Chapter 27

Kayla. "You made it," Dean beams as soon as I pull over. Has he been waiting for me? Of course, it's Dean we are talking about. The area is jammed, countless bikes litter the place, and the sounds of roaring engines are prominent in the air. There are a few riders lined up on the sidelines waiting for their turn, and each is standing beside their supposed opponents. I curiously look beside me at the man I'm racing and struggle to remember where I've seen him before. "Who is he?" I ask Dean, nudging my head to the guy. His physique is familiar. I have surely seen him somewhere, but where?. I don't like being caught off guard, especially when I am alone. I dismissed Marcello because I didn't want to blow my cover. I don't want Dean asking questions, and having a man in black following me around will surely raise eyebrows. "That is your anonymous contestant for today, but don't worry, my bet is on you," he whispers, grinning, but my eyes remain on the guy whose helmet is covering every inch of his face. His clothes are thick and all black. The way he's covered up, no one, or I, can't recognise him. "What is his name?" I bring my gaze back to Dean. "He wouldn't say. You are the real deal here, Kay. Don't let his dark aura intimidate you," he assures, squeezing my shoulder lightly. It's not the race I'm worried about. But I nod anyway not to seem suspicious. The whistle blows signalling we are next and we both bring our bikes forward. "Easy up, Kay, nothing you can't handle," Dean says but my eyes are solely on the other man; the racing mood I had is now replaced by the will to live. "Crush him, Kay," Dean shouts behind me, and I roll my eyes. I admire how free everyone here is; their only worry is winning a race, while I hold big baggage on my shoulders, a girl my age shouldn't even know exists. I have to stop using him as my informant because I don't know what I will do if he's caught by the wrong people. Right now, it's not just my enemies after me; Carl's too. Those flowers started appearing the day I knew him; that can't be a coincidence. I don't want dean to be caught up in my shit. He's not short on money, so it wouldn't be hard for him to let some part-time job go. The final whistle blows, and as I expected, the guy doesn't move, which proves my suspicions. I don't move either, and we stare at each other behind the hideous helmets. His helmet is a black, ugly skull while mine is a red one. "Fucking just go" someone else shouts and the crowd boos. I smirk reviving my engine, no way in hell I'm going down. The guy imitates me and I bolt, stepping on it full speed to the lonely road and out of sight. I hear him right on my tail and I grimace. When I turn the corner of the barren road, I swerve my bike blocking his way, and he halts just a second away from crushing into me. I'm not going down alone bitch. I grab my gun from my jacket and point it at him, and he doesn't look fazed or pull out his. I'm sure he has one. "Who the hell are you?" I demand through clenched teeth, and he slowly takes out his helmet. Damn. "Really?" I am not surprised to see him, but I hate it when people creep on me like this. I tuck away my gun and take out my helmet too, my long hair falling freely on my back, and I tuck it away from my face as his eyes follow each move. "Why are you following me?" I ask in a bored, tired tone. He smirks, just like his brother always does. "We never got to talk, princess, and I'm not the one to give up just like that." "You like upsetting Carl, do you?'' he smirks mischievously, and that says it all. Maybe the bullet didn't teach him anything. Sad. " When you want to talk to someone, you don't creep them out, Rico, you ask permission," I scold him, putting my helmet back on. "I only need ten minutes, not much more" he pleads and I give him a middle finger before speeding away. He's beside me in a minute, and I must say he's good. Too bad I'm not just good, I'm the best. With a last glance in his way, I step on it and I can hear the cheers a mile away, for me. One of them surpassing them all, Dean's. If my life was normal, he would be my boyfriend right now. I wish it was. "That's my girl" he beams almost hugging me but remembers not to. Rico doesn't move, no, he pulls beside me and watches our interactions keenly. Creep. "I knew it, I'm bringing your reward" he starts walking to the commentators but I stop him. "You can get it later. I wanted to talk to you about something" I whisper glancing at Rico who's intently watching us. "Come on" I get off my bike and lead Dean somewhere else for privacy. "What is it," he asks curiously stopping at a safe place. "The investigating shit, I want you to stop, okay?" I say, and he furrows his brows in confusion. "Why, is it about yesterday?" "No, Dean, these men are dangerous, and I don't want you to get hurt," I mumble, making sure he sees the sincerity in my eyes. He sighs, running a hand through his hair," It's okay, I will stop," he says, but I am not convinced "I'm serious, Dean, promise me," I insist, and he looks away. I knew it. "Dean," I grab his shoulders to get his attention. He looks at my hands on his shoulders and back at me. "Okay, I promise," he mumbles, looking intently into my eyes. I hate it when he looks at me like that, and that's my cue to leave. "Do you have someone else doing it for you?" "No, but I just want you out of it." I don't even know what I was thinking before making him do it; that was so selfish of me. I was so immersed in seeking revenge that I forgot I was sending a boy who hadn't even held a gun before to the dangerous men. Fuck. "Look," I hold his hands in mine, and he looks at me in disbelief. I know, but anything to have him understand is worth doing." I'm learning to let everything go, and the police are starting to do their job, so leave it to them, yeah?" I watch as his eyes swirl with different emotions before nodding. Thank God. "Okay," he whispers, his gaze going back to our hands again. I clear my throat, letting his hands go, and point to my bike, where Rico is still waiting. "I should go." "We should do this more often, please come over again," he practically begs with his eyes, and I hate to tell him no. Am I going soft? no. I'm becoming better. "Sure," I say, and his face brightens up. Dean kisses my temple, and I finally walk to my bike. "Race me," Rico grumbles immediately I reach him, and I wonder why he's grumpy all of a sudden. Let's just get this talk over with, I tell myself, putting the helmet back on. I closely follow behind him, allowing him to take the lead, and he makes a stop on the solitary road covered with trees, 10 minutes away from the track. A perfect spot to murder someone. "What now?" I sit still waiting for that talk. He takes off his helmet and jacket, and I watch how his thick, muscled arms flex from his movements. Trailing my eyes up his body, something catches my attention, making me pull out my dagger instantly. A tattoo of a fucking black thorny rose on his neck.