Page 40 of Ride or Die (The Shores #1)

CHAPTER

FORTY

HIGH

LAYLA

Colton is sound asleep as I maneuver around the room, getting dressed to head out.

It’s been a week since his accident and he is still pretty rough, taking pain meds regularly and sleeping most of the time.

Every day he looks a little better, but there is still a while to go before he’s well enough to take care of himself.

I haven’t told him that Williams has hired me yet, and I don’t intend to until I get the first call from him. I don’t want to upset Colt. I want him focused on his healing so he can get better as soon as possible.

I slip into my ripped stonewashed jeans, the fabric soft and worn against my skin, and pair them with a crisp white top that brightens my look.

Over it all, I drape Colt’s leather jacket, feeling its familiar weight and warmth as if he’ll be right there with me, protecting me.

I leave my hair flowing down, the strands framing my face, and finish the ensemble with my well-loved chucks, their canvases faded yet comforting.

Before I go, I jot down a quick note, leaving it on his bedside table to let him know where I’m headed, just in case he wakes up, though I doubt he will.

I lean down and tenderly kiss his forehead, savoring the moment, and then quietly reach for the keys resting on the dresser.

I glance back at him one last time, ensuring he remains undisturbed, before tiptoeing across the room and gently shutting the door behind me.

The darkness in the hallway envelops me as I head to the garage, my heart racing with nervous energy as I slide into the driver's seat of the Camaro. As I turn the key in the ignition, the engine roars to life, interrupting the stillness of the night. The heat springs on, and suddenly, I’m hit with a rush of his scent, a blend of leather and something uniquely him.

I close my eyes, taking a deep breath, allowing him to fill my lungs and anchor me as I prepare to drive into the unknown.

"I'm doing this for us, babe," I say quietly, putting on my seat belt. I back the car out of the garage, heading towards the countryside for this weekend’s street race. I’ve been driving as much as possible, trying to make sure I am ready to go when I get the call from Williams for the big job.

In the meantime, he wants me to participate in the street races for money.

My heart races the closer I get to tonight’s location.

I haven’t done a street race without Colt before.

Rumor has it I went batshit crazy and drove him off the road, injuring him.

These stupid people and their rumors. As a result, I am not the favorite of tonight’s race, but I’m going to prove all these little shits wrong.

I turn onto the road where everyone is meeting and see all the car lights in the distance.

There are hundreds of people here. As I pull up, I see a crowd surrounding a car doing a burnout circle in the parking lot of an old abandoned gas station.

Everyone cheers as the tires squeal and smoke billows around them.

People are drinking and smoking, girls are dancing in truck beds, the music is thundering; these races really do become parties.

No wonder they do them in the countryside.

Everything about this would be baited out in the city.

I slowly roll up to see Axel standing on the side of the road by his car, a black Mustang GT. The shitty Corolla is only used for thefts.

The crowd parts as the Camaro pulls up to the starting line. Everyone has been waiting for this race to see if I can prove myself. To see if I'm badass enough to be Colton’s girl. Win or lose, I'm here representing my man, and this is my fucking statement that nothing keeps us down.

Colt will be pissed when he finds out what I'm doing, but once he calms down, he will be so fucking proud of me. I just know it.

I have done well, winning every race I've been in so far, so tonight I am not racing a newbie or a girl, I’m taking on one of the guys who works with Colt.

Putting the car in park, I leave it running.

When I open the door, a collective hum sounds in the crowd.

I guess some people were not expecting me to show up, probably thinking I’m still the good girl, afraid of this shit.

But little do they know how dedicated of a student I really am, and it paid off.

I walk up to Axel, who actually looks kind of cleaned up tonight, his man bun well-kept for once.

He's wearing black on black and has his usual shit-eating grin.

It's the same one he has every time he sees me at these races.

Every time I win, I surprise him, but being friends now, his grin is also one of pride.

I came from nothing to being one of the top new racers in this group. Trained by the best.

“Hey, Ax,” I say calmly. He rests against his car with his arms crossed.

“Hey, Layla. You ready for tonight?” I give him a nod and a smile.

“Good, tonight you’re racing Jeff. There’s a lot of money on the line. Sadly, most have bet against you, but if you win, you’re just bringing home that much more.”

“That's okay, Ax. I’m going to prove to these stupid fucks that there's a lot more to Layla White than they think,” I say confidently. Little does everyone know I’ve spent hours upon hours racing in the countryside, improving my time off the line and my speed in the quarter mile.

Colton has trained me well, and I have fucking mastered it.

“Attagirl.” He gives my shoulder a shake. Jeff pulls up in his bright blue Camaro and stops beside mine. He gets out and gives me an arrogant look before he makes his way over to us.

My attention is pulled over to the group of scantily clad bitches looking on, and I see Simone amongst them.

She stares at me with a look I can’t decipher, almost like disappointment.

Does she know the circumstances of what’s happening in my life right now?

She continues to stare at me stone-faced as she steps back and disappears into the crowd. What the hell was that about?

“You kids ready?” Axel asks Jeff and me, bringing my focus back to them.

“Of course,” Jeff says arrogantly, the stupid schmuck. “Are you ready, Layla? How about we up the ante. If I win, you get on your knees and suck my dick. Right where you belong.”

I scoff out a laugh. “Sorry Jeff, I wouldn’t be able to find your tiny dick to put it in my mouth to begin with.

What are you going to do with your ego when you lose to the little ‘good girl’ of The Shores, huh?

Ya know, it's funny, Williams offered me a job, did he offer you one too?” I give him a devilish smirk and the crowd ‘oooohs’ around us.

His smug look drops and is replaced with anger.

He also doesn’t realize Colt will probably kick his ass for that comment when he’s better.

No one talks down to Colton’s girl.

"I'll see you at the finish line." Axel grins and gets into his car to drive to the end of the quarter mile.

We get into our cars and I roll down my window, looking over at Jeff.

“Don’t cry when I kick your ass, pretty boy.” I antagonize him, chuckling to myself as fury crosses his face. I feel his confidence wavering by the minute, right where I want him.

We sit on the line, the engines rumbling beneath us as we await Lacey to bring out the flags.

She saunters up in her usual overly dramatic form, her bleach blonde hair bouncing around, ready for her performance of the night.

My feet are poised over the clutch and the gas, my hand holding onto the stick.

Lacey faces us, flashing a large smile as she raises her arms above her head.

My heart is going a million miles a minute, my foot just waiting in anticipation above the gas, and then she quickly bows with the flags.

I drop the car into gear and slam the pedal to the floor.

The tires screech as they spin beneath me, creating a cloud of smoke and dust for the onlookers, and I am off.

I move from gear to gear within seconds.

Jeff and I are neck and neck. I look over at him, and he looks back at me with a furrowed brow, surprised I’m keeping up.

I flash him a pretty smile before I blow him a kiss and put the car down a gear and am able to accelerate that much more, pulling ahead of him, leaving him hot on my heels.

I cross the line with Jeff seconds behind me, winning the race. Laughing out loud, I smack my hands on the wheel. Totally fucking impressed with myself for doing this all on my own. Using everything Colton has taught me. He’ll be so fucking proud, but so sad that he missed it.

I slow the car to a stop, and surprisingly, people are cheering for me despite losing their money. Clearly my abilities are starting to be seen by these people.

Axel runs up to me as I step out of the car. “Holy shit, Layla! That was awesome! I’m impressed!” Axel says happily as he gives me a hug. Jeff's car rolls up beside mine and he gets out, rushing around it to confront me.

“Open the hood! Open the hood! I want to see what fucking upgrades you did! Did you add NOS?” He tries to accuse me.

Drai comes up and pats my shoulder in congratulations as he stares down Jeff.

"Yeah, 'cause Hawthorne would let her modify his car like that?" He raises an eyebrow at him. I lean into the car and pop open the hood.

“Go ahead. I have nothing to hide. Try to find something to make yourself feel better. You just lost to a girl. Maybe it’s time you start showing women the respect they deserve.

” I give him a cocky smirk, and his face turns bright red.

He’s about to get in my face when Drai steps in front of him, placing his hand on Jeff’s chest.

“Fuck off, man. She won fair and square. Don’t be a bitch. Just walk away. Don’t fuck with Hawthorne’s girl,” he says firmly. I cross my arms and lean against the car, taunting Jeff with the prideful look on my face. Axel chuckles beside me as Jeff walks away with his pride between his legs.

"Who's on their knees now?" I yell after him. He looks back at me with pure hate as he gets back into his car and drives off. I turn to Drai, who's also watching Jeff leave.

“Thanks, Drai,”

“No problem, you did awesome out there. Hawthorne is going to be so hot for you when he finds out you’ve been racing and winning during his recovery.” He laughs.

“I don’t know. I think he’ll be pretty pissed when he finds out I’m working for Williams now. Hey, I’m sorry to hear about Krissy, by the way.”

He shrugs. “Meh, she wanted to dance and sell her body at the Velvet Room. I’m not down with that. I don't wanna share my girl with other guys, and she told me I can't tell her what to do. But I’ve had no problem finding other girls, so fuck her.” I squeeze his arm and give him a smile.

"See you soon, Layla." He smiles back at me and moves into the crowd, wrapping his arms around two girls I don't recognize.

“Layla! That was fucking awesome!” Daya runs up to me and gives me a hug. “So proud my best friend is the face of women in racing in The Shores. Such a badass you are!” She nudges me with her shoulder before going over to Axel, allowing him to wrap his arm around her waist.

“Thanks girl.” I grin ear to ear. Axel leans over and hands me an envelope.

“I’m so glad I bet on you, Layla. You won me a lot of money tonight. Here’s your winnings. Take that home to your boy,” he says. I take the envelope and it feels heavier than normal. My head tilts, and I give him a questioning look.

“Ten G’s. Williams is going to have a hard time letting you go, that’s for sure.” My eyes widen, and he laughs. “Yeah, I know. Have a good night, Layla.” Axel grins and walks away with his arm wrapped around Daya, who she turns back to wave at me.

When they’re out of sight, I open the car door, and as I’m about to step into my boyfriend’s car, I take in the atmosphere around me.

People are partying, laughing, looking under the hoods of some cars, checking out new undermount lighting on others.

The next race is about to begin, so I hop into the car and pull away to head home.

Racing isn’t just about the thrill, it’s about the lifestyle, and I understand completely why Colt lives for this high.