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Jameson nodded takingthe beer from Justin and then tried to steal his trophy.

The celebration at thehauler was in full swing just like the good old days. Though we were all havinga good time and sharing stories from the past, most at Tommy’s expense, somethingkept drawing my attention toward the shadows of the track where the lights hadjust flickered off but I couldn’t understand why.

Seated securely onJameson’s lap, he didn’t let me forget where he wanted my attention with histouches that never failed to hit me with another round of heat and desire. Itwasn’t like the heat from the day had dissipated in the least and neither hadour unfinished business. Now wasn’t the time though. This was about hanging outwith our friends right now.

Ami was leaned againstJustin’s sprint car. His arm was draped over her shoulders and the other oneholding his trophy taunting Jameson.

“It’s not too often Ibeat the boss man.” Justin would say every now and then and hug the trophytighter causing us all to break into laughter.

Tommy had disappearedand none of us thought much of it since we had seen his attention toward a fewof the pit lizards.

When he returned, wethought some of it because Van, our bodyguard, who I’d met all of one time, wasbeside him. He was sneaky, stealthy even and wasn’t noticed unless he wanted tobe. I personally had no idea he even followed us here but I guess maybe thatwas his plan all along.

I could actually countthe number of occasions when Tommy had acted his age of twenty-three. As hejogged up to us, now was one of them. “Jameson, we need to leave.”

“Why?” His hands slidfrom my thighs as I stood.

“We just do.”

That right thereconfirmed my earlier theory. Darrin was here.

A few minutes passed asJameson stared into the distance.

Tyler jogged over fromthe Simplex/Ayers tent where he’d just been. His shaggy black hair matted fromthe sweat of the race fell loosely over his forehead before he swept it away.

“Hey man, uh...” his brown eyes danced around searchingfor words that wouldn’t set Jameson off. His hand rose to scratch the back ofhis head, stalling. “We have a problem.”

“So I’ve been told,”Jameson replied, his eyes darting to Tommy and then Justin. “When did he gethere?”

“Stay here.” He tonewas militant. There would be no discussion.

Tommy stayed beside Amiand me while Jameson, Justin, Tyler and Van approached the crowd he knew Darrinwas in.

“He’s like a bad rash.”Tommy said almost conversationally as we followed. There was no way I wasletting Jameson go over there without me. For one, I was scared of the dark andtwo; I didn’t trust Tommy all that much. And third, I had to know what he wasgoing to say to someone who nearly killed him and had the nerve to show hisface again. “He’s irritating and itchy but nothing gets rid of him.”

I couldn’t help myselfand smiled despite the events unfolding. “You know a lot about rashes, don’tyou?”

Tommy cracked afleeting grin. All our eyes focused on the boys standing near the hauler of alocal driver.

When Jameson actuallyspotted Darrin for the first time, it was all Tommy and Justin could do to holdhim back.

Tommy’s head snappedtoward Jameson when he mumbled something under his breath and apparently, Tommyheard it. The tension rolling off Jameson was enough to vibrate him. My firmgrasp on his hand seemed to be the only reason he wasn’t shaking.

“I told you to stayback there.”

I didn’t say anything,just drew in a deep breath, preparing myself for the release of his anger.

“Oh, look who it is.”Darrin said stepping toward us as his hands reached toward me but he stoppedshort when Jameson pulled me hard to his side. A few men gathered near Darrin,protecting him I assumed, but I never looked at them only briefly acknowledgingpeople standing there.

Jameson said nothing tohim. He just stood there with his shoulders straight and arms hanging at hissides while holding my hand.

“I see your possessivetendencies are still there.”

“Fuck you. You’re luckyI’m letting you stand here right now.” Jameson, trying to be the bigger personhere, walked away.

“You know I’ve learnedsomething about you lately,” Darrin grinned as though this was just some casualconversation. “youmake a lot of threats with nofollow through.”

Jameson’s shouldershunched and he froze by the rear tires of the hauler.