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“He fucking died. They brought him back but he’s not stable and…”

I let Riley go, leaving her to console her friend as I sat in a seat to wait. Zavier’s hair was sticking up at all angles as if he’d been running his fingers through it repetitively, and Logan dropped into the seat beside me. I hesitated before threading my fingers through his, and even though he didn’t look at me, he gave me a small squeeze.

We all sat in silence for a while, and it wasn’t until the doctor came out and Riley threatened him with violence, that he said Reid was now stable and resting.

The sob of relief that left Raven broke me, and I couldn’t help it as a tear escaped the corner of my eye. It seemed she had no idea that he’d been racing on the streets, and by the way she was clinging to Zavier and not Logan told me she was pissed at him too.

ChapterTwenty

Riley

Iwas glad that Logan was finding some kind of comfort from Luna. She hardly knew him, but she stayed glued to his side for hours. Raven was a mess, and when the guys mentioned coffee, I dragged her outside for a cigarette, thankful that Ander’s car was gone.

Blake’s was missing too, but I wasn’t surprised. She wouldn’t want to stick around in case the cops showed up for any reason.

“I’m so fucking angry at them.” Raven scowled, lighting her cigarette and shaking her head. “I can’t believe they’ve been racing like that. I knew they were sneaking off to do something, I’ve caught them a few times now, but that was the last thing I expected.”

“I know you’re angry, but don’t shut Logan out,” I said carefully, pulling my hood off so she could see my face properly. “He’s not to blame, and he’s hurting too.”

“He knew!”

“So you’re going to punish him? Make him think it’s his fault? I know you and I aren’t besties, but I do give a shit about you. You’re important to the guys, you’re their family. Everyone makes mistakes, you know?” I answered, her face pinching as if in pain.

She silently smoked for a while until speaking again, her voice tight. “Did you know?”

I met her gaze, not being able to lie to her. “Yes.”

“Were you fucking there?” she spat, relaxing when I shook my head.

“No. I was at the Psycho’s shed. Maddox and Beckett both had fights tonight. You can ask them if you don’t believe me.”

She eyed me, her voice becoming so quiet that I barely heard her. “But you’ve been before, right? That’s how you know the guys so well?”

I was starting to panic. She’d tell Beckett, there was no doubt about it, and I’d be fucked.

“I like cars, Raven. I don’t race for pink slips like what tonight was about, but I do enjoy feeling the power under me as I race. There aren’t any rules on the streets, unlike the track, and sometimes that means assholes show up. The guy that caused this has done it before. He’s a sore loser too. It’s not all about racing though.” I sighed, grateful when she didn’t argue. “Sometimes it’s where a bunch of us meet up for a beer and admire cars. Sometimes we just hang out and talk shit.”

“Beckett doesn’t know, or your car wouldn’t be on all four wheels,” she stated, blowing smoke in my direction. “You need to stop, Riley. Or the next time it might be you laying in a hospital bed. Promise me you’ll stop, and I’ll keep my mouth shut.”

As I studied her, I saw her eyes filled with irritation. She looked ready to punch me for not telling her about the guys, but she respected Beckett too much to go through with it.

“I’ll stop.” I intended on stopping one day, so I technically wasn’t lying. It would probably be in a year or two though.

We finished our cigarettes in silence, and I groaned as I heard Beckett’s Mustang roaring up the road. “Shit. I shouldn’t be here.”

“Why? You’re friends with the guys.” Raven frowned. “And you had her as an alibi so she’d know you weren’t racing too.”

“My sister’s got it out for Ander, and she’s angry we’re friends,” I said dryly. “She’s going to be savage towards me.”

As if on cue, the Mustang tore into the parking lot and braked hard, the door slamming as Beckett climbed out. “What the fuck are you doing here? Why didn’t you tell me?”

I didn’t have an answer for the second part. I should’ve told her when Blake first showed up at the shed.

“Sorry, I didn’t think. Blake came and got me and I…”

“Raven said he was fucking street racing. Is that how you all know each other?” she demanded, her eyes on me as realization spread across her face, making her angrier. “You all race together, don’t you?”

I was going to have to lie to her and pray Raven kept her mouth shut. I was so sick of the lying, but I wasn’t ready to give up the rush the racing brought me. Not yet.