Page 118 of Hyperspeed
“She’s not doing what I think she’s doing, is she?”
I watched on in disbelief, because Cass, a seasoned driver, couldn’t be thinking about overtaking Rev in the narrowest cave on the track. The angle of the cave walls made it impossible for two cars to drive alongside each other without hitting the rock.
But it looked like she was chasing the impossible—idiotic, even—trying to wedge herself in beside Rev.
I wasn’t sure what happened next, but Rev swerved to the right, into Cass’s path. The sudden movement made her lock up, and I didn’t need the audio to know how loud her tyres screeched as they smoked.
It took less than a second for her vehicle to hit the wall head-on and explode, while Rev’s vehicle rode on, exiting the cave just as a waterfall of rock buried Cass’s vehicle and the drones along with it.
“What the . . .” Jax trailed off.
“Cass . . .” Zylo’s voice cracked, his face as shattered as his words.
Over the years, he and Cass had become close, and true to his nature, Zylo cared for everyone in the league.
When the footage cut off, anger took root in my chest, replacing my earlier panic.
Cass’s decision to overtake was stupid. But Rev’s choice to swerve into her path, cutting her up and causing her to lock up, had been idiotic.
I’d called him reckless from the start, and I’d seen how he raced in the underground circuit, where rules were nonexistent and outlandish manoeuvres were encouraged. He’d taken the Hessirian out without even flinching.
“If you wanna play dirty, you’ve gotta be prepared for others to do the same.”
I didn’t think he’d bring that attitude to the ASL. And fuck . . . I’d warned him.
Told him he could hurt someone.
Could kill someone.
And now, the unthinkable had happened.
The medical shuttle pulled into the pit lane, and the door opened, revealing a catatonic Rev, staring into space. His void-like eyes were puffy, ringed with a deep purple that matched the tip of his nose.
Had he been crying?
His hair hung loose around his face, messy and tangled, as if he’d dragged his fingers through it over and over, gripping in frustration.
Worst of all, the marks on his skin were dark, void of colourful light.
The logical part of me tried to be reasonable, begging me to comfort him while he was in distress. I wanted to pull him into my arms and ask if he was okay. To whisk him back to his apartment before wrapping him up in blankets. I’d even encourage him to binge that werewolf book he’d told me about.
But my rage was too potent, growing inside my chest like a beast.
It didn’t want to be logical right now, and it didn’t want to comfort him.
No, it wanted to be set free, and damn the consequences.
I stepped towards the shuttle, and Jax, being the observant fucker he was, had spotted the tension in my shoulders, my clenched jaw.
“Kai.” He gripped my bicep. “Take a minute.”
I should’ve taken his advice. Taken a minute—or ten—to calm down.
But I shook my head, eyes locked on the Iskari. Rage choked my voice, but the words threatened to erupt anyway.
I ripped my arm out of Jax’s grasp, ignoring his impatient sigh, and stormed towards the shuttle.
“This isn’t the time, man.” He tried again, but still I ignored him.
