Chapter 10

I Need - Lithe

To my surprise, it's been quiet around the pits since my brother and Bexley left. I don't expect it to stay that way. Guys like Christian hate not getting their way. They don't take well to being put in their place, and like the narcissist that I know he is, I know it's only a matter of time until he's bored without the drama and has to do something to stir shit up.

Lena, Reign, and Draygon are all cooking up breakfast for the team. Reign, Thorne, and Wolfe all crashed here last night, not that any of us really slept. One thing I love about track weekends is that we all always eat together. Wolfe said something last night that's stuck with me. He said we're a family, and I guess we really are, though I never viewed it that way. There isn't a member on this team I wouldn't go to bat for, and I know it's the same for them.

And that's how a family should be.

It doesn't matter that we all come from different walks of life. All that matters is that when push comes to shove, there is no one we're more loyal to.

We'll die for each other, and on days like today, I'm thankful for that loyalty.

I lean back in my chair and pop my shades on over my eyes. The sun is bright and blinding this morning, and there isn't a cloud to be seen in the blue sky. Which is good. The races kick off in just a few hours, and this weather is the best weather to race in.

"Talon, grab your plate," Lena shouts from the kitchen inside the trailer. "Your bacon is done," she adds.

"Is it charcoal?" Wolfe shouts from his chair on the other side of the tent. "Cause this fucker only eats it if it literally crumbles when you touch that shit," he laughs, running his hand through his shaggy dirty blonde hair. Wolfe is the newest Demons member. He moved here from Alberta when Andre signed him and it didn't take long for him to fit in with the team. Raised on a big ranch up there, he is a lover of anything that involves being out in the wild with nature. So naturally, moving to Tampa was a huge culture shock to him at first, but he's gotten used to it.

Lowering my eyes at him, my shades slide down my nose. "Just cause you like your meat raw doesn't mean I have to," I spit jokingly before pushing myself up from my chair. It's no secret Wolfe likes to dabble with both women and men. It's why Thorne calls him greedy.

"I'd be careful riding bareback so often, that causes causes dick rot," Thorne snickers.

Wolfe laughs. "Aw, you jealous?"

"In your fucking dreams, bruv," Thorne laughs.

Wolfe puckers his lips toward Thorne. "Exactly,"

"Oh so that's why you've been so tired out on the track," I add with a cocky grin.

"Ya' know what, go fuck yourselves," Thorne replies as he playfully whips a dishtowel at Wolfe.

I make my way to the door still laughing when Andre, our Coach, pulls up on his small pit bike. He is dressed in the usual team colors. Wearing a black tee with the team logo on the front and the roster list complete with team numbers down the back like an old school rock band tour shirt. His buzz-cut hair cut glints in the sun as he rolls his bike up to the tent to park, and shuts off the engine. He is no doubt here to tell us the lineup plans based on the team's qualifier times. Draygon and Reign head out of the trailer upon his arrival, and we all head over to him.

"Demons," he nods, greeting us.

"What's up, Coach," Reign replies, tipping his chin up at Andre. "Did you come to tell the guys how bad I beat their asses out there yesterday?" he adds cockily. Wolfe elbows him, causing Reign to wrap his arm around his neck, putting him in a playful headlock.

"Ha, funny guy you are this morning, Matthews." Andre laughs.

Thorne snickers. "Ah, shit. You get the last name treatment, bruv."

"Where's your brother?" Andre asks, turning his attention on me as the guys continue to fuck around.

"He wasn't feeling so hot, so I sent him into the city to get checked out."

He crosses his arms in front of himself and rests them on the front of his bike. "Why? We have medical here. They could've checked him out," he asks, clearly not buying into my bullshit.

"Yeah, but his fever was pretty high last night, and it was after medical closed. I figured it was best to get him checked out and not wait until morning."

"Right. Okay, well, I guess that means he's not racing today then?" he asks. I shake my head in agreement. "Is your dad here yet?" Dad never misses a race. So I have no doubt he'll be here today as usual. But the last few years he's been absent from the pits. He's busy with work and his new girlfriend. Which honestly, Sayshen and I prefer. The last thing we need is to spend days with him pressuring us before a race. "Does he know Sayshen is missing the race yet?" he questions again.

Fuck.

"Nah, I didn't think it was that big of a deal. He'll be here today as usual and he'll find out then. It's nothing to worry about. I mean, we have the guys to cover Sayshen, and it's just one race," I lie. Sure, any of the guys can step in and race my little brother's laps, but even I don't believe this will be the only race he misses because of Bexley.

"Right, well, I'll call him when I get back to the office and fill him in. Maybe he should head over and check on him," Andre adds.Fuck, that's the last thing we want.

"Ha. It's unlikely he'd miss the race to go and check on Sayshen," Reign cuts in. "We all know Mr. Shaw isn't missing the races to drive into Tampa. Besides, Baby Shaw is a grown-ass man. I'd hope he can handle a stomach bug on his own."

Our coach eyes him questionably but nods. "You know, you're right," He laughs. "Not that I blame Mr. Shaw. I hate missing the races, too."

The guys and I all exchange looks, hoping we've convinced him not to call my dad. Dad wouldn't care about Sayshen missing the race for being sick. Don't get me wrong, he pushes us hard and always has, but he'll never push us when he knows physically we can't do it. He's not that much of a hard ass, at least when it comes to Sayshen. However, missing the race to take another racer's girlfriend back to our house…Dad will definitely have something to say about that.

"Right, well, without Baby Shaw, it looks like─" He opens up the time sheets on his cellphone. "Talon, Wolfe, and Reign are headed out for today. So make sure your bikes are prepped. It's a hot one out there today, so stay hydrated and kick some fucking ass. Reign, I hope this year you have learned to tone down that cockiness on the track, yeah? I don't want a repeat of last year."

"You got it, Coach," Reign nods with a smirk.

"Don't fuck this up. I want to see Demons all over that podium this year," Andre adds before starting up his pit bike. He takes off back down the pits to where the main office building overlooks the track.

"Just one race," Reign laughs as he plops back down in one of the chairs under the tent. Draygon heads back inside to help Lena with the food.

"What's so funny, Matthews?" I mock as I sit down next to him.

"What's funny is after all that shit talking, you brought Bex right to your brother and then sent them off into the sunset, and you think, he's just going to what? Spend the weekend with her and then drop her and come back to racing?" Reign explains.

I understand why my intervening with Christian and Bexley is confusing to the team. Fuck, it's confusing to me too. But regardless of how concerned I am for my brother and the team, I couldn't just walk away from what I saw happening to Bexley. I couldn't just leave her.

"I mean, I'm not saying he won't be back. Cause I know, despite what you think, he does take the team and racing seriously. But you'll never get him to leave Bex now. He'll never let another guy touch her, let alone Christian."

"Fuck that guy," Thorne spits as he shoves a spoonful of eggs into his mouth.

"Talon!" Lena shouts through the trailer's window. "Your bacon is officially cold charcoal now," she adds.

The guys burst out laughing as I push myself from the chair and head to the trailer. Draygon pops the screen door open and hands me my plate. Peeking my head inside, I nod at Lena, "Thanks, Lena, sorry."

"All good, I get it," she adds with a smile.

The guys talk amongst themselves as I take my food back to my chair and sit down. I don't want to admit it, but I know Reign is right. I knew what I was doing, and yet I still handed my little brother the only girl he ever truly wanted, right to him. The image of her pinned against that trailer haunted me all night. I barely slept because every time I closed my eyes, all I saw was her face.

Those gorgeous hazel eyes she hides behind thick dark lashes. So full of sadness, defeat and fear.

The freckles that dance across her nose. I could see her pouty and bruised lips as they trembled. I kept trying to picture her smile and what it would feel like to be the one to put it on her face after so much pain and heartbreak.

Part of me wishes I had been the one to take her away from here. Not that I'll ever admit that to Sayshen or the guys. But I haven't been able to stop myself from wondering how she's doing and how she's feeling being away from Christian. Is she afraid? Does she still jump at every sound and look over her shoulder, fearing that he'll be behind her? Because he never will.

I'll never let that prick near her again.

Something in me feels for her. I care about her more than I probably should, especially considering what she means to my brother.

But I can't help how I feel.

All I can do is do my best to try to hide it from everyone.