Page 2 of Nitro (Redline Kings MC #3)

JANA

I ’d just won my first Shadow Tryout, and the rush was still pounding in my veins. Teaching me to drive cars and motorcycles was the only thing my dad had gotten right, but I hadn’t expected to smoke the guys who bragged about being Nitro’s recruits on my first run.

The underground race circuit was secretive about most things, but I’d heard whispers about the sergeant at arms for the Redline Kings. He was the kind of guy who made other men nervous, and odds were good he wasn’t going to be thrilled that I’d beat his drivers by such a wide margin.

I’d blown through that course faster than any of them, leaving everyone choking on my dust. My chest was still heaving from the adrenaline dump, but I felt sharp inside. Certain. Like I’d just proven something important.

I expected some shock. Perhaps even annoyance from the drivers I'd beaten.

But not the weight of a gaze so intense it prickled against my skin before I even saw the man standing next to the billionaire who ruled the Florida racing world.

And his brother, who had not been exaggerated, if I went by the crazy glint in his eyes.

But I was focused on the one staring at me.

He was tall and broad-shouldered, his dark hair mussed, like he’d run a hand through it one too many times.

The short beard framing his jaw and tattoos inked in heavy black along his forearm only added to his appeal…

until my gaze snagged on the leather vest he wore.

He wasn’t just some guy who helped Kane with races.

He was a member of the Redline Kings MC, too.

And he was staring at me like I was a problem.

Heat coiled low in my stomach, unwanted and inconvenient. The last thing I needed was to get tangled up with a biker—especially one who looked at me like he didn’t know if he wanted to strangle me or kiss me.

I was so focused on him that I almost missed Kane moving toward me. Forcing my eyes away from those fierce brown orbs, I smiled at the guy who I hoped to impress.

His expression was unreadable when he extended his hand. “Hell of a run.”

“Thanks.” I slid my palm against his, forcing my grip steady when I really wanted to punch my fist in the air.

His handshake was firm and lasted long enough for the other biker to move to his side, a low sound vibrating up his broad chest.

My gaze flicked back toward the dark-haired guy. His heated stare had zeroed in on where Kane’s hand wrapped around mine, and his jaw clenched hard enough I thought his teeth might crack.

Oh, great. Exactly what I didn’t need: to be attracted to an overprotective biker with a caveman complex.

“Jenna Carter.”

The alias slid off my tongue as smoothly as if it were mine. Practicing in the mirror a hundred times had made sure of that. Good thing, since I was too distracted by the biker who shouldered Kane aside to worry about the lie.

“Nitro.”

It figured the biker who’d sent heat roaring through me at the very worst time was the one who’d recruited the drivers I’d just beat.

Kane shot Nitro a look I didn’t understand, his mouth curving the tiniest bit. “Meet me at The Pit tomorrow morning at ten. We’ll talk about what’s next.”

He and his brother stalked away, leaving me squarely in Nitro’s line of fire.

I should have looked away. Ignored him. But I couldn’t, much to my irritation. I just stared while his brown eyes cataloged every inch of me like he had every right. The crooked edge of his mouth twitched, the start of a dangerous smile. “See ya’ tomorrow.”

My pulse raced almost as fast as it had in my car, and I knew I should steer clear of Nitro. Too bad fate had just thrown us on a collision course.

By the following morning, the victory high had faded into anticipation laced with nerves I refused to let anyone see. Kane didn’t invite just anyone into his MC’s garage, and I knew how rare this chance was.

I’d never been there before but knew where it was, which was a good thing because The Pit sat a few miles off the main road, tucked into the back end of a repurposed industrial block. Surrounded by chain-link fences with razor wire, it wasn’t somewhere a person would accidentally stumble into.

Parking my car in one of the open spots near the entrance, I left it unlocked. I might not be a fan of motorcycle clubs, but I still appreciated that nobody was reckless enough to steal from the Redline Kings’ turf.

One of the bay doors lining the front of the building was open, and I headed that way, lured by the sound of engines revving somewhere deep inside. The noise vibrated through the concrete floor beneath my shoes.

It was exhilarating and exactly what I’d come for, even if it meant dealing with the kind of men I’d promised myself to steer clear of.

Tool chests and parts covered the wall across from me, everything organized but scarred with use. This wasn’t some polished showroom. It was a working garage. Loud, gritty, and alive.

At the curious glances aimed my way, I took a steadying breath, squaring my shoulders. I’d earned this meeting, and I wasn’t going to let anyone scare me off.

Kane Beckett stepped out from behind a workbench, wiping his hands on a rag. He radiated authority without even trying, and if I wanted to make it in the racing world, he was the one who could open that door.

His gaze landed on me, eyes sharp and assessing. “You made an impression yesterday.”

My stomach flipped, but I kept my tone light as I replied, “That was the goal.”

He nodded once, tucking the rag into his back pocket. “You have talent. Enough that I’m willing to put you on one of my underground teams.”

My pulse kicked, excitement pushing against the cool mask I kept in place. This was my chance to prove I could do more than just win one race.

Kane wasn’t finished. “But there are conditions. Every race is an audition for a pro team. You don’t just win once and coast. You’ll need to prove yourself again and again.”

I expected that—I had even heard that his wife wouldn’t put up with him treating women any differently, which I respected. “Understood.”

The next part was a surprise, though.

“And before any of that happens, there’s a background check. No exceptions.”

My heart thudded hard against my ribs as I forced my face to remain neutral. I wanted to kick myself for not considering that they’d run a check on drivers for the underground circuit. I’d assumed I was safe until I made a pro team, but Kane’s reputation was on the line either way.

“Gotcha.”

The name might pass muster since it belonged to someone who looked enough like me that I could get into a bar with her ID, but panic still sparked low in my gut.

I was seriously wondering if I should just fess up and ask Kane to keep my secret when Nitro walked into the bay and strode over to us. He lifted his chin in greeting, his gaze locked on me.

“Show her around while Jax does his thing,” Kane told him before walking away.

My chance to confess was gone. And if that background check was already being run like I feared…my time was already running out.

Nitro didn’t wait for me to agree before jerking his chin at a car with its hood up. “Come on.”

His voice was rough in a way that left goose bumps along my arms. I hated that reaction almost as much as the smug glint in his eyes when he clocked it.

I followed him, keeping my expression blank as he led me deeper into the garage.

The clang of metal and low thrum of engines being tested was enough to remind me why I’d come here.

The Pit was the heart of the underground circuit, and I wanted a place in it, even if that meant spending time with the Redline Kings MC.

Nitro stopped beside a workbench and crossed his arms over his chest. I tore my eyes away from his bulging biceps to meet his dark gaze. “You drove like you had something to prove last night.”

“We both know I did,” I shot back, lifting my chin.

One corner of his mouth tugged upward. “Smart-mouthed.”

“And still faster than the guys you recruited.”

That earned me a low chuckle, the opposite reaction from what I expected. Most men in racing didn’t know what to do with me. I was usually underestimated before I even hit the track. Or they propositioned me, as though my worth was only measured in what I could give them on my back.

The attraction between us was impossible to miss. But instead of acting on it, Nitro studied me like a puzzle he meant to solve. And that only made him harder to resist.

He pushed off the bench and stepped into my space, so close I had to tip my head back to meet his gaze. “Think you can keep it up? Or was last night a fluke?”

I arched a brow, refusing to step back even though my pulse thudded in my throat. “You’ll find out soon enough, won’t you?”

His gaze dropped to my mouth for a beat, then lingered there like he was debating whether to close the distance. “Guess I will.”

Every nerve in my body lit up, screaming at me to move. To push him away. Instead, I stayed rooted, betraying myself with the way my breath caught.

“I’m here to impress your boss. Not you.” My voice was steadier than I felt.

“Too late.”

The crooked smile that followed was pure trouble. He leaned a fraction closer, enough that I felt the brush of his leather vest against my arm.

I rolled my eyes to cover the hitch in my breath. “You’re impossible.”

“And you like it.”

I turned toward the car, grasping at anything to break the tension. “What’s the plan for this one?”

His silence stretched, heavy and thick. I felt his gaze trace me like a touch before he finally answered, “Don’t have a driver picked out for her yet. But it’s built for speed. Just like you.”

I smirked at the compliment. “Then I guess you just found your driver. Tomorrow you can show me the bike I’ll be racing.”

The moment stretched between us, taut as a live wire, until the heavy thud of boots on concrete cut through it. Nitro didn’t move away. He just shifted his stance, broad shoulders squaring as Kane strode back into the bay with another man at his side.

I didn’t recognize him, but it didn’t take me long to figure out he was Kane’s tech guy, Jax. He pushed a tablet into Nitro’s hand, his gaze flicking to me with unsettling precision. “Photo recognition flagged a resemblance to the real Jenna Carter, but you’re not her. Close, but not perfect.”

My throat tightened.

“If you want to drive for us, you need to explain,” Kane demanded.

My brain scrambled for excuses, but I didn’t come up with anything that would stand up to Jax’s scrutiny if he’d managed to figure out my fake name that fast. And all the while, I was too aware of Nitro’s stare burning into me, as though he could read every flicker of guilt across my face.

I swallowed, forcing myself not to fidget under the weight of three sets of eyes. “Can we—” My voice came out thinner than I liked. I cleared my throat and tried again. “Can we talk somewhere more private?”

Kane didn’t reply right away. He studied me for a long beat, like he was measuring whether I was worth the trouble. Finally, he nodded once and jerked his chin toward a hallway at the back of the garage. “My office.”

Nitro still hadn’t said a word. He just handed the tablet back to Jax, his silence heavy enough to make my skin prickle.

My pulse hammered in my ears, my legs suddenly too heavy as I trailed Kane. I felt Nitro fall into step behind me, making me even more nervous.

The office door creaked open, and Kane gestured for me to go inside first. The oversized wooden desk looked out of place in a garage, but I guessed billionaires could plant expensive furniture anywhere they wanted.

As long as he also spared no expense on the bikes his team raced, it didn’t make a difference to me.

The door shut behind us, and I forced myself to meet Kane’s eyes. If I wanted a future here, I had to explain…and hope they’d understand my need to keep my real identity a secret.

The silence in Kane’s office pressed in on me. Nitro leaned against the wall like a watchful shadow, arms crossed, gaze locked on me with unnerving intensity. Kane sat behind the desk, waiting for me to speak. Jax was perched on the corner, scrolling on his tablet.

I forced a breath past the tightness in my chest. “Jax is right. My name’s not Jenna Carter.”

Kane’s expression didn’t flicker. Nitro’s brows rose the barest fraction, but otherwise, he stayed still, letting the weight of his stare do all the work. Jax just kept scrolling.

“I wasn’t trying to scam you or hide anything criminal. I just needed an alias, and she’s someone I met a few years ago who looked enough like me to make it believable. It was the easiest cover I could think of.”

“Why?” Kane asked.

“Because my mom would never understand this.” I gestured loosely toward the door.

“She doesn’t get racing. And she definitely wouldn’t like me working with an MC.

If she knew I was here, driving for you, she’d lose her mind.

So I made sure there’d be nothing tying my name to this world.

No way for her to find out by accident.”

“Good call going with a name close to your own,” Jax muttered, turning the tablet so I could see my driver’s license on the screen. “Jana Jennings.”

Kane tapped a finger against the desk, considering. “Is there anything Jax is going to find that I need to worry about?”

“No.” I shook my head. “I have no criminal record, decent credit…never even got a ticket for speeding.”

Nitro snorted. “Find that hard to believe with how you drive.”

“I’m not here to cause trouble. I just want to race without my mom blowing up my phone every five minutes.” I heaved a deep sigh. “I love her more than anyone in this world, but she’s ridiculously overprotective when it comes to me.”

Kane leaned forward, pressing his forearms on the top of his desk. “Secrets have a way of coming out. She’s bound to find out eventually.”

“I know, but I’m hoping I’ll already have made a name for myself, so maybe she’ll be a little more understanding about why I did all this,” I explained with a shrug.

“Keep driving like last night, and that won’t take long,” Nitro murmured, his compliment making me stand taller.

“She’s telling the truth. No red flags.” Jax handed the tablet to Kane. “She’s squeaky clean compared to most of our underground drivers.”

“Good.” Kane’s eyes narrowed as he warned, “Don’t care what name you wanna use when you drive, but I don’t tolerate lies.”

Relief loosened the knot in my chest, but just a little. “So…does this mean I have a spot?”

Kane nodded. “Welcome to Redline Zero. Don’t make me regret it.”

The words should have felt like victory. Instead, all I felt was the echo of my close call. And the burn of Nitro’s stare.