Page 9 of Ride or Die
“Truth is, I’m over it. I want out. The money has been good, but it’s time for me to move on,” I admit. Axel sits up straighter, worry stretching across his face.
“Nah, man, no it’s not,” he says urgently.
“It is for me. This is my final year of college. After this, I’m moving on in my life. I got enough to get my mom and myself places to live, and pay off tuition. The plan all along. I’ve been boosting cars to get me through life and I don’t need it after college.” I shrug.
“No man, but I do!” Axel’s voice raises. “You know Williams won’t deal with me if you’re not attached. You really think he will let you walk away so easily?” I shift on my chair and take another sip of my beer, giving myself a moment before I respond. But Axel shakes his head with irritation and turns his attention back to the girls in the corner.
Truth is, I couldn't give a fuck what Axel needs for himself. We have done well and made good money. Not my fucking fault he wasted it all on hookers, his car, drugs, and gambling. I invested my money, stashed it away in safety deposit boxes, and now I want out.
On the other hand, he is right. I’m not sure how Williams will take it. But we have worked together long enough, and my contract with him is coming to an end. I’m hoping he’ll be ok with my retirement since I made him a lot of money over the years. As much as he is a mob boss, he respects me, and we help each other out with many things when in a pinch.
If I have to, I will just disappear. I have no debts to anyone.
I fell into racing because of my dad. He was a race car driver and taught me everything he knew. As I grew older, I learned the tricks he taught me were really ways to lift cars. Mom said that's how he supported us.
Then one day, he was gone, and it was the only fucking skill my dad had taught me. When Mom got diagnosed with cancerand we needed the money for her treatments, it worked. Paying for my tuition and quality of life was just a bonus.
But there is another reason I want out, and her name is Layla White.
I have been obsessed with her for the past ten years. The first day I saw her and her family move in, I knew I wanted her. But she was totally out of my league. Stunning with her beautiful long brown hair and amber eyes. She was so cute with her soft, innocent features. Still is. Only now she’s grown up, and she’s gone from cute to so fucking sexy.
She did well in school, working her ass off to get out of here, and wanted nothing to do with the likes of criminals within The Shores. Criminals like me. And I respect the shit out of that.
She was a good girl and I was a bad boy, a total cliche. She’d never go for a guy like me, a stupid shit who steals cars and street races for money.
Not only that, I couldn’t bring her into this world. She needed to stay out of it and focused.
I wanted to protect her from this life, so I never pursued or talked to her. As hard as it was to watch her be so lonely over the years, it kept her away from the shady fucks around here. If I befriended her, she would be on everyone's radar.
So I’ve tried to ignore my feelings for the last ten years and just do what I know best. Stealing and racing cars and fucking slutty girls, hoping to get her out of my head.
But she was always there in the back of my mind. Killing me slowly with those little sun dresses I can’t fucking get enough of.
I paid attention to her for all these years. She is smart, witty, and funny too, if you took the time to catch it. Which I did, because I always observed her from afar.
When I saw her at the street race, wearing one of her signature to-die-for dresses, I knew she was out of place there. It’s not her scene, but she stood out in the crowd, not as anoutsider, but as the most beautiful thing in the vicinity. It made my heart race, knowing she was going to watch me race that night.
But I am done waiting. I have pined for this girl for years, and that night when I saw her walking alone on the side of the road, I saw my opportunity.
I know I have to change. I have to start breaking down her walls and making her see the real me so I can start building something with her.
I can’t lie about my feelings anymore. She is going to find out soon exactly how I’ve felt for all of these years. I’ll tell her I’m giving it all up for her so that we can leave this life behind and get out of this shithole together.
I just pray that she wants me, too.
I have to come up with a game plan. Layla isn’t the girl you manipulate or use some line on. She’s a girl you make an effort for. I’m not sure exactly how yet, but I will figure out a way to make her mine.
I look down at my phone and see the text she sent me. My finger hovers over it, wanting to send her a message. I type in one sentence and hope it makes her as excited to see it as I am to send it.
Colt: Sweet dreams, Layla.
CHAPTER
SIX
THE COFFEE SHOP
LAYLA
