Chapter 21
Angelina’s POV
62%
A group of about fifteen people was walking toward us. In the center was man I immediately clocked as the race director–short, maybe 56“,
with a beer gut straining against a polo shirt bearing the Redstone Pack loco. Bald head, khaki pants, the self–important swagger of someone
who enjoyed having authority.
But it wasn’t him who caught my attention.
It was the man beside him.
Tyler Apex Cross stood 62, all muscle and swagger. His racing suit was nzipped to mid–chest, showing off a tight undershirt. Tanned skin, sharp features, and that distinctive tilt of his chin.
He was chewing gum, his jaw working in a slow, deliberate rhythm.
The group stopped a few feet away from us.
“Where’s Leo? Big Marc asked, his voice carrying the gruff edge of someone who didn’t like complications. “We need to do the pre–race
briefing.
Zion stepped forward. “Leo had an accident during practice. He’s in the hospital.”
Murmurs rippled through the group.
“This is his sister, Aria,” Zion continued, gesturing to me. “She’ll be racing his place tonight.”
Silence.
Dead. Fucking. Silence.
Tyler’s gum bubble popped.
Then he laughed.
It started as a chuckle, then grew into full–throated laughter. His crew joined in, the sound echoing across the pit area.
“You’re kidding me, right? Tyler looked at Big Marc, then back at me, like he was waiting for the punchline. You want ME to race against
HER?
I said nothing, just met his gaze with level calm.
“What is this, some kind of joke? Tyler took a step closer, looking me up and down like I was something he’d found stuck to his shoe. “She
even got a license? ‘Cause I’m not racing against some wannabe who’ll crash in the first turn.
More laughter from his crew. Someone whistled.
Tyler walked right up to me, using his height advantage to loom. “Look, sweetheart, I don’t know what your brother told you, but this ain’t go
karts. Badlands Circuit eats rookies for breakfast. MALE rookies with actual experience.”
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Chapter 21 *
I could feel the weight of everyone’s stares. They were all waiting to see if d back down like they expected.
A 62% M
Tell you what, little girl. Tyler said, his voice dripping with condescension. “Why don’t you run along back to your pack? Go home before you embarrass yourself. And your brother.”
He leaned in slightly, his breath smelling of mint gum and arrogance.
“Because when I’m done with you on that track, you won’t even want to look at a steering wheel again.”
The crew nodded along. Big Marc looked uncomfortable but said nothing.
I let the silence stretch, just long enough for everyone to think maybe Tyler had won this little standoff.
Then I smiled.
Not a friendly smile. Not a nervous smile.
The kind of smile that, in my previous life, made hardened criminals reconsider their choices.
“Funny,” I said, my voice quiet but cutting through the noise like a blade. was about to say the same thing to you.”
I let that hang in the air for a beat.
“Walk away now, Tyler. Because when I’m done with you tonight…”
My smile widened, cold and sharp.
…you’ll be the one too embarrassed to show your face in this circuit again
The effect was immediate.
Tyler’s jaw stopped moving. His crew went silent. Big Marc’s eyes widened. Even the race officials behind them looked stunned.
The only person who didn’t seem shocked was Zion–but that was probably because he’d already seen me drive and was having flashbacks.
Tyler’s face slowly turned red. His neck veins bulged. For a split second, h eyes flashed gold–the wolf rising to the surface.
His lead mechanic, a massive guy stepped forward. “Do you have ANY idea who you’re talking to? Tyler’s won championships before you even got your driver’s license!”
“This is fucking ridiculous, another crew member added. ‘She’s gonna get filled out there. And WE’RE gonna be the ones scraping her off the canyon wall!”
A young Redstone Pack member chimed in: “Meadow Pack must be desperte, sending a little girl to race. Pathetic. Just pathetic.”
Tyler was breathing hard now, trying to control himself. His finger jabbed toward me, trembling with rage,
You just made the biggest mistake of your life,” he said, his voice low and deadly. I’m gonna bury you out there tonight. And when I’m done, you ll NEVER race again. Not in Wildpath, not ANYWHERE.”
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Chapter 21*
He stepped even closer, invading my space.
Nobody talks to me like that. NOBODY.”
I could practically see the wheels turning in his head–already planning by he’d accidentally run me off the track, maybe even into the
canyon wall.
I just kept smiling that cold smile.
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