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“You’ve pissed him offnow.” Tommy warned. Laughter broke out around the group trying to keep thisfrom turning on us.

“Like I give a shit,”Darrin replied completely relaxed.

“See, that’s yourproblem,” Tommy snorted calmly cracking another beer open he pulled from hispocket. “Youshouldcare.”

That’s when Darrindecided to getchippywith Jameson. This was probablyhis second worst idea with the first being showing up here.

“So you’re just gonnastand there with your back to reality?” Darrin tried again. “It’s okay for youto hit on my girl but the same doesn’t go for your bitch?”

I really wanted to hithim right then. If I hadn’t been so intent on Jameson, I would have. Justin andTommy stepped toward Darrin blocking Jameson who was remaining in control.

“Why are you so upsetyour girl wanted me?” Jameson acted as though he was thinking before he added.“Oh, I know, because she screams my name at night, huh?” Jameson snorted amusedwith himself. “It fuckingkillsyou that she was all over my dick inDaytona.”

For a moment, Justinand I gaped at each other, frozen at Jameson’s haughty response—me more thanJustin.

Darrin laughed. “I’msure I could make yours scream in one way or another. Is that what you want?”his eyes taunted. “Or are you going to ignore me then too? You really shouldjust walk away.”

“I tried to walk awayfrom you but you think you have something to prove.”

“I do...that you’re nothing.”

“You have a lot offucking nerve showing your face here after Pocono.” Jameson shouted pointingtoward Darrin. He was losing his cool demeanor and ready to fight.

“Jameson, stop!” Islammed my hands against his shoulders trying to make him see this wasn’t worthit, but was it?

All I saw though washis murderous gaze trained on Darrin. It was like I wasn’t standing there. Noneof us were, in his eyes.

“You should listen toyour girl for once.”

“Leave her out of it.”

“Oh I think she needsto be in it. After all, you brought mine into it.”

“Stay away from her.”His voice lowered, the same menacing, warning tone it had that night in the barin May; threatening and explosive. “Go ahead take your best fucking shot.”Jameson pushed past Justin and Tommy to stand face to face with Darrin. “Or canyou not fight without your car?”

“I never liked youRiley,” Darrin said conversationally, his eyes watchful of the crowd gathering,drinking in every flicker of emotion registered on Jameson who remained coldand impassive, refusing to give him the satisfaction. “Even back when we racedUSAC, I never liked you. Just because your dad is a legend, you think you’rehot shit out there.”

“Jealous?” Jamesonsnorted.

Darrin took a quickstep forward, his eyes flaring at the taunting but remained controlled.

“She sure is pretty.”Darrin winked toward me.

You could actually feelthe change in Jameson between his stance and breathing. The heat of his angerscorched my hand on his wrist.

“Leave her alone.”Jameson’s control was nearly gone.

“Do you really think Iwill leave you in any condition to stop me?”

Here’s the problem Idiscovered when those words left Darrin’s mouth. He had the satisfaction ofknowing that he was getting to Jameson right then. And he had patience.Something Jameson didn’t have.

It wasn’t like he wasthinking in that moment, no, he was far too engrossed in the confrontation now.

“You touch her and Iwill kill you.” Jameson growled trying to control himself. “You can be sure ofthat.”

Van’s self-reservedeyes met Darrin. They exchanged a look and then focused on Jameson. To anyoneelse, the glance was just a distant fleeting look but Jameson saw somethingdefined in the intensity behind him and stared at Van as if he said somethingdirectly to him. But he said nothing. It was just a glance toward Darrin.

“I don’t think you haveit in you.” Darrin smarted off, focusing again on Jameson.