Page 82 of Skid Spiral

She leaned in for one more quick peck and then hefted her bag. “See you tomorrow!”

I watched her go, emotions whirling inside me. They didn’t feel as jumbled as they had before.

I hadn’t wanted to risk the mostly friendly dynamic I’d established with Jasper… but getting closer with Lou hadn’t thrown anything off in our working relationship. If anything, we understood and trusted each other more.

Our hookup and the moments we’d shared since hadn’t interfered with her performance, so why would simply talking about the possibilities with Jasper ruin his?

Maybe we could have something special, a deeper bond than I’d dared to let myself hope for before.

I wanted that. I had to admit that fact at least to myself now. I’d traveled around the world to work with Jasper because something about him had caught hold of my heart, and my admiration had only intensified as we’d worked together.

I wasn’t going to bring up the subject immediately. He had plenty on his mind already with tomorrow’s qualifying round and the full competition I was sure they’d make it to the day after.

But once that milestone in his career return was over… Then I’d find out just how good things between the two of us could be.

And take the blow if he didn’t reciprocate my feelings after all.

TWENTY-FIVE

Luciana

Breathe in.Breathe out. In again.

Jasper and Niko had told me to relax before the performance, but that was a hell of a lot easier said than done. My nerves had been buzzing since the moment I’d woken up in the dingy motel room this morning.

I’d kept up my deep breaths every time my heart started pounding a little too fast. Now I was hunkered down on the questionable motel-room carpet, stretching my muscles just for something to do.

I’d be heading out in just a couple of hours so we could make it to Dellville with plenty of time for our qualifying performance. And then… then it would all come down to whether I actually deserved the faith my coach and skating partner had put in me or not.

Imagine how it’ll feel at the end if the judges say you’re through to the full competition. Not how painful it’ll be if you screw things up for everyone.

I was just pushing myself off the floor when the lock clicked on the door. I perked up, expecting the pastries Rafael had offered to grab us from town, but one look at his grim face when he hustled inside sent my spirits spiraling downward.

“What?” I said before he could speak. He hadn’t even brought his intended loot—no paper bakery bag dangled from either hand.

Rafael’s mouth pulled tighter. “That gang of bozos has stepped up their campaign to find you. When I got into Hobb Creek, there were store windows busted all down main street—including the bakery. They’re smashing things up when people can’t tell them what they want to know.

My stomach plummeted in the same direction my good mood had gone. “Shit.”

“That’s not even the worst of it.” He rubbed his hand over his face. “One of the store owners tried to intervene, and they stabbed him in the shoulder, bad. The doctor rushed out to help him, but the assholes were shouting about how everyone would pay for it if the cops got called in. I don’t know if anyone will dare.”

I hugged myself, nausea unfurling from my gut. “Wecan’t call the police either—who knows what the pricks will do to the other townspeople. It’s not like the cops have managed to get the gang in line before now.” I paused. “Why didn’t they just come after me at practice yesterday if they’re so worked up?”

Rafael shook his head. “It seemed like they’re still not sure who exactly was giving them trouble. The bits I heard, they were carrying on about ‘that woman who’s been messing with us,’ not using your name or anything more specific. Beats me how they haven’t put the pieces together when they were already targeting you.”

I grimaced. “You did say that they might have been harassing me as a newcomer, not because they had any suspicion I was connected to the sabotage at their hideout. It’s not like they’re the smartest tacks in the box.”

“Yeah, the idiots might assume it has to be someone who’s a long-time resident. They wouldn’t figure a new arrival would be invested enough to bother.” Rafael sighed. “They don’t know you.”

His words sent a spike of determination through my veins alongside the thudding of my heart. “No, they don’t.”

Rafael eyed me. “What are you thinking? Don’t we have to head out for your competition soon?”

I glanced toward our pile of supplies, the latest bits we’d received to go with what was already stashed in the trunk of the Grand Marquis. My pulse kept thrumming, images of broken glass and splatters of blood flashing behind my eyes.

How much more damage would the gang do if I let them keep rampaging while I spent the weekend skating?

What if they did finally figure out I was the one who’d messed with their property… and they tracked me down to Dellville? It wasn’t just the town under threat but Jasper and Niko—and everyone else who’d be at the competition—too.

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