Page 46 of Broken Breath (Rogue Riders Duet #1)

“And just like that, everything was gone. The team. My sponsors. Years of work, sacrifice, gone because of a lie I still don’t understand.

” My voice cracks at the edges. “I don’t know why she said it or what she wanted.

” I look away in shame, in regret for something I never saw coming, my eyes burning in a way I hate.

“I never even slept with her, but the world thinks I raped her.”

The words hang there, ugly and impossible, and I suddenly can’t breathe past the weight of them. Shame curdles low in my stomach, even though I know I’ve done nothing wrong.

After a few thick, silence-stretched moments, I finally look up, bracing for the pity.

But that’s not what I find.

It’s fury.

Pure, unbridled rage.

His eyes burn like he wants to fight the whole damn world for me, and he’s ready to throw down against everyone on my behalf, fists first, questions later.

I glance down at his small hands curled over mine, knuckles white, trembling, bunched into fists.

My baby deer ’s fists wouldn’t do much damage.

But fuck if the intent doesn’t count for something.

“Not everyone thinks that,” he says, his voice so quiet I almost miss it. “ I don’t. She never deserved you, even before she spewed that shit.”

I let out a bitter laugh, eyes drifting away. “You think so?”

“No,” he says, sharper now. “I know so. She’s a bitch. You deserve someone who’s not out to break you.”

“Yeah,” I mutter. “I used to think she was a bitch too. Then I thought… maybe I was wrong. She started acting differently.” I shake my head. “Guess she was just a better liar than I gave her credit for.”

“You weren’t wrong for hoping,” he says quietly. “Just don’t ignore your gut next time.”

I huff a bitter breath. “What next time? It’s not like I’m gonna find someone else who’ll actually let me touch them.”

There’s a beat of silence before we both glance down at our hands.

I didn’t realize how much I’d needed that contact until this moment, how starved I am for it. How safe it feels with him.

“I’m letting you touch me.”

I want to stay right there, skin on skin, hearts just barely beating in sync, but I can’t because that want terrifies me. So I yank my hand away like I’ve been burned, even though I already miss the heat of him .

What the fuck am I even doing here?

Mini Crews smirks softly, but there’s nothing mocking about it. “Another reason not to let Raine win this year.”

I snort. “It was his sister, not him.”

His eyes narrow again. “And who do you think told her to do that?”

Wait, what?

“You think?”

“Pretty sure. Yeah.”

Well, that’s just… fuck.

I rake a hand through my hair, exhaling hard. “I need that World Cup overall win anyway. Everything depends on it.”

“What does?”

I want to regret saying that, but after everything I just spilled, holding back now feels like bullshit.

“Dad lost everything because of me,” I explain with a heavy sigh.

“His job. His home. His money. Everything. We’re living off scraps, holding this whole thing together with duct tape and debt.

If this season doesn’t work, if I don’t win, I can’t afford another year as a privateer.

We’ll have to give it up. The dream. Everything. ”

I stare down at the dirt. Saying it out loud feels too real. All of it.

“And right now…” I add, my voice dropping, “… it’s not looking great.”

Mini Crews leans back on his hands, considering me. “It’s been two races. You’re only 125 points behind first, everything’s still possible.”

“Keeping track of points?” I ask with a raised brow.

He shrugs. “Aren’t you?”

Busted.

“And you’ve already pulled two overalls in your career,” he adds .

“Yeah…” I grumble, “… before Luc showed up.”

That French dickhead.

It used to be fun , the way we pushed each other. He’d win one weekend, I’d take the next. Trading places, shit-talking in the pits, always one mistake or miracle apart.

Now he treats me like I’m actual shit on his shoes, and maybe that wouldn’t sting so much if I didn’t spend half the damn season noticing the way his sleeves cling to his arms, or how everything he does seems effortless, even when he’s being a smug asshole. I miss when it was simple.

I miss before .

“Well, he showed last race he’s not invincible anymore. You could do it.”

I roll my eyes. “Thanks for the TED Talk.”

“Anytime.” Mini Crews grins, but then it shifts to his cocky self again. “You won’t win this race, though.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Oh yeah?”

“Austria’s my favorite track.” He stretches, rolling out his neck as if he’s getting comfortable. “I’m gonna demolish your time. I need that win too.”

“Why?”

“Reasons.”

I huff a laugh. “So, I spill my guts all over the place, and I get nothing in return? That’s not how this friendship thing works.”

This friendship thing.

Fucking twat thing to say, Mason.

“Maybe next time.” His grin widens. “I mean, you already have the advantage over me.”

I scoff. “How’s that?”

“You’ve seen me puke, plead, and you’ve seen me obsess over my bike and fall flat on my ass.”

I tilt my head, eyeing him. “I’m nobody.” Before I can second- guess it, I reach out, take his hand, and link our fingers.

His lips twitch. “Likewise. So if nobody saw it?”

It takes me a second to pick up what he’s dropping down, but then I do. “Then nobody heard it either. Not a word.”

Nobody.

We share a long, understanding look, and our hands shift slightly, fingers adjusting, while I brush my thumb over the back of his.

It’s nothing.

It’s everything.

Needing no one is how I keep breathing and have stayed upright despite the weight pressing down on my back.

I think Mini Crews gets that. I know he does.

He’s survived something, too, on his terms, and he’s still here with his wide brown eyes, dirt smudged across his cheek, and that steady, quiet way he meets me without looking away.

My thumb keeps moving, and he squeezes my fingers as he smiles up at me. Something stirs in my chest. A little jolt, barely there, but I feel it.

And I shove it down, fast.

I can’t afford to want something I can’t keep. I’ve been through that, and I don’t have the pieces left to try again. I can’t want more.

But maybe I can want this.

Just someone who can also be nobody when the sun goes down.

“You’ll be my nobody, then?” I ask, like an idiot, but I need to know and hear it from him.

“Already am.” Mini Crews rests the side of his head against my shoulder. “And you’ll be mine. ”

My heart trips again, a quick, stupid flip that leaves my throat tight.

I roll my eyes, forcing a smirk to cover it. “Don’t get cocky.”

“Too late.”

“Fine.” I shake my head, still brushing my thumb over his hand. “You’re my nobody.”