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“Reid races legally on the track, and Riley’s familyownsthe damn track. Why would she race on the street?” Zavier argued, making Turbo snort.

“It seems you all like to keep secrets from each other. They’ve both been racing on the streets for years now.”

“No way. If Reid was doing something like that, Logan would know, which means Raven would know and tell me.” I watched as his shoulders tensed while Turbo laughed.

“Logan’s usually right there in the passenger seat with him.”

I slapped his arm to shut him up, turning to face Zavier who looked betrayed. “Raven doesn’t know, and they don’t want her to know. As you can imagine, it would be bad news for everyone if it was discovered that I was involved too. You can’t tell anyone, Zavier.”

“Are you going to tell me why you’re here moving fucking drugs then? You know Ander’s a rival to your family business, right?”

“She’s an adrenaline junkie,” Turbo answered, going back to the garage to grab the other bag. “The rush gets her off. You should see her behind the wheel on the street. She should’ve died a good handful of times by now.”

“Not helping,” I gritted out, pinning him with a glare. “Do you want my help or not?”

“You’re not even helping. You’re standing around talking,” he deadpanned, dropping the last of the bags in the trunk and slamming it shut. “Get in and let’s go.”

Zavier was silent as I climbed into the driver’s seat, but he suddenly walked around to my passenger door and yanked it open. “I’m coming with you.”

“What the fuck for?”

He flashed his gun at me, his face serious. “Because I can’t let you do this shit with only Ander as backup. You drive, and if we run into trouble I can shoot.”

“Stop calling him Ander. It’s Turbo,” I grumbled, leaning back in my seat and flexing my fingers on the wheel as I assessed him. “I don’t need you to babysit me either. Believe it or not, I know how to shoot.” Turbo revved his car behind me, telling me to hurry the fuck up, and I sighed. “I guess you know where to go then?”

“Yep. Drive straight to Crestford and I’ll direct you from there,” Zavier confirmed. “If something feels off, tell me. Chances are high you won’t be wrong. If Ander’s dragged you along as backup, it means he knows something’s up. I don’t think he’s just causing trouble.” I nodded, keeping the music off as I steered us back to the main road, Turbo on my ass the whole time. We drove most of the way in silence, but after a while, Zavier spoke. “I needed the money, okay? Now my father’s dead, I don’t have to worry about him finding me. I can work and try to make a good life for Raven and the guys. Maybe get them out of the Heights.”

“You didn’t want to be like that asshole, so what made you decide to move drugs?” I snorted, his face twisting with annoyance in the moonlight.

“I’m nothing like Kristoff Lopez, and I never will be. He was a rapist and a predator. The things he did to Maddox was awful, but who knows how many other kids and women he hurt.”

“I know what that piece of shit did to my brother,” I huffed, not wanting to be reminded of it. “But I want to know how you got into this drug business in the first place. Are you someone's bitchboy? Or are you running the show?”

His sharp eyes scanned the area around us as we reached the Crestford road sign, his voice dejected. “Bitchboy.”

“How long?”

“A few months. You can’t tell anyone, Riley. I know you don’t like me, but I can’t let the guys and Raven find out. I won’t tell Beckett about your shit with Ander, uh, Turbo if you promise me that you’ll keep your mouth shut too,” he said quietly, finally glancing at me. “I didn’t know them when shit went down with their friend, but I know they’re still fucked-up from it. They’d probably throw me out.”

“Who are you working for? Turbo?”

“That’s not something I’m willing to discuss with you. I make sure it stays out of Ashburn Valley though if that’s what you’re worried about,” he grunted, cursing as something pinged off my car. “I fucking knew this wouldn’t go smoothly. He never brings backup.”

My skin tingled with anticipation and fear at the thought of being chased, my fingers flexing on the steering wheel as I glanced in my rearview mirror to see two sets of headlights behind us as another bullet hit my car. I frowned when we drove under a street light and I noticed Turbo’s car wasn’t one of them, but Zavier wound down his window and gave me a knowing look.

“He’ll be following at a distance, that way he could see danger better. He might have brought you along to be a dick, but he wouldn’t bail on you. Turn left near the Academy.”

I did as he instructed, the headlights following us until we drove along a well-lit street, the Academy looking creepy with the moon behind it. It was a cold, stone building and it was fucking huge. Most people hated that my family decided not to send us to rich kid schools, and some of the Crestford brats talked shit about us for it. I didn’t give a fuck, they could keep their creepy school and their fancy uniforms.

No way in hell was I going to be caught dead in that ugly-ass, brown skirt.

Zavier groaned as the cars behind us drove under the lights so he could see who they were. “These fuckers again?”

“Who?”

“Bunch of trust fund babies with too much money and not enough brains.” He cringed as a third bullet hit us. “Your family’s going to notice bullet holes, you know?”

“I’m aware. Are these guys local or did they follow us from Kingslake?” I asked, glancing in my mirror again as they started gaining speed.