Page 43 of Racing Dirty Trilogy Box Set

Nolan

As we make our way down the hallway of the hospital following Xavier’s father James, I think back to this morning. I’ve made a complete fool of myself when I met Izzy’s friend from California. When I answered the door, I didn’t know what to do for the first time in my life.

Her sun-kissed skin glistened in the morning light, and her blonde hair pulled up in a messy bun made me want to pull on it as I made her scream my name in ecstasy.

I want Ashley’s long legs wrapped around my waist squeezing me hard as she finds her release, her nails digging in my back, marking me forever.

Then I had to make myself look like an idiot.

Instead of being smooth and charming, like I normally am, I tripped over my own damn feet and landed on my ass when she smiled at me.

She took my breath away and I lost all rational thoughts.

My brain forgot how to function. That’s never happened before.

A hand slaps me on the back, bringing me out of my memories. I shake my head and look at Xavier, my best friend and brother. I look around and realize we’re already outside and everyone is looking at me, waiting for an answer.

“What?" I ask.

He shakes his head, his black hair moving in the breeze. His eyes are studying me, knowing what’s running through my head.

“My dad asked if everything was going all right in your investigation,” Xavier responds.

Oh, yeah. The reason we’re out here. If any moment were a Homer Simpson moment, this would be it. I’d slap my forehead if I could. Fuck, I need to get my shit together and keep a blonde-haired beauty out of my head.

“It’s not looking too good for Calabrese.

He’s lost control over Marie and has no idea what she is doing.

Christian and I paid him a visit this morning and caught him off guard.

I know I was supposed to wait until tomorrow, but I couldn’t.

He was pissed I showed up and showed him everything Marie had done.

I started from five years ago, which he knew about, to Austin’s accident, the break-in at Izzy’s house, and finally the incident last night.

To say he was pissed was an understatement.

He told me he would take care of her, but I don’t buy it. "

“Neither do I.” Christian agrees. “He looked pissed, but it’s his daughter. He lets her get away with whatever she wants. She is just as psychotic as he is."

“Has anyone said anything about Austin’s accident?" James asks.

“Yes,” Christian answers. “I received a call this morning and the forensic team concluded his car was tampered with. Someone took a joint off his braking system before his heat and the dirt and grime from the night caused his brakes not to work. I looked over the tapes and there was a car that bumped into him before he hit the wall. It belonged to the same guy you sent me, Xavier, Craig Williams. The same guy who tried taking Izzy out of her first race.”

My heart beats fast in my chest, I’m light-headed and need to sit down. I can’t breathe as everything clicks into place. They still don’t know what I know.

“Nolan, what’s wrong?" Xavier asks me, concern in his voice.

I swallow hard, bracing myself for Xavier’s outrage when I tell him what I know. He’s going to be so pissed.

“I checked him out that night of Izzy’s race.

He was all over Marie when I found him. He was raving mad Izzy was back and Marie said something to him about not losing his cool on the track, that he needed to keep his temper in check, so no one would suspect anything.

They’re in on it together. I will bet my life he’s our guy. ”

Christian pulls out his phone and walks away. I don’t hear who he is calling, my focus is on what we just figured out. James put his hand gently on my shoulder.

“Nolan,” he says. I look up to him and see the determination in his eyes. “Keep them safe tonight."

“I will.” I hear the doors open and spot Izzy, Mia, and Ashley walking out and heading straight for us. I finally have the balls to look at Xavier. He’s pissed, but with Izzy coming towards us, he’s masking it the best he can.

“Are we telling them?" I ask.

“No. Izzy doesn’t need to worry about what’s going on. Christian will make sure Craig stays detained and we will watch for Marie since she’s in hiding. Stay with Izzy when I can’t, please,” Xavier pleads. I watch Ashley as she walks towards us, a smirk on her face.

“You got it, bro,” I tell Xavier before they reach us.

Christian ends his call and puts his phone in his pocket.

He gives us a subtle gesture and I release a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

One less person I have to watch for and take out if necessary.

I crack my neck and stand up. I paste a smile on my face when the girls reach us, but my head is running through everything I need to do before tonight.

I’m determined to make this race the best for Izzy and Xavier.

They’ve worked hard to be where they’re at and don’t need to worry about anything but the track.

Ashley catches my eye and I can’t help but appraise her body. She makes my blood boil and lust roar through my veins. I’m distracted from the way her sundress hugs her curves and when I make my way up to her face, her light brown eyes are watching me knowingly. She cocks an eyebrow at me.

“See something you like?" Ashley asks.

Oh boy, am I in trouble. If she knew the dirty thoughts running only through my head, all the ways I want to make her scream, she’d be running in the other direction.

I give her a wink. “If you only knew, sweet thing."

Her face turns a dark shade of red and she turns away huffing some comment under her breath I didn’t quite catch. Hmm, that’s interesting. I’ll have to consider that later.

Right now, I need to focus on the race and not the hot, blond-haired woman with a killer body, legs that go on for miles, and a smile that takes my breath away.

I shake my head out of my thoughts again and see everyone walking towards the cars.

James went back inside, and I didn’t even know it.

God, what the hell am I doing? People are counting on me to protect them and I can’t even focus long enough right now to do that.

I get up from the bench and jog to my car, watching Ashley’s ass in that sundress. Dirty, dirty thoughts of what I could do to that ass fogs my brain. I reach for my keys in my pocket and realize I don’t have them. Xavier is standing next to me with a raised brow.

“Are you going to sit on my lap when I drive home?" Xavier asks.

“Why would I sit on your lap?” I ask giving him a questioning look. He rolls his eyes at me and jingles the keys in front of my face.

“Bro, you gave me the keys to your car, remember?"

Realization dawns on me as I watch Ashley again. She’s giggling at me from the back door of my car and my mind wanders again to the things I want to do to make that giggle into a moan.

“Fuck," I groan, running my hands through my hair. This isn’t good.

“What’s the matter, big boy? You afraid to come out of the closet?" Ashley teases me.

I shake my head and stick my tongue out at her. Childish? Yeah, I know. It’s all I got right now. She scrambles my brain cells and I can’t think around her. Fuck, I’m so screwed.

“Nah, I’m not in any closet. I can show you what it’s like to sit in my lap though,” I wink at her, her giggle suddenly stops, and she swallows hard.

I give her my trademark smile that has all women dropping their panties at my feet and get into the back seat of my car.

Xavier takes the driver’s seat and Izzy takes the passenger seat.

I’m in no mindset to drive. I wait for Ashley to get in next to me, but I see her walking at a rapid pace towards Christian and Mia.

Mia raises an eyebrow at her and she nods in my direction.

Her sweet ass is facing me, teasing me with the sway of her hips. I can’t see the look on her face.

What the fuck was that about? Oh, well. I need to worry about other shit than about hurting her feelings.

Izzy turns to me with narrowed eyes and I let out a groan. As much as I love Izzy as a sister, she needs to lay off the mama bear act.

“What the fuck, Nolan?" Izzy asks me.

I have no fucking clue what happened with Ashley. One minute we’re flirting, the next she gets pissed and walks off. Izzy’s still glaring at me as Xavier drives off.

“What the fuck did I do?" I ask.

“I have no idea, but you must have done something to make her want to ride with Mia." Izzy answers. I shrug my shoulders.

“I have no fucking idea. She’s a chick, they do crazy things sometimes. Maybe she does want to ride my lap and I caught her off guard.” I respond.

“Is that all you think about is getting some?" Izzy asks me.

Oh, if she only knew the shit running in my head, I revert to my smartass ways.

“Well, when it’s been a while because all these women want me to settle down, then yeah. Fucking is the only thing on my mind.” I lie to her.

She doesn’t need to know about the demon lurking in the shadows, waiting to pounce.

Izzy turns back around, thankfully. We arrive back at Xavier’s house in silence, each of us thinking about different things.

I’m lost in my head as I get out of the car.

This time it isn’t about a leggy, blond-haired woman.

My training is kicking in and I’m going through a mental checklist of things that need to be done before tonight’s race and there isn’t much time left before we need to get to the track.

This race makes me worried the most. There will be a lot of spectators and a lot of drivers to watch over.

I just need to maintain focus, but I have a gut feeling something is going to go wrong.