Page 45 of Racing Dirty Trilogy Box Set

“I understand why you’re thinking the way you are.

I haven’t told you everything I know because I didn’t want it to worry you, but I should have.

I should’ve known you’d worry about me." I take a deep breath, ready to tell her the plan Nolan and Christian came up with. “Nolan is going to watch out for you while I’m racing, Christian and the others from the M.P.P.D. are patrolling around. They’re going to be watching us carefully.

While you’re out on the track, I’ll be with Nolan and Christian has set up some of his buddies to watch our cars when we’re not there with them.

They’ll be watching us too. They’ll be in street clothes and we won’t even know they’re here.

That lucky fucker has some serious contacts. "

“You’ve thought of everything,” she says. Her eyes filled with relief.

“Yeah, I did. I don’t want you to worry about a thing, just race. You’re my everything B and I will do what I can to keep you safe.” I honestly tell her.

I lean in and kiss her hard. Her flavor on my tongue makes me want her so badly. She lets out a whimper and it vibrates to my bones and sears my soul. She breaks the kiss, breathing rapidly.

“How much time do we have?" Izzy asks, a look of want crossing her features. I let out a harsh breath.

“Fuck, B. You’re driving me nuts. As much as I want to be buried inside of you and hear you scream my name, you have to be on the track in forty-five minutes for your heat.

Keep that thought though. After the race, I will give you everything you want.

I’ll make you come so hard, so many times, you’ll remember it for months, quite possibly years later. ”

Nolan shouts coming down the pits, “Come on fuckers. Not much time left." Izzy lets out a laugh as her face turns red.

“I fucking knew we shouldn’t have come separately,” Nolan says with a laugh. Izzy’s face flamed red and I put my arm around her.

“Hey man, what can I say?" I kiss the top of Izzy’s head. “Go get your racing stuff on and come help unload your car when you’re done.”

She walks to the side box and Nolan and I open the back of the trailer.

“Bro, you’re such an ass,” I tell him. Nolan smirks at me and shrugs his shoulders.

“Ah, it’s all good. If it was me, you’d both be on my ass.” Nolan says. I let out a laugh.

“Yeah, so true. Did anyone tell you what happened?" I ask.

“I came right here and didn’t talk to anyone,” he responds, shaking his head.

We open the trailer doors and unhook Izzy’s car from the tow straps. “Well, first off, Lisa was here. She said something to Izzy and Izzy punched her in the face and broke her nose.” There’s pride in my voice thinking of my girl standing up for herself. Nolan lets out a laugh.

“Fuck yeah. That’s our girl.” Nolan says with the same pride in his voice.

“That’s not the worst,” I say.

Nolan looks at me and the laughter dies on his lips when he sees my face. “What else?" he asks.

“Calabrese and his goons paid us a visit,” I answer, anger lacing my voice.

“Fuck. I knew I shouldn’t have left you alone. What did that fucker want?" Nolan asks. He’s clenching and unclenching his hands, anger vibrating from his body.

“He warned me to let him take care of the psycho bitch and if anything happens to her, he’ll make us pay. I told him if she shows up here, I won’t hesitate to protect Izzy."

Izzy makes her way into the trailer just as we finish unstrapping her car.

She has her helmet tucked under her arm and walks next to the driver’s side door.

She sets her helmet inside and climbs in.

She fires up her car, her eyes light up when the beast she’s in control of comes to life.

Seeing that look in her eye, as I watch her back her car off the enclosed trailer, is worth everything we’ve been through.

I follow Izzy out as she stops and shuts her car off. She climbs out and pops the hood.

“Something doesn’t sound right. It feels like I’m misfiring somewhere,” she says.

She opens the hood and looks the motor over. I come up beside her and watch as she finds the alternator and runs her slender fingers down the large wire cable connecting it to the battery.

“Here it is, I can feel a tear in the wire,” Izzy states.

She goes inside the trailer and comes out with the tools she needs and a new wire cable. She disconnects the battery and changes the wire. I take it from her as she hooks everything back up and starts her car. I’m looking it over when Nolan approaches me.

“What is it?" Nolan asks. I hold up the old cable attached to the battery and show him the tear Izzy felt.

“It wasn’t a tear. Someone cut the wire to slow her down,” I tell him.

Nolan swears, running his hands through his hair.

“I need to call Christian and see where his guys are. This is fucking bullshit.” He yanks his phone from his pocket and dials Christian.

I put my arm around Izzy, needing her close.

I try to contain the anger rolling through my body, but it’s not working.

“Bro, we have a problem. Where are your guys? How far out are you?" Nolan barks into the phone. He waits a minute while Christian responds. “OK, I’ll see you in a few.” He hangs up his phone and turns to us. “Christian and his partner just pulled in and will be here in a few minutes."

“You need to get out there and get your qualifying done. I’ll be right behind you, try to stay focused on the track and not the drama out here. I’ll be safe and so will you." I wrap my arms around Izzy’s waist and pull her against me. I kiss her lips and rest my forehead against hers.

“I love you, Izzy and I’ll be right here with you,” I tell her. I can feel the tension running through her body, her shoulders are tight, and her posture stiff.

“Ok, I’ll try. I love you too, Xavier. I’ll see you on the other side,” she responds.

She climbs in her car, straps on her helmet and safety harness and revs the engine.

I can see the excitement flash in her eyes as she shifts into first. I watch as she drives off, my heart beating hard in my chest, hoping nothing happens to her out on the track.

Nolan’s keeping pace with me as we make our way up the pits to the track.

“That’s one tough girl you got there,” Nolan says, a hint of admiration in his voice.

“Yeah, she is. No matter how many times someone tries to knock her down, she always comes back swinging.” I tell him.

Christian approaches us as we reach the edge of the pits onto the track. He’s dressed in his navy blue police uniform. Another guy is walking next to him, he’s stiff and alert.

“Hey guys, this is my partner, John Kent. Kent, this is Xavier Sweeney and Nolan Ryan.” Christian says introducing us to him. Kent shakes our hands, his eyes still scanning the area around us and his body’s stiff and formal. I hear the roar of the crowd and turn my attention to the track.

Izzy just made her way out to qualify and the spectators are loving it.

I close my eyes for a second and soak in the excitement thrumming through my veins.

She shifts from first to second and her tires squeal around the corner.

I inhale the intoxicating scent of the track and calmness flows over me.

I open my eyes, and something catches my attention off to the side of the stands by the fence. My body coils with tension.