Page 34 of Send It

Colson

I watch Lincoln from the viewing deck on the back side of the track in a different t-shirt and a dust mask to conceal my identity. She fucking kills it.

The finish line bird to Landon, priceless. I literally couldn’t have done it better myself.

I rush to the trailer, swap into my jersey and pour a bottle of water over my head. Luckily, everyone waits for the bikes to come off the track and follows them back on pitbikes, giving me the opportunity to make the switch.

When Lincoln pulls into the trailer, she quickly jumps off the bike and I help her lift it onto the stand. She jerks off the helmet and her eyes are wild with excitement.

“You looked flawless out there,” I say.

She shrugs, tiptoeing to kiss my cheek. “You told me to send it.”

She disappears into the living quarters, and Reiss pulls in just a second later. We are cutting it close honestly.

“I’ve never seen you ride like that,” Reiss says. “Honestly, I thought you’d take it easy with your leg.”

He tosses his helmet onto the top of the metal toolbox. “I didn’t do well off the gate. I’m gonna need to practice before we go to Tennessee. I wheelied for the first hundred feet. Fucked me all up.”

Lincoln walks out of the door, dressed in a black Bane Racing tank top and jean shorts. Her hair is a little wet at the scalp.

“Good race,” she says. “Y’all killed it out there.”

Reiss eyes her, “Why are you so sweaty?”

“Oh I don’t know,” she sasses. “Maybe because it’s a hundred and twenty degrees outside?”

Reiss moves his eyes from her to me, “Nice win, bro. Pretty aggressive pass there at the end. Surprised Landon hasn’t already come over to throw hands.”

I shrug, not really caring what Landon Tate does, knowing it was Lincoln that beat him. Lincoln that actually wiped the floor with all those guys out there.

Ryan comes barrelling into the trailer a few minutes later and he’s pissed. He slings the door open and then slams it shut.

“Landon Tate claimed your fucking bike!” His voice booms pointed directly at me.

“What?” Reiss asks. “You’ve got to be fucking joking.”

Ryan shakes his head, “The race results were posted and he took $17,000 cash to the tent. It’s his bike. We have to take it over to the AMA trailer right now to impound.”

Lincoln’s brows pinch together, “What the fuck? Can he do that? What do you mean he claimed it?”

“It’s part of the fucking dusty ass rulebook,” Reiss huffs. “Any racer can purchase another racer’s bike for double the MSRP.”

Lincoln is furious, “So because he lost he’s throwing a temper tantrum?”

“This is a huge loss,” Ryan paces. “We won’t have time to get another bike built before Nationals. Not like that one. And now Tate is gonna know where those internal parts came from because the manufacturer is etched on the metal.”

I shake my head, “I don’t understand why that rule is even still around.”

“It’s to discourage people from spending a shit ton of money building exotic bikes. That bike wasn’t even factory built, it wasn’t a pro bike, but now it’s his to race at Nationals.”

Reiss slams his fist down on the top of the toolbox, everything inside clamoring around. “Where the fuck did he get the money? I know they don’t have that kind of cash to blow.”

Lincoln pushes past me angrily, jerking the trailer door open. Reiss and I share a look, and then we both follow her out, knowing she’s about to get in a shit storm of trouble.

She stomps across the dirt path to where Landon stands with his team and mechanic. “Where the fuck do you get off acting like a cry baby?”

Reiss steps next to her pulling her back by her arm, causing Landon to smirk.

“Yeah Bane, get your sister under control. Or maybe Raines can. I heard he’s been handling her lately.”

Lincoln starts to charge after him, but stops dead in her tracks when Jackson steps from around the back side of the trailer.

She steps back, her body bumping against mine. I can feel the rage bubbling up in my chest.

“Well now we know where you got the money,” I grit. “Have fun, hanging out with that scumbag. Let’s see how many more girls have to go to the police before they start taking it seriously.”

Landon sighs, laughing. “He never attacked anyone, you idiot. If he fucked Lincoln it would be because she wanted it.”

Lincoln’s heartbeat quickens and it’s like I can feel it from here. She takes another step back before turning on her heel and scurrying off to the trailer.

I watch as Mira steps closer to Reiss, away from her brother and his posse.

Reiss’ eyes are murderous but I don’t stick around to see how it ends.

I turn to chase after Lincoln. Besides, I already broke his jaw.

This is his retaliation and maybe it’s just a sign that this whole plan isn’t a good idea.

I’m putting Lincoln in harm’s way.

It makes me rethink this entire giant scheme because above everything else, I don’t want to see Lincoln get hurt. Not physically and definitely not emotionally.

“Why are you crying?” I hear Lincoln’s dad ask, grabbing her forearms to console her. His eyes turned to me, “Did you do something?”

“No,” Lincoln whispers. “It’s not…”

“Can someone explain to me what the fuck is going on? Why did we just have your bike claimed and why is my daughter crying?”

Lincoln’s eyes are pleading me not to tell him and if she doesn’t tell him I won’t.

“Just some petty drama.”

He eyes me suspiciously, “Does this drama involve you breaking Jackson Fairbanks’ jaw?”

I contemplate lying to him, but know that he’ll find out the truth eventually so I settle for, “Yep.”

“Damnit Colson,” he groans. “What the hell are we gonna do when you get arrested for assault and can’t race?”

“It’s my word against his,” I say.

He growls, “You gotta stop with the hot head act. You fly off the handle for shit.

“It was different this time,” I snap, causing Lincoln’s glassed over gaze to find mine.

He watches as Lincoln and I lock eyes and I know he’s understanding that it’s Lincoln. That she’s the reason and she will always be my reason.

Leaving us alone inside the trailer, he walks out to talk to Ryan. I take Lincoln into my arms. She nestles her head into my chest and I rest my chin on top of her pretty head.

“This is my fault,” she sniffles. “No matter how hard I try to help you, I just keep making things worse.”

I pull away from her so I can look her in the eye, “I don’t care about the bike, Linc. I don’t fucking care and I’m sick of trying to please everyone. If you don’t race at Nationals, I just don’t care. I don’t want to see you like this.”

“I love you,” she sniffles. “I’m sorry. If I hadn’t tried to make you jealous with Jackson the night of the bonfire none of this shit would’ve happened.”

I raise my hand to wipe a tear from her eye but jerk away when I hear Reiss’ voice.

“Why are you touching her like that?” he says, disgusted, but before I can speak Lincoln stomps past him.

“Shut up, Reiss. He was just being nice.” She slams the trailer door on her way out, making my heart literally ache in my chest. I know she’s just playing the game, helping me cover my tracks that I’m not very good at covering.

“What’s her problem?” he asks. “She’s gotta be on her period or something. I’ve never seen Lincoln cry over a boy.”

My brows furrow in his direction, “This isn’t just crying over some boy. He touched your sister without consent, she’s upset about it. Have some fucking decency not to hassle her about it.”

“Woah,” he growls. “Let’s get one thing straight. I’m not the bad guy here. I don’t know why you feel the need to defend her honor like she’s your goddamn wife but she’s not. She’s my little sister.”

His words cut deep, but I keep my composure. “She’s my family too.”

Reiss’ features soften because he knows I’m right. We are all family and so what if I hope one day Lincoln is my wife.