless
“Please. I’m desperate.”
Will followed them in, but almost plowed into Violet, who’d run into Mira when she stopped short just inside.
“Mira,” Violet groused. “What the fuck?”
But Mira was still frozen in place, staring at the dining room in front of her. Will scanned the room to see what had taken her so by surprise, and when he spotted that asshole Brody, he cursed out loud.
“Goddammit, what isthatfucker doing here?”
Brody was sitting at a table twenty feet away, telling a story to his rapt audience, that irritating Aussie accent of his carrying through the room. He had an arm around some pretty young thing staring up at him with an adoring expression.
“Fuck,” Violet muttered. “Hey, Mira—”
“What the hell is that bastard doing here?” Cherie snapped behind him, and Will looked back at her in confusion. Yeah, Brody was a wanker, but why would Cherie Delain hate him, too? Why did it suddenly seem like there was a lot more going on here than the stunt Brody had pulled in Japan?
Mira spun around to face them and the look on her face stopped him cold. She was ghostly pale, and her green eyes were wide with terror.
“Mom, please … let’s just go.”
“Has he been on the circuit the whole time?” Cherie demanded, looking from Mira to Paul.
“There’s no avoiding him, Cherie,” Paul said through clenched teeth. “Believe me, I’ve tried.”
“Mira, honey, you can’t stay out here with that creep hanging around.”
And just like that, the penny dropped. Will’s eyes shot to Brody, still carrying on at his table, oblivious to the drama bythe door. It washim. It was Brody. The guy from Mira’s past. The love story that wasn’t a love story. But …
“Mom, I can handle this. I’vebeenhandling it. I’m fine.” Mira’s voice was high and tight, and right now she looked anything but fine.
He mentally scrambled to piece it together. Brody McKnight andMira? But it had been years since she was on the circuit. She’d just been a kid. And Brody was … absolutely not a kid.
“Howdarethat bastard sit there so smug?” Cherie snapped. “Maybe I’ll just go have a chat with him.”
“No! Mom, don’t. Leave it alone.” Mira snagged Cherie’s arm, holding her back, and at the moment, it looked like Cherie Delain needed restraining, because the look on her face was murderous.
“Cherie,” Paul interjected. “He’s a driver for a competing team. We’ve already had one run-in with him this season. If we have another, it could put the team in jeopardy. Youknowwhat that could cost us.”
Paul’s eyes shot to Mira, and if Will had any doubt left, Paul’s expression would have confirmed it. He looked like he was just as ready to murder Brody as Cherie was. And as the truth settled in, Will was ready to do some unaliving, too.How dare he? How fucking dare he?
“Well,Idon’t work for this team,” Cherie said, and before Mira or Paul could stop her, she sailed through the restaurant toward Brody.
Paul exhaled loudly. Mira groaned and turned away.
“Excuse me,” Cherie said, towering over Brody’s table like a vengeful blond Valkyrie. “Mr. McKnight, I just want you to know, one day karma will come for you, and when it does, I’m going to be celebrating.” The whole table stared at her inconfusion. Brody opened his mouth to reply, but Cherie bulldozed over him. “Enjoy your dinner.”
Then she was marching back through the restaurant, and Will was surprised there was anything left of Brody. That look could burn a man to ashes.
“I’ve lost my appetite,” Cherie muttered on her way back out of the entrance.
Mira watched her mother leave, then glanced over at Paul. Natalia was whispering urgently to him, probably trying to keep him from creating an even bigger scene. Then Mira’s eyes flickered to Will’s and his heart sank. She looked so miserable. Scared and sad and ashamed and … Jesus. He needed to get away, too, or he’d be the one ripping Brody apart with his bare hands.
“Excuse us,” Paul muttered before he left.
Natalia threw a small, tight smile at Mira before hurrying after him.
“I better go make sure Mom is okay,” Mira murmured. “I’m so sorry, everyone.”
“Mira …” Will reached for her, but she was already out the door. He watched her go, feeling like his chest was in a vise. Next to him, Violet cleared her throat. “Guess I’ll call us an Uber.”
