Page 35 of Racing Dirty Trilogy Box Set

“No, I followed her to see where she went to. She went to a seedy bar on Main Street. I followed her inside and she went into the back room. She approached a man sitting at a table. He was her father,” Nolan responds.

My head is full of confusion. “Nolan, you’re not making any sense. What the fuck does this have to do with that?"

He holds his hands up, stopping me from asking more questions. “Let me finish." Nolan turned to Christian, “Does the name, Bobby Calabrese mean anything to you?”

“Yes, he’s a loan shark and has been under investigation for murder, but always manages to get out of the charges. He is ruthless and doesn’t care who he hurts. If you owe him money, he finds a way to collect. He owns Calabrese bar on Main Street.” Christian says.

Realization dawns on me and my heart is hammering in my chest. “But I didn’t do anything to get on his bad side. Why would his daughter come after me or Izzy?" I ask.

Nolan looks back toward me, his brown eyes are sad. “It wasn’t you,” he whispers. Izzy sucks in a deep breath.

“Nolan, what happened?" She asks. He hesitates to answer, my blood is boiling.

“Nolan," I bark out. “What the fuck happened?"

Nolan closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose.

“It wasn’t any of us, but because you’re my best friend, Marie saw you with me and set her claws into you.

It was my father.” He sits down on the edge of the couch.

His fingers are steepled together in front of him. He drops his head in shame.

“He owed Calabrese a lot of money and they approached me about it. I told them to go to hell, I have nothing to do with my father. Well, she saw you race when they were looking to get money out of me and decided she wanted you. She saw you and Izzy together and she went after you to get to me."

Mia finally speaks. “Is that why she said what she said to you, Izzy?"

Izzy’s body goes tense, I can feel her trying to catch her breath. She’s on the verge of a panic attack.

“Izzy,” I say trying to get her to look at me. I turn her around, so she is facing me, her breath is coming in short pants and she looks like she will pass out. “Izzy, talk to me. What’s wrong?" I ask holding her face in my hands.

She’s still taking short breaths and can’t answer me. Tears are in her eyes.

“She told Izzy that she was pregnant with your child,” Mia whispers.

The color drains from my face, but I keep eye contact with Izzy. “Is this true? Did she tell you that?" I ask.

“Yes,” Izzy answers quietly. “It’s why I left in such a hurry. You were going to be a father and I didn’t want to get in the way." Tears are streaming down her face. I wipe them away gently and hold her against me.

“I swear to God, I didn’t touch her. Never have and never will.” I plead with her, hoping she believes me.

Izzy’s breath hitches as she tries to get herself under control.

“I believe you, Xavier. Things were going too good for us, I had a gut feeling the bottom was going to drop out any minute. When she told me that, I didn’t know what to do.

Mia tried getting me to talk to you, but I had to leave.

I had to get away and that college accepted me.

It felt like it was fate talking to me. Telling me I had my fun and now it’s time to let you go.

Let you be a great father. I should have listened to Mia.

She swore that you would never do that to me, but I was so hurt that I wouldn’t listen. "

Izzy tries to pull away, but I’m not letting her go. I hold her tighter against me and rub her back. Her arms wrap around my waist and hold onto me tight.

“Izzy, I swear.” I start, but she cut me off.

“I know, X. You don’t have to explain anything to me,” Izzy whispers. I turn my head to Nolan and he looks so sad and lost in his own world.

“Nolan,” I say, snapping him out of whatever demons he is dealing with. “Why after all these years, did she come after us now? What happened with the debt to your father?" I ask him.

“Marie is batshit crazy. She must have heard Izzy was back and that you two were back together. I paid off my dad’s loan but made a stipulation to Calabrese.

When I paid it off I told him to keep his daughter away from you or I would take care of him with the dirt I had on him.

He didn’t believe me until I showed him part of my proof. "

Christian stands up quickly, his body is strumming with agitation, almost dropping Mia on the floor. “Nolan, you have proof?" Christian asks.

“Yeah bro, I do. No, I didn’t take it to the cops, I have my own ways of dealing with low-life scum.

It’s my insurance policy that Calabrese won’t come after any of us.

If you’re dirty or have skeletons in your closet, something you don’t want anyone to find out, I will find it.

It’s what I do.” Nolan shrugs his shoulders like it’s no big deal.

This doesn’t surprise me, I’ve always known Nolan can get any information out of anyone, but he kept this information from me. That angers me and I have to find out why.

“Nolan, why did you keep this a secret?" I ask him.

“I had to bro. If I told you any of this, then he would have killed you. I kept the crazy bitch away from you and tried to get you to go after Izzy on your own, but you’re a stubborn ass.

Now she showed her hand and I’ll be ready to take the bitch on.

I will not let her get away with this.” Nolan says an edge to his voice I haven’t heard before.

Christian has a surprised look on his face. “Don’t worry bro, you’re clean,” Nolan tells him.

“I’m not worried about me. I’m an open book. I’m worried about others on my force,” Christian says.

“Don’t worry about it. Your partner checks out, but that’s all I’m saying.” Nolan has a hard look in his eyes.

“You’d tell me if I was in jeopardy, right?” Christian asks.

Nolan smirks and I know what’s coming next. He’s been too serious lately and I can tell he’s itching to be a smartass.

“Well,” Nolan trails off.

Mia, who’s been quiet during this whole thing, stands up and smacks Nolan on the arm. She turns to Christian, her hands on her hips.

“Yes, he would tell you.” Mia snaps and glares at Nolan, arching an eyebrow. “Right.” It’s not a question, it’s a command.

Nolan laughs. “Yeah bro, I’d tell you,” he trails off before adding, “now."

Mia smacks him again. “You’re incorrigible! Why do I even talk to you?" Mia’s crazy side is showing and it’s time to change the subject.

“Mia, you know I wouldn’t let anything happen to you,” Nolan tells her. “All right, let's go over that night,” Nolan says looking at me. I shake my head and tighten my arms holding Izzy.

“You need to Xavier. Let's get it done and over with,” she pleads. My heart drops again and I have to sit down before I pass out.

“OK,” I take a deep breath. “It’s not going to be pretty, what you all hear,” I breathe.