Page 67 of Broken Breath
If life, or better yet,Raine, hadn’t fucked me over, I would be. I’d be lining up with the other women as myself. Instead, I’m stuck here in someone else’s skin, biting back hiccups next to Luc Delacroix and Finn Greer.
Luc flashes smiles at the women who walk past us. He’s grinning, winking, and tossing out French charm like candy. Some of the girls giggle back, one even tosses him a little wink of her own.
He’s such a horndog.
But I can’t lie to myself, not entirely. Maybe, in another life, I would’ve tried Luc out. Just for a night, just to see what all that cocky, golden-boy chaos would feel like if it were pointed at me for real.
I glance over at Finn.
But no. Even in another life, that wouldn’t be an option.No matter how hard I want it to be.Luc, though…
My eyes follow the next girl who passes us. She’s tall and appears effortlessly cool, with high cheekbones and green eyes. When Luc throws her a wink, she gives him a flirty one back.
Or maybenot.
Because even in another life, even if I were here as Alaina, I wouldn’t look like that. Not even with long hair or without being duct-taped into a skin I only half recognize behind the scars and flaws. I’m not soft and flirty, never have been. I’m not built for slow, pretty seduction.
But I sure as fuck am built for speed.
I glance at the timer screen with the time of the first female racer, then back at the crowd of men, most of them behind me on the leaderboard.
A slow smile tugs at my lips.
Yeah. Let them be cool and pretty.
I’ll keep outriding every last one of them.
That spike in mood lasts untilshewalks past. Isla Raine.
Light blonde hair braided down her back, pale blue eyes that are somehow always cold, even when she’s smiling. She looks like an angelwho made my life hell seven years ago.
My jaw tightens as she glides past, poised like she’s already won, and I can’t help it but glance at Luc, wondering what kind of look he’s saved for her.
But Luc isn’t looking. He’s staring down at his handlebars, brows drawn, mouth pulled in that crooked not-smile he wears when he’s actually focused.
I check Finn next, and he’s not looking either. His eyes are fixed on the horizon, lips pressed tight. I don’t know why that makes my chest warm the way it does, but it does.
Isla doesn’t glance at any of us as she rolls her bike past, all grace, focus, and icy detachment. Then, right on cue, her brother appears. They’re still close enough for us to hear it as he reaches out and slaps a hand on her shoulder.
“Go grab that win, sis.”
Then he turns, catching sight of us. His gaze flicks across the line at Luc, Finn, and me, and his smirk rises instantly.
“Well, well. Isthis where the top three warm up?” He taps his chin theatrically. “No, wait… Greer’s here too.”
Finn doesn’t even look at him as he bites out, “Fuck off, Raine.”
Isaac just grins. “Oh, come on. Don’t be such a pussy.” Then, to me, he adds, “AnotherCrews, right? We haven’t had a chance to talk yet.”
“That’s because he doesn’t want to talk to you,” Luc cuts in before I can even open my mouth. “Didn’t Greer already tell you to fuck off?”
I should punch Luc the way Mason showed me for talkingforme like that, but I kind of liked it, so I let it slide.
Raine just laughs it off and turns to Dane. “TheDane Crews. How’s retirement treating you?”
Dane doesn’t blink. “Pretty good. Still holding the record you never managed to beat.”
Finn huffs a laugh, and even I crack a smile.
