Athena
‘God I still can’t believe you got him to race, Sarah said next to me, her voice tight with nerves.
I watched Tristan on Derek’s bike at the starting line, rolling his shoulders with that smooth, dangerous grace that always made my breath catch. “He
wanted to. I could see it in his eyes.”
“Still, Sarah said, “Tristan never goes back on his words, I never believed he’d race again.”
“So did I, Orion said, his other arm holding her waist, but there was something almost excited in his tone now
He knew what Tristan could do. We all did.
Down at the starting line, Tristan moved with easy precision, testing the bike’s weight, checking the tire pressure with his boot.
Even from here, I could see the change in him–the way his senses were already taking everything in.
Wind direction. Track temperature. The slight shake in one of the other bikes that meant something was loose.
Derek stood beside him, probably giving last–minute advice, but Tristan wasn’t really listening. His head tilted slightly, tracking sounds the rest of us
couldn’t hear.
There were six other riders.
Seven total.
I recognized Marc on the black bike, he was decent, played fair. But then there was Vic on the red bike, and my stomach dropped. Cole on the yellow.
Jensen with the scar across his jaw. Three others I didn’t know, but they had that look. That hungry, desperate look of riders who’d do anything to win.
“That’s a lot of competition,” Sarah said quietly.
“They’re not competition,” Orion said, and I heard the pride in his voice. “They’re just in the way.”
I wanted to believe that, but something in my gut twisted.
The sickness that had been my constant companion these past few days came back, sharp and strong.
Maybe it was morning sickness, though calling it that was a joke since it hit me at all hours. Or maybe it was instinct, but I suddenly noticed how the other six riders kept glancing at Tristan, with calculation.
I know that look, I’d seen it countless times but this felt different.
“Does this feel off to anyone else?” I asked.
Derek had come back to us, wiping his hands on his jeans. “What do
you
mean?‘
‘Look at them. They keep looking at Tristan like…”
1/2
1:24 pm P
Chapter 322
“Like they planned something,” Orion finished, his face darkening. His arm tightened around Sarah’s waist.
You think they’re working together?” Sarah asked, leaning into her husband slightly.
Of course they are. They always work together, but the question was, how do they know Tristan was going to race today? Or did they just plan it.
“Tristan embarrassed a lot of people before he quit, Derek explained to Serah slowly. “Set records that still haven’t been broken. Made riders look like
amateurs.”
“He’s won against five riders ganging up on him before,” I said, remembering that legendary race months ago.
The race that had become a story everyone told in the underground circuit. Five experienced riders had worked together trying to take Tristan down, and he’d still crossed the finish line first, barely breaking a sweat. “They wouldn’t be stupid enough to try again.”
“Six is better odds than five,” Orion said grimly.
“And they’ve had months to plan,” Derek added, his jaw tight. “Months to watch footage, study his moves, figure out his patterns.”
My hand drifted to my still–flat stomach, a protective move I’d started doing over the past week since finding out about the twins.
There was nothing to feel yet, no visible sign of the lives growing inside me, but I was aware of them anyway. Of how fragile they were. Of how much
Tristan had to lose now.
“Maybe we should stop this,” I said suddenly regret asking him to race. “Tell him not to race.”
If anything happens to him, I won’t forgive myself. But then I remind myself who Tristan is.
Tristan is one of the best racer I’ve seen and he’ll be careful, I trust him.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
