Page 13 of Racer (Iron Rogues MC #15)

“No,” I said firmly. “Don’t take the blame for that shit.

Those bastards got someone good to do their dirty work.

Professional. No way did those jackasses do this on their own.

And you were working off no fucking intel.

You didn’t miss something, angel. They buried it deep.

We still don’t even know exactly what they did. Or even when.”

Without the telemetry data and footage, I wasn’t sure we ever would.

Emily nodded slowly, but I could still see the guilt lingering in her eyes before she laid her head on my shoulder. I didn’t push. I’d help her get there eventually. And when she did, I’d still be right beside her.

The next night, the air was thick and electric as I lined up for another qualifier. The crowd was rowdy, adrenaline pumping in my veins, and knowing the bets were heavy on one of Dez Franklin’s star drivers, I made a fucking show of it.

Burnout at the start, extra wide turns, and tail-whipping my rival so hard his spoiler clipped the fence. I crossed the finish line three car lengths ahead of the pack, then spun the car in a perfect victory donut before sliding it to a stop with the nose pointed directly at his team box.

Yeah, I was asking for it, and I wanted them to fucking know it.

Afterward, Emily went back to the garage with the rest of the pit crew. Kane, Edge, and Nitro—the Redline Kings’ sergeant at arms—stayed back to help clear out the stragglers before closing up the gates around another of Kane’s makeshift tracks.

I was anxious to get back to my girl, so I left them talking by the betting stands and headed out. Just as I was crossing the parking lot to my bike, I saw the same two dumbass thugs and sighed. I was getting real sick of their ugly faces.

But this time, they brought three more guys as backup.

I smiled as they surrounded me, but with a sinister edge. “Real flattered you felt you needed to bring extra playmates to the sandbox.”

“We warned you,” the tall one said. “You need to fucking back off.”

“Or what?” I asked, tilting my head. “You planning to do more than run your mouth this time? ’Cause I don’t bruise easy, but I’m real fuckin’ good at breaking things.”

That seemed to piss them off, which made me smile.

Stocky moved first. He stepped forward and took a swing. I ducked easily, then broke his nose with the heel of my hand. One of the newbies started to move toward me, but then a low rumble of bikes cut through the night.

Five Redline Kings came roaring around the back lot, led by Kane, all of them grinning.

The gang of meatheads hesitated, looking at each other for direction. When none of them stepped up to lead, they all backed off, but not without one last warning.

“This ain’t over.”

I smiled and climbed onto my hog. “Nah. It’s just starting.”

Later, I called Fox. “Gonna need backup, Prez.”

He didn’t hesitate. “On our way.”

I’d known he would agree without question. MC’s were chosen family, a bond stronger than blood.

At the garage, Emily was pacing near my office, worry written all over her face. The second she saw me, she blew out a breath and walked straight into my arms, holding me tight.

I gave her the rundown of what happened, and she stared at me like her heart was trying to claw out of her chest.

“Racer.” Her brow furrowed, and she shook her head. “This is getting dangerous. You can’t just?—”

“Hey, hey. Relax, angel.” I cupped her face in my hands. “This is what I’m here for. We’re not losing. We’re setting the trap.”

“But what…what if something happens to you?” Her blue eyes filled with tears, and she blinked rapidly, trying to keep them from falling.

I kissed her forehead, her nose, and then her mouth. “Nothing’s gonna happen to me.”

“You can’t know that for sure,” she disagreed with a quiet sniff.

“I sure as hell can,” I scoffed.

Her nose wrinkled adorably, showing that she might not believe me but was hoping I had an answer that would reassure her. “How?”

I brushed my lips over hers, then locked our eyes. “Because I have something to live for.”

She softened, swallowed hard, then nodded. “Me too.”

“Come for a ride with me?” I asked.

“Best idea you’ve ever had,” she sighed.

I grinned as I took out my extra helmet and plopped it on her head. “Nah, best idea I ever had was getting inside you.”

Emily blushed as her laughter tinkled in the night air, sending warmth through my chest. Yeah, I had everything to live for.

We rode through the cool night air, the wind cutting through the weight of the past two days. Her arms around me, body pressed to my back, brought peace and contentment.

Once we got back to the compound, we hopped in the shower to wash away the dust and grime. She sighed and melted against me as hot water streamed down our bodies. When I kissed her, her mouth was soft and as hungry as mine.

I carried her to bed, not giving a single fuck that we were naked and dripping wet.

We held nothing back from each other.

She was mine, and I was hers.

We’d need to keep our cool in the coming fight.

But tonight, we fucking burned.