Page 110 of Celestial Combat

My heart was beating out of my chest. But I felt alive. Wild. Unstoppable.

Zane spoke again.

“You looked beautiful in that ring.”

The car swerved just enough to make my heartrate go sky-high, before I regained control of the wheel. I kept my eyes forward, even though my pulse kicked into overdrive.

“You didn’t look like you enjoyed seeing me fight.”

“I didn’t enjoy seeing you get hit,” he said finally, voice low.

“Then why show up? Why not stay in your glass office like you always do?”

Zane leaned in slightly, just enough that I could feel the heat of his voice against my cheek. “Because I enjoy seeing you win.”

I crossed the finish line, easing off the gas and letting the Huracán coast one more lap to calm down the engine.

The engine ticked as it cooled. The night was so quiet suddenly, it felt like the entire world had held its breath with us.

I the pull between us, taut and sharp like the edge of a blade.

“You keep running like this, I’m gonna have to start chasing harder.”

My pulse thundered, meeting his eyes.

Black on black.

Let him follow.

The engine purred low and satisfied beneath me as I rolled back to the start line. My fingers flexed around the wheel, blood still crusted against my knuckles, the ache in my jaw now just a dull throb compared to the fire still roaring in my chest.

MyPorsche – the sleek, ocean-blue beast Jiehong had driven with that smug tilt of his head – was finally mine again.

I slammed the door open and stepped out of the Lambo. The scent of burnt rubber and asphalt clung to myskin. The night air in Jersey was cooler now, sweet with distant rain.

Jiehong climbed out of my car, jaw clenched, his expensive silk jacket catching in the wind. His mouth moved – some curse in Mandarin, low and sharp – and then he was storming toward me.

Zane moved faster.

I barely had time to take one step forward before Zane was in front of me, intercepting Jiehong with a single, vicious punch straight to the jaw.

The sound was sharp – wet and ugly.

Jiehong hit the pavement with a grunt, stumbling back onto the hood of the Porsche.

I reached for Zane, nails digging into his skin. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

“You expected me to let him hit you?”

Before I could explain, the stadium lights above us exploded into life. Harsh beams raked across the track, spotlighting every stolen car and half-illegal license plate. Jiehong’s crew started to scatter even before the sirens kicked in.

A deep voice boomed out over speakers. “This is New Jersey State Police. All vehicles are to remain where they are. Step away from the cars.”

Zane’s hand found the low of my back.

Without a second thought, I jumped over Jiehong, still dazed on the ground. I slid into my Porsche’s passenger seat, keys still in the ignition. Zane was already gunning the ignition before my seatbelt clicked. The car jolted forward like it knew it was coming home.

Behind us, the track dissolved into chaos – lights flashing, engines revving, a few gunshots cracking in the distance.