Page 76 of Racing Dirty Trilogy Box Set

“Don’t make me wait, Nolan,” she growls while nibbling the outer edge of my ear.

“Fuck,” I groan against Ashley’s lips.

Staring into Ashley’s eyes, I continue my punishing pace. A moan rips from her throat and her nails dig into my back, bringing pain with pleasure while she’s lost in her own orgasm. Fire burns down my spine as I find my release.

“Holy shit,” Ashley pants. “Talk about hot sex. I figured it would take me a while after the last three times.”

I arch an eyebrow at her, “Are you doubting my skills in the bedroom?” She giggles against my lips and gives me a slow lingering kiss. I break apart from her lips, “We have work to do.”

“Hmm… I don’t think I can right now, go ahead without me.” She stretches her arms above the bed and arches her body.

“No way, woman. Get your fine ass up and feed me.” I answer, pulling her up from the bed. She throws a smirk in my direction and saunters off to the bathroom.

I grab my boxers and jeans and put them back on along with a black t-shirt, hoodie, and baseball hat.

Sitting on the bed, I put on my socks and boots.

Emotions clog my throat, everything is catching up to me.

My best friend kidnapped and being tortured, the look of fear on Izzy’s face in the video, Switch threatening my family.

Wrath taunting me in my sleep, which Ashley has no idea about, the little boy from the street.

It’s all overwhelming me and tears burn the back of my eyes.

I fight them back and clear my throat. Taking a deep breath, I keep everything tucked deep down and open the bedroom door.

Redline is standing at the window, his tanned skin and lip ring glowing against the skyline peeking through the blinds.

Ashton’s massive body is sitting on a bar stool at the island between the kitchen and living room.

He’s texting someone on his phone. Marks and Christian are missing.

“Where’s Christian?” I ask Ashton.

He looks up from his phone with a scowl on his face. “He took Ramirez and Marks to go see Mia.” There’s an edge to his tone.

“What’s up?” I ask, taking a seat on the other bar stool.

Ashton grunts and then replies, “Christian, he thinks he can do this, be this involved, and not be affected by the outcome. He doesn’t know what he’s signing up for. I’d rather have him away from here and stay on the good side of things, not be involved at all.”

“Then let’s keep him in the dark about most of this and get Redline trained to fight.

We can adjust our plans. Instead of Christian being in The Circle with him, you do it.

Switch shouldn’t know what you look like.

We’ll keep him on surveillance with Ashley.

She’ll keep him in line from doing anything stupid.

” Ashley comes out of the bedroom and walks over to me.

She rests her palm on the massive scar under my t-shirt, caressing the marking gently with her fingertips.

“That’s a clever idea. With Christian being a cop, he can’t toe the line. If he does what we have to do, he’ll lose his job.” Ashton agrees. My stomach growls again and Ashley laughs.

“Come on big boy, let’s get you fed.” She walks over to Redline who’s still standing at the window, their voices are hushed and he nods his head.

They walk towards the door and I narrow my eyes at him.

Ashley might trust him, but I don’t know if I do yet.

He really fucked up in L.A. She says they’re back on track to where they should be, but I find it hard to believe he doesn’t think he’s in love with her.

Something or someone made him think that and it’s my job to figure out who and why.

“Are you coming or what?” Ashley asks raising an eyebrow. I saunter over to her and wrap my arm around her shoulder. She shudders from my touch as my nose skims the outer edge of her ear.

“I already did several times and so did you,” I wiggle my eyebrows.

“You’re incorrigible,” she responds and swats my stomach, making me lose my breath.

“OK, OK, you don’t need to get violent.” I tease. Ashton pushes past us with a grunt, opens the door, and leaves the apartment first, scanning the hallways left and right before we appear.

Once we’re down onto the dark street, all playfulness escapes, and seriousness settles in.

I scan each sidewalk, car, and person passing by us.

My grip around Ashley’s shoulder tightens and I pull her closer to me.

All these people surrounding us are making me paranoid.

I can sense the darkness trying to take over and I channel my strength to hold it off.

Instead of heading towards the brownstone looming to the right of us, we walk across the street in the opposite direction.

My stomach drops when thoughts of what Izzy and Xavier are going through overwhelms me again.

“They’re going to be OK Nolan, I just know it,” Ashley reassures me. “Where do you want to eat?”

“I know this great mom and pop pizza shop down towards Times Square. We need to jump on the trains to get there.” I answer, grateful for the distraction.

Ashley tightens her arm around my waist, “Tell me something about living here. The best part of the City.”

We push through the throngs of people staying close to each other.

Ashton is in the front, clearing a path for us while Redline is behind us.

We still haven’t heard from Christian, Marks, or Ramirez yet, but if anything were wrong, they’d let us know.

It’s better for Christian this way. Ashton’s right, he’s not cut out for this.

He’s the strait-laced cop who toes the line when needed, but this won’t be towing the line, this will cross it into the black abyss.

I don’t know if I’ll come out unmarked and I know damn well he won’t either.

“The best part about living here is the distinct cultures,” I answer Ashley.

“Anywhere you go, you can find several types of people. It was my favorite thing to do when I needed to escape the reality of my world. I’d sit for hours in Times Square and just watch.

I’d create different scenarios in my head on what they’re thinking and doing. ”

We walk down the dark entrance to the subway station. I hold on to her even tighter when we come out of the dimly light tunnel onto the platform. Learning your way around these trains takes a lot of time, but I’ve done this so many times, I can manage it in my sleep.

We’re standing on the platform and a sharp breeze blows through the tunnels.

There’s a train coming in and the hair on the back of my neck stands on end.

There’s someone following us. I whip my head around, looking for the threat.

I know it’s there. Scanning each person waiting alongside us, no one appears to be out of place.

Most of them have their earbuds in and are scrolling through their phones.

Others are clutching their bags tight to their bodies, hanging on for life.

They know what happens at night, the dangers lurking around the corner.

“Nolan, what’s wrong?” Ashley asks. Her body is tense under my arm and she’s scanning the area too. Ashton has his hand resting on his side piece tucked under his shirt. He feels it too. The sense of something dangerous heading our way.

“I’m not sure,” I answer. I know someone is here, watching and waiting, but where the fuck are they?

It’s really starting to piss me off. Redline is standing to the left of us on the dirty platform and Ashton is to the right.

They’re both scanning the surrounding area, getting the same feeling I am.

A tingling sensation floats over the back of my neck, creating chills to wrack my body, and tiny icicles drift down my spine. I swat at the back of my neck and shake my head. Turning around slowly, something catches my eye in the dark shadows behind us.

A light giggle whispers in my ear and I whip my head around again. No one is around us, no one is here making those noises.

“What the actual fuck?” I whisper. The train’s headlight is blinding me as it turns the bend and comes barreling into the station.

Everything happens in slow motion but I’m powerless to stop it.

Tiny hands shove me hard from behind. Ashley’s grip around my waist loosens and I’m plummeting head first towards the tracks with thousands of volts of electricity thrumming through it.

I can’t stop myself from my head dive and I close my eyes, reflecting on everything in my past. Good, bad, and ugly.

The last image running through my head is Ashley’s beautiful face, honey eyes, and blonde hair.

I wish I had more time, more everything with her.

Now it’s too late.