Page 62 of Twisted Trails (Rogue Riders Duet #2)

“Okay.” I hold his gaze, then nod once. “Let’s go talk outside.”

The guys start to protest, but I turn before it can build. “I’ll yell if I need you.”

They’re still gearing up to argue when I pull on my shoes, step out, and shut the door behind me .

Isaac is already walking up the drive. I follow, slower, my heart thudding. I’m not sure whether this is a confrontation or a trap. His car is parked just down the slope, half-hidden under the trees, and he leans against it with a long, uneven exhale.

I cross my arms again. “What do you want to talk about? I got disqualified. I’m out. You’re still in, no consequences, business as usual . So what, you here to rub it in?”

“No.”

“Then what is this?”

He looks at me, but then his eyes flick away just as fast. “I can’t stop thinking about what you said earlier.”

“You think I’m gonna out you on social media?

Call the cops?” I laugh, but it’s bitter.

“If I’d had proof, I would’ve gone after you seven years ago.

But I didn’t. So you get to live your shiny little criminal life with your sister and your conscience, if you even have one, and not a single fucking consequence in sight. ”

He drops his gaze to his shoes, and when he looks up again, there’s still that strange glint in his eyes.

What is going on with him today?

“What you said earlier about Isla accusing Payne just to get him kicked off the circuit…” Isaac says slowly, “… do you believe that?”

I cross my arms tighter across my chest, like that might keep everything from spilling out. “Mason didn’t do it. They were a couple, and everything they did was consensual.”

My voice is steady. I know it is.

I need it to be.

“I know they were together,” he mutters. “For a while, yeah, but there can be rape in relationships too. Just because they’re together doesn’t mean her body is his to use as he pleases. ”

Wait.

He believes her.

He really, truly thinks Mason did it?

My breath shortens with a sick twist of realization in my gut. If he believes her, it means he didn’t put her up to lie about it.

Then why the fuck did she do it?

“He didn’t rape her.” I swallow hard, shaking my head. “Why don’t you ask him what happened? If you’re unsure, if any part of you thinks this might not be what you’ve been told, talk to him. ”

He shrugs, something almost helpless in the motion. “I can’t talk to that asshole. If she’s telling the truth, I might kill him. And if he is…”

“If he is, which he is …” I snap, “… then your sister ruined a man’s life. Destroyed his reputation. Maybe to help you win, or maybe just because she fucking could.”

Isaac frowns down at the ground again, so I go on with my tirade.

“You want to hear it from me? Fine. He loved her and wanted to take things slow. They never even slept together, and then, bam, just when he signs the new contract, lines up the sponsors, and has a shot at winning again, she accuses him of rape, and he loses everything overnight.”

Silence stretches between us, and we’re both breathing too fast. The trees rustle above us like they’re trying to fill the space, but all I can hear is my own pulse.

It’s getting darker by the second, the porch lights casting just enough glow to see, and the strain around his eyes deepens, but I still can’t tell which way his thoughts are tilting.

Then he says, quietly, “Okay.”

Okay?

Before I can even process that one stupid word, he adds, “And what was that about Delacroix? ”

“Are you serious right now?” I let out a dry laugh. “You poke at him on purpose. Try to push him over the edge in the hopes that he swings like I did and gets kicked out, so you can finally win an overall again. It’s not like you’ve gotten one since he started racing.”

“ What the fuck? That’s not true,” he snaps. “I just hate the dickhead because he talks shit about my sister.”

“He doesn’t.”

At least not with anyone but us.

“Oh yeah? He’s saying he fucked her, and that she’s easy. That kind of shit.”

“God, no .” My head jerks back. “He has never said that. Luc hates your sister. He wouldn’t brag about her. And trust me , he didn’t sleep with her.” I have to suppress a shudder. “Who the hell told you that?”

He doesn’t answer, but he doesn’t have to.

“Isla,” I mutter.

Fucking bitch.

“So, how did she help you get with Finn’s fiancée then?” I huff. “Let me hear that one.”

Isaac bristles. “Isla had nothing to do with that. I didn’t even tell her we were together until I was sure about the relationship.” He shakes his head. “ She left him. I don’t know how it works in your world, Hiccups , but people fall in and out of love. Shit happens.”

I never fell out of love with Finn Greer.

In my world, that doesn’t exist.

“She said she left him because she was sure he didn’t love her,” he adds quietly.

I bite my lip, remembering Finn telling me exactly that, that she filled a hollow space.

“I do love her. She’s my everything.” Isaac runs a hand through his hair. “I’m not with her out of spite. They weren’t happy, and that’s not my fault, but it’s not hers or Greer’s either. Some people don’t belong together. Some do.”

I hold his gaze for a long second.

Is Isaac Raine actually capable of being decent?

The thought hits harder than I expect, but it doesn’t rewrite history.

Doesn’t erase what he took from me.

“Fine,” I relent. “Maybe that’s true, but what about me, huh? What’s your explanation there? Gonna say you weren’t touching my bike before the race? That it was a faulty part? A misunderstanding?”

“Alaina—”

“Don’t Alaina me. I saw you crouched next to it, with your hands on it. Right before the race. You touched it.”

He looks down at his feet, then up again, his throat moving. “I don’t deny I was checking your bike before the crash.”

“ But ?”

He doesn’t answer.

“What now?” I snap. “I thought we were being real, but the second it gets too real, you get all cowardly again?” My heart slams against my ribs as my breath comes fast.

I need him to say it.

“Fine. Me first, then, balls on the table. I came back to ruin you. To race in your category and rip the overall title right out of your smug, undeserving hands.”

“Well,” he lets out a dry, bitter laugh. “That went great.”

“Fuck you,” I bite out. “That’s my truth. Now tell me yours.”

There’s a beat of silence again before he finally answers.

“How does it feel? Getting disqualified? Watching your career end?”

Motherfucker.

Who the hell does he think he is?

My lungs fill with fury, and the retort is locked and loaded, but then I catch another flicker in his eyes. He’s not smug about it, and he’s not gloating right now. He’s just honest. Curious, maybe? He actually wants to know. Just like that, all the wind goes out of me.

“Not good, but it’s not the end of the world either.” I force a breath. “Maybe I’m even a little relieved it’s over. I’ve got other things going for me now.”

His gaze shifts to the house behind me. He nods once, straightens, and pulls the car door open.

“See you around, Hiccups .”

Before I can even respond, he slides into the driver’s seat and starts the engine.

I stand there, blinking after his taillights.

What the actual fuck was that?