I let out a sigh. Is this kid fucking stupid? I can’t believe he has the balls to talk to me after the shit he pulled, let alone catch an attitude. This fucker is the last person I wanted to deal with tonight. I just needed a break. I stand up and turn to him. “What is it Jordan? You want to be me? You want the power? I don’t fucking care. Take it—you can have it.”
“You still don’t get it, do you?” Jordan snarls. “You walk around here stepping on everyone and everything in your way. When we aren’t useful anymore, you toss us away.”
“What the fuck are you talking about? You fucking betrayed me,” I growl. “You want to do this now? Then spit it the fuck out. Say what you have to say.”
“You’re not as mighty as you have everyone in this town convinced you are. All it took was one girl to break you,” he says.
“Leave Fallon out of this, you fucking pussy. Whatever your problem with me is, it’s not about her,” I say as I step forward. Threatening me is one thing, but I’ve had enough of everyone trashing Fallon to get to me. “You’re lucky I haven’t killed you for what you did to her. If I ever hear you so much as say her name again, I’ll beat your ass so bad you won’t—"
“What? I won’t ever talk again?” Jordan asks. He scoffs at my threat. “You’re no leader. What kind of leader is too afraid to get on his own track? Look at you—you’re pathetic. Drunk, sitting here letting some girl tear you apart all while looking down on his kingdom that someone else has been ruling. You’re nothing.”
I’m done. This prick has no idea who he’s messing with.
“Boy, I suggest that you carry your ass somewhere else,” Shady says as she steps up beside me. “We don’t tolerate trouble around here.”
Jordan tips his head back and laughs. “Oh, now your other woman is coming to your rescue? Why don’t we settle this for good—on the track where it all started. Or are you too scared?”
“I said get out of here,” Shady says.
“It’s fine, Shady. If he wants a race, he can have one,” I say coolly as I watch Jordan. When did he become so angry? This is not the Jordan I was friends with. He’s changed, become jaded. But fuck it. He wants to step to me? He can bring it the fuck on. “You want to challenge me Jordan? Fine. But you need to be prepared for what happens when you fucking lose.”
“Jesse, your dad will have my hide if he finds out I let you on the track drunk,” Shady whispers to the side.
“My dad doesn’t control me. Neither do you. Clear the track, Shady,” I say. My morose drunkenness is quickly being burned away by the anger and adrenaline starting to pump through my veins.
Shady steps up close and looks me directly in the eye. “Jesse, this is what he wants. It’s a power play. He wants to be you. He knows you’ve been drinking, and he thinks this is his shot to rise up,” Shady whispers again.
“And? What’s your point?” I ask.
“My point is be smart. You’re not thinking straight,” she growls.
“Are we doing this or what?” Jordan calls out boldly, “Or is your girl here gonna show the track how much of a pussy you really are?”
He has no idea he’s poked the beast. But maybe this is just what I need—an outlet for all the anger and frustration and need for destruction. I can feel the red haze of rage filtering my vision when I glare at Jordan as I say, “Clear the track, Shady.”
I hear her sigh, but then she cups her hands to her mouth and yells out, “All right, you heard him! Clear the track.”
“You better know what you’re doing, boy. This is my job on the line,” Shady says as she follows me to my car.
I yank off my jacket and throw it in the passenger seat. “Your job isn’t going anywhere.”
I grab the bottle of scotch and drain the last bit of it. Fuck it. I figure if I’m going to do this, I’ll do it right. Shady isn’t wrong—Jordan is playing on what he thinks is my weakness. I’m not naïve enough to believe otherwise. But he doesn’t realize that he’s giving me a minute to fly, to breathe. I’ve failed at everything in my life lately— my family, my girl, my throne. The pain has me on edge, ready to explode.
“Well if you’re going to do this, at least fucking win. Don’t let that little punk think he’s hot shit,” she says before she walks away to do her job.
I get behind the wheel of my car and focus my eyes. I won’t lie, I feel the alcohol in my veins. Maybe that is what’s giving me the power to be reckless. Fallon would kill me if she knew how I was acting. But she’s not here right now, so fuck it.
I grip the steering wheel and feel the pebbled leather under my palms. I turn the key and hear the engine’s smooth rumble. It’s been a minute since I’ve been on this track.
I put the car in drive and slowly lead up to the starting line. As usual, we’re greeted with a half-naked adrenaline-junky chick standing at the line up with a flag in her hand.
Jordan pulls up next to me in his modified Mustang. Guess hanging out with Crank all day has its benefits. But he has nothing on me.
I rev the engine a bit to feel it purr again. I look straight ahead; it’s time I get my head in the game. I focus on the dirt—every bit of it. The adrenaline pumping through me helps my mind focus. I’m ready.
The girl looks to each of us, waiting for our confirmation that we’re ready to go. We nod, and
