Page 127 of Boost

Sure enough, only a minute elapsed before Shady Sam appeared through the crowd.

“My man, Raf! How you beeeen, brother?”

“Good, bro, good.” I slapped my hand in his and hauled him in.

“Hmm, you brought the honey with ya tonight, huh?”

I smiled over my shoulder at my woman. “Sure did. Wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her.”

“You riding tonight, brah?”

“You know it.” Extracting a roll of cash from my jeans, I held it up before tossing it into his open hand.

“Good timing. I’ve got another cocky little shit for ya to kick down a peg or ten.”

My interest piqued. “Yeah?”

“Yup,” Shades replied while tucking the money away. “Been here twice before, slingin’ like his shit don’t stink. He’s good, though, Raf. He got demskills.”

I pursed my lips and eyed Shades. I trusted his instinct. If he said the kid had skills, then I needed to find out exactly how much.

“He here?”

“Uhh.” Shades craned his neck and pointed in the general direction to my left. “Yo, yo, aye, my man, Cairo, tell that nig Tremayne to get his ass over here.”

We waited, and fucking waited, and eventually the kid who I assumed was Tremayne, swaggered over in low-slung jeans, a black singlet, and skate shoes. Cornrows stretched his dark hair back from his face, and the large cross inked under the dark skin at the base of his throat resembled the one inked over my heart. In fact, everything about Tremayne reminded me of my younger self, and that scared me more than what I planned to do later.

“Tremayne, meet yo maker right here,” Shades announced, pointing at me.

The kid eyed me up and down, then lingered his attention over my shoulder; at my woman.

“Oi,” I said, with a shove to his chest. “Eyes off.”

“Wassup,” he said, with a chin-lift. “The great Rafael Ortiz, in the flesh. I look forward to racing against you tonight, man.”

I smirked. Again, his attitude hit way too close to home; confident yet backhandedly respectful.

We eyed off while I contemplated my next move. One that would get under his skin. Set his nerves off-tune and hopefully light a spark of something greater within him.

Squaring my shoulders, I couldn’t hide the sly smirk weaving across my mouth. “How about we raise the stakes a little, then? Make it worth both our time.”

Tremayne’s eyes narrowed. He had every right to be suspicious; I had ulterior motives.

“Like what?”

I tipped my head back and looked down my nose. “If you win, I’ll check out tonight. Officially retire from street racing as of the second this race finishes.”

“What!”both Shades and Greer exclaimed at the same time. I ignored them and watched Tremayne closely.

He kept his eyes trained on me. “And ifyouwin?”

I stepped closer so the rest of our conversation was just between me and him.

“I’m a man of my word, Tremayne. Tell you what; see that mamacita behind me?” His eyes followed my description. “If I win, I’ll ask her to marry me.”

He snorted. “Bullshit.” It came out in true Compton style asbullsheeet—the same way Shades said it.

“No bullshit. And, to sweeten the deal,if youwin, I’ll tell Colton Donavan I’ve got another prospect to go pro in the Indy circuit.You,”I added when he didn’t react.

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