Page 13 of Twisted Trails (Rogue Riders Duet #2)

Silence falls like a damn avalanche. In my peripheral vision, I see Alaina shift closer to Luc, almost like she’s bracing for impact, but I keep looking at Dane.

He rises slowly, and every inch of him radiates disbelief. “What the fuck did you just say?”

No turning back now, Finn.

“I love her.” The words leave my mouth as I turn to find her caramel eyes. Alaina’s lips part on a gasp, and one hand lifts to her mouth, fingers trembling. Then I look back at Dane. “And I’m not sorry for it.”

My voice doesn’t shake, even if everything inside me is burning.

A vein throbs at Dane’s forehead, the one that always used to do that when he was on the phone with his father. Ah, fuck.

“She kissed me the night you asked me to follow her, and I kissed her back. It changed my life, Dane. I fell for her that night.”

“Mon Dieu,” élise mutters somewhere behind me.

Dane’s jaw clenches. “She’s the girl you were talking about? ”

“Yeah,” I admit, having no excuses left in me.

He takes a step toward me, fury radiating off him, but I lift my hand.

“I’m not done yet.”

“Jesus,” Fisher mutters under his breath, but Piper’s sharp “Shut up” slices through the tension.

“I kissed her again at Luc’s birthday. That night we all went out.”

Dane’s face twists. “She’s my little sister! You’re ten years older, what the hell were you thinking?”

“It gets worse.”

“Finn…” Alaina’s voice is cautious, like she’s only just realized how far I’m willing to go, but I’m past the point of no return.

If I’m going down, I’m going down with all the truth.

“I took her virginity in the gondola before the race. I’m the reason she crashed, because she thinks I told her it was a mista?—”

Dane doesn’t even let me finish.

His fist connects with my face so fast it’s just light, then darkness. My nose shatters with a crack, and pain explodes behind my eyes as the world spins sideways. I hit the floor hard, ass first, a wet gush spilling from my nose.

Yep, I deserve this. Every fucking bit of it.

“Dane! Stop!” Alaina’s voice tears through the static in my head, but I can’t see her, only his fist pulling back again.

He’s on me in a flash, fury in motion, ready to throw another punch, but then Delacroix drags him off me, stepping between us.

“Please, Dane! Please don’t!” Alaina is clinging to Dane’s arm, sobbing. I’ve never heard her cry like this, never seen her plead.

Delacroix extends a hand to me, and I take it with the one not clamped over my nose. He hauls me upright and only lets go when I stop swaying on my feet.

Piper is now holding onto Dane’s other arm, holding him back with Alaina, while Fisher slots himself beside Delacroix, who gives me a once-over and grimaces. “You’re bleeding like hell, Papi .”

Yeah, I can feel it. Or rather, the pain, because agony is coiling behind my face.

No bike crash ever hurt this badly, and I’m not new to pain.

“ Oh cherié.” élise appears in front of me, cradling my face with cool hands. “It’s broken. You need to go to the hospital.”

I shake her off as gently as I can, making my brain hurt too. My hand wipes at the blood, but it only smears. I probably look like the wreck I am.

Dane is still roaring behind them. “Get him the fuck out of here or I swear?—”

I’ve never seen him like this, not even with Raine when we were teens.

But this is different.

This is betrayal with a name. My name.

I glance at Alaina, who’s still crying, tears streaming down her pretty face. She looks like her heart is in pieces, and all of it traces back to me.

I did that to her.

To them.

To the Crews siblings—my family. I can see the hurt and betrayal in both their eyes.

But I swear, I’m going to fix this.

“I’m sorry,” is all I manage to mutter, though, eyes still on Alaina as Dane tries to breathe through his rage.

She shakes her head at me when I turn, leaving blood on the floor, broken trust in the air, and the only people who ever made me feel like I belonged in my wake as I almost run out of the house.

I stumble down the driveway, the cold air biting at the blood, which is still slick across my face. My hands shake, my ribs ache, and my head is pounding from more than just the punch.

The silence out here feels like judgment, and every crunch of gravel under my shoes sounds too loud.

I deserved that hit and probably a hell of a lot more, but I still can’t breathe right from watching her cry for me .

Reaching the end of the driveway, I drag my hand down my face and flinch when my fingers come away slick with fresh blood.

I should call a cab to the hospital. Get checked out. Maybe let them stitch up what Dane cracked open.

But first, this.

Pulling out my phone, I blink through the ache in my head as I scroll through contacts. It takes longer than it should to find the name I need.

Why not ruin my life completely today?

Kevin’s name stares back at me, and for a moment, my thumb hovers.

Then I hit call.

FaceTime rings twice before his face appears, and his brows go up instantly. “Whoa. What happened to you?” I open my mouth, but he cuts me off. “Wait, wait. I’ll grab Rach.”

A few seconds later, he’s back, and Rachel leans into view beside him, all bright smiles until she really looks, and her expression crumples.

“Oh my God. Finn, what the hell?”

I try to smile, but it tugs wrong and sends a lightning bolt of pain through my face. “Yeah. Looks about as bad as it feels. ”

“Did you crash?” she asks, voice gone small.

“No,” I admit. “These are the consequences of my own actions. That’s a life lesson I’m going to pass on to you two.”

Kevin mutters something under his breath, but Rachel is already frowning. “You look like someone took a tire iron to your face. You need stitches or something?”

“Probably,” I say, shifting the phone a little. “But I needed to call you first.”

Rachel tilts her head. “Wait… before a hospital?”

“Yeah.” I exhale. “Because it’s fucking time I tell you this. The funding didn’t come through.”

There’s a beat of silence.

Kevin’s mouth tightens. “Shit.”

“And telling us that couldn’t wait until you weren’t actively bleeding anymore?” Rachel asks, but she looks disappointed as well.

“Listen,” I say, gripping the phone tighter.

“I fucked up. I thought I could make it happen this year, and I couldn’t.

I’m sorry it won’t happen next season, but I swear to you both, I’m not giving up.

I’ll get you to the circuit the year after.

If I have to pitch you to another team myself, I will. ”

Rachel’s bottom lip wobbles. “I don’t want just any team. I want ours . Yours.”

“I know, Rach.” My throat closes a little. “Me, too, but we’ll make it happen for you guys, even if it takes another year. I can’t say how yet, or when, but I’ll figure it out. I promise.”

I mean it with my whole chest. No matter how, I will get those two on the circuit.

“So, business as usual.” Kevin nods. “We keep practicing until we’re there.”

That’s it. That’s all he says, no cussing me out.

I don’t deserve them.

But I don’t deserve a lot of things right now .

My nose burns—probably more from tears than the punch this time—and I choke a little on the emotion rising in my throat. “I’m so sorry I let you down.”

Rachel leans closer, her voice thick. “It’s not over, right? It’s just a rock garden. You’re one of the best at those.”

God. These kids.

I swallow hard. “You’re right.”

“Go get that face checked,” Rachel orders. “We’ll be here.”

“And keep us posted, yeah?” Kevin adds. “We’ll watch your next race.”

I shake my head. “There won’t be a next. I’m gonna end my career.”

They both freeze.

“What?” Rachel says.

“You’re joking, right?” Kevin echoes.

I end the call without another word, because I can’t stand the sound of their heartbreak on top of my own.