Not Austin though, he always keeps his cool, no matter who does what to him on the track, he will shake your hand after words and give you words of encouragement. Something I never had growing up. I look up to Austin like a father figure. If Xavier didn’t introduce us when I was younger, I wouldn’t be as successful as I am today. I shape my judgement about people from what Austin taught me.
I walk behind a black trailer of a driver who hasn’t been here in a long time. He has a Late Model UMP car parked behind it, the number 24 on the side of his trailer written in white. His racing logo is different from everyone else’s. The sponsor sticker on the side of his trailer and car makes my blood turn cold and my stomach drop. I look over his race car and something in the grass catches my eye. I look around and don’t see anyone, so I slowly walk over to it.
I bend down in the grass and find a Heim joint, used on the brakes for protection against dirt and grime from the track. Normally they don’t need to be changed all the time and this one looks like it’s in excellent condition. It looks like it was just changed and if that’s the case, it could be a lead I’m looking for.
If a driver doesn’t have this joint on, dirt and grime can get into the brakes of a car making them not work. I snap a picture of it with my cell phone and take a picture of the car too including the sponsor’s sticker on the side. My hands are shaking with rage.
I pick up the joint carefully and put it in my pocket. I hear commotion coming toward me. I stand up and leave the area quietly. Walking with determination, I head out of the pits and to my car, I might have a lead and need to do some follow up on this.
Chapter 12
Izzy
After visiting with my dad, my mind is a whirl wind of emotions. I’m angry, sad, confused. You name it, I’m going through it. He’s still in a coma and the doctors don’t know when he will come out of it. The accident did damage to his brain and after they brought him out of the medically induced one, he didn’t wake up. His brain waves are strong, his heart is strong, but his mind just doesn’t want to come back yet. They moved him to his own private room and James was there with him when we left.
Xavier pulls his Dodge Charger into the pits of the race track and my mind fills with memories of our past. I get out of Xavier’s car and the smell of the track invade my nose. I really missed this part of my life while I was in L.A.
I walk the track and something awakens inside of me, settling in my bones. The dirt under my feet crunches its familiar tune, the sounds of race cars vibrate in my ears, and the smell of performance fuel invade my senses.
I remember racing this track, fighting for my title, and making a name for myself. I remember the adrenaline flowing through my veins as I bring my car to top speed. The thrill of drifting around each turn, knowing one false move, one slight break in concentration could spell disaster. Xavier hasn’t left my side the whole time I walk the track. We walk in a comfortable silence in step with each other.
I reach turn four and look at the white wall. There’s blue and black marks on it from my dad’s car slamming into it. Scorch marks from the fire lick one section of it and I run my hands along the spot. I still haven’t seen my dad’s car yet and if this is any indication of what it looks like, my dad was lucky it didn’t kill him.
Xavier walks up behind me, my senses start to tingle from the nearness of his body, as his arms come around my waist.
“I felt so helpless as I watched Austin hit the wall. I was the first one over here,” Xavier says quietly.
He swallows hard and I turn in his arms. Pain and anger flashes across his face. I rest my hand over his heart where the tattoo is.
“X, you did all you could. Don’t blame yourself.” I tell him.
He nods his head and releases a breath, his blue eyes hold so many raw emotions.
“I know, but I still wish there was something more I could do. I wish I had saw this coming and stopped it.” He closes his eyes from the onslaught of memories. He opens them back up and I can see the pain cross his face. “When I reached the car, Austin grabbed my hand. He looked at me before he passed out and I couldn’t make out what he was trying to say. I saw the fire start in the back, so I ran to get the extinguisher and after I put the fire out, the EMT and fire rescue made it over. They had him out of the car, loaded up onto the stretcher. I never felt so helpless in my entire life B." There’s tears in his eyes and I wiped one away with my thumb. My dad’s accident is really affecting him.
“We will figure this out Xavier.” I whisper.
He kisses me gently and a throat clears behind us, interrupting our kiss. I jump at the sound and turn to see a man in a navy blue uniform standing behind us. Before I can get a good look, Xavier turns around, shielding me from who it is. His body is tense and stiff under my hands.
“Miss Jones?" The man asks, looking around Xavier. I step out from behind him.
“Yes."
“I’m Officer Iverson. I’m sorry I didn't answer when you called. I’ve been busy with the forensic team investigating the crash." His deep southern accent sounds sincere.
I take in Officer Iverson’s features. He’s tall and muscular, his blonde hair is short in a military high and tight and his light brown eyes look me over. He crosses his arms over his chest making his muscles bulge under his uniform, his feet are shoulder width apart.
“I have some questions for you, if you don’t mind.” He looks at Xavier dismissing him.
Xavier lets out a snort. “I’m not going anywhere."
“This really doesn’t concern you.” Officer Iverson shoots back.
“Actually, it does.” Xavier says, his voice low and deadly. I know it’s time to step in.
“Anything you have to say or ask, you can do it with both of us,” I tell Officer Iverson.
He nods his head, looking pissed off. “Very well. Miss Jones, when was the last time you saw your dad, Austin?”
“He flew out to Cali last month to visit me for a few days." I answer.
“Did he seem agitated or frustrated during your visit?" Officer Iverson asks. I shake my head.
“No. Everything was fine. He had a lot of phone calls but that isn't anything new. He is a busy man with sponsors trying to get him to race for them.”
Officer Iverson nods his head. “Nothing out of the ordinary? No one threatening him? He didn't talk about anyone new in his life?”
“No, nothing. What the hell is going on?” I ask.
Officer Iverson hesitates to answer my question and my short temper is starting to flare.
“What the fuck are you trying to get at, Officer?" I glare at him. Xavier can sense my anger and he holds me against him, trying to calm me down. He turns to Iverson.
Xavier’s voice is low and deadly when he addresses Officer Iverson. “I suggest you tell us what's going on really quick. You're acting like she doesn't know her dad. I can tell you personally they talked and video chatted every fucking day since she left. She knows her dad. I have been with him almost every time they talked. We were all close, so spit it the fuck out.”
Officer Iverson raises an eyebrow at Xavier and I know what's coming next. I raise my hands up in front of me to stop this cop from saying anything about our past.
“Before you even think about it,” I fume at Iverson, “Xavier has nothing to do with this. We grew up together, he looks up to my dad and he would never hurt him."
Xavier's face turns hard as he stares at Iverson. His blue eyes turn into a deadly glare. I have to diffuse this before Xavier does something stupid and winds up in jail. I turn, facing Xavier and gently touch his face, bringing his eyes to meet mine.
“Xavier,” I say softly, “Let it go. If he can't help us we will figure out who tried to kill my dad on our own."
His blue eyes search mine and his body relaxes. The deadly glare he gave Officer Iverson disappears and he gets what I’m trying to say to him, without actually saying it. I don’t believe he would hurt my dad.
“Yeah, I agree.�
� Xavier glare one last time at Iverson. “Try looking somewhere else. Neither me or my family would do something like this."
Officer Iverson nods his head, his stance ridged. “I figured you wouldn't, but I still have to ask. It's part of my job.”
He reaches into his breast pockets and pulls out a card. He scribbles on the back of it and hands it to me. “If you think of anything, anything at all, my personal cell number is on the back." I take the card and look it over.
“Thanks.” I dismiss him.
Officer Iverson turns and walks away. I look up at Xavier and his jaw is tense again. I can see a vein in his neck throb from grinding his teeth together.
“I don't like that prick.” Xavier spit out.
“He’s just trying to do his job." I respond tugging on Xavier's hand, “C'mon I want to do something. Is your car still here?"
Confusion crosses Xavier’s face as he slowly answers me, “Yeah, why?"
“Where is it?" I ask.
“Where I always park it." A smile spreads across my face and I take off running in the direction of his race car. Xavier is right behind me as we reach it.
I run my fingers down the metal green paint job. The racing logo I designed for him while we were together, etched across the hood and doors. It’s a red flame with a black outline surrounded by white heat. Sweeney Racing, written in gold with old English writing inside the flame.
I designed this one specifically for Xavier.
When we are together, we explode in a heat of passion and the flame represents how he makes my heart and body feel, like it’s on fire, burning up. The white around it is the innocence of our love for each other. I turn to see Xavier watching me with hooded eyes.
“You kept this?" I asked him.
He nods his head and swallows hard. “Yeah I did. It was something I was never going to let go. I didn’t fight for you. l let you leave without a fight, and this is the only way I could be close to you."
I walk over to him and wrap my arms around his neck. I pull his head down to mine and kiss him with such passion, like the flame in my drawing, my body’s on fire. I break the kiss, breathing heavily.
“I love you, X.” I whisper, my breath fanning across his lips. Xavier stares into my eyes.
“I love you, B.” he whispers back.
“Now the reason I wanted to come over here. I need a helmet.” I say.
Xavier has a glint in his eye as he walks over and unlocks the side box of his trailer. He bends down and pulls a black bag out of it. He walks over to me and hands me the bag. I open it and gasp in surprise, my eyes flying to his.
“My helmet! Oh my god. You kept this?" I run my hands over the smooth green paint. Tears come to my eyes as memories come flooding back to me.
Chapter 13
Izzy-5 years earlier
It’s been ten days since I told Xavier he has two weeks to prove to me I’m the only one he wants. He has been at my house almost every day. He’s been sneaking into my bedroom window at night, staying with me and sneaking out the next morning.
It has to be driving him nuts not having sex, but he hasn’t complained. Every night we would mess around and have come close a few times, but I’m just not ready yet.
My dad and Austin’s parents are going away this weekend to look at a new race car, so maybe then. My belly flutters with the thoughts of no parental guidance around this weekend watching our every move.
Xavier pulls into my driveway while I’m in the garage with my dad. The sun is glistening off his jet-black hair, making it shine when he gets out of his pickup.
He has on faded light blue jeans, a black t-shirt, and his racing boots. His new tattoo going down his right shoulder is peeking out from under his t-shirt. He removes his aviator sunglasses and when his blue eyes meet mine, there’s a flutter in the pit of my stomach.
The way Xavier watches me makes me feel special, like I’m the only girl he sees. I wipe my hands on the rag and stand at the garage doors as he walks over to me. He has a distinctive swag in his step and a smile on his face, his dimple on the right side of his cheek makes an appearance. As he approaches me, I forget how to breath. My brain has escaped me again.
“Are you ready?" Xavier’s husky voice asks me. I just stand at the doorway and don’t answer him right away. I just watch the way his muscles move as he gets closer. “Izzy, are you ready?" Xavier asks me again, cocking an eyebrow at my catatonic state.
He puts his arm around my shoulders and his distinct smell of racing fuel and leather invades my nose. He kisses the top of my head and I finally snap out of it. I clear my throat, gazing into his blue eyes.
“Give me five minutes to change.” I finally answer him.
He kisses the top of my head again and smirks. He pushes me out the garage doors. My feet finally start working as I walk into my house. I change quickly into a dark blue tank top, faded blue jeans and my own racing boots. I put my long blonde hair up in a quick ponytail, leaving pieces around my face. I tuck my cell phone and some money into my pockets, put my aviator sunglasses on and make my way back to the garage. Xavier is talking to my dad about last weekend's race when I enter the garage.
“Ok, I’m ready.” I say, interrupting their conversation. Xavier swallows hard when he sees me, and it makes my heart flutter.
My dad approaches us before we leave. His brown hair is messy, and he has grease on the side of his stubbled face. He kisses my cheek.
“You behave yourself. No more phone calls from the neighbors telling me you’re tearing up their fields again." I scoff at his comment.
“Dad, it was one time.” I laugh. His matching green eyes peer into mine, a serious look in his face.
“One time, each week. Just stay out of trouble, please. I swear you’re going to give me more gray hair.” Austin says shaking his head.
I pull his head down looking at his brown hair. “Oh! I found a new one!" I exclaim. It’s our little joke we’ve have since I turned a teenager. He tells me I keep giving him gray hair from all the stress I cause, but I haven’t seen any yet. “Do you want me to pull it out?" I ask him innocently. He pulls his head away, a horrified look in his green eyes.
“Are you crazy child?" Austin starts laughing. “The last time I let you pull one out, four more took its place."
Xavier starts laughing behind us at our banter. Austin turns to Xavier a glint of mischief in his eyes.
“Watch it Xavier, at the way you two are spending all this time together, you will be next for gray hair and with all that black, it will shine like no tomorrow.” Austin teases him.
Xavier stops laughing and runs his hands through his hair, a mock horrified expression crosses his face. I start laughing at him.
Xavier glares at me, “Izzy, if you give me gray hair, I will kick your ass." I laugh even harder.
“Oh, but you’d look so cute with streaks of gray running through it." I tell him as I wipe my eyes from laughing so hard. Xavier lets out a huff and walks to his truck. I follow behind him, still giggling.
“Have fun kids.” Austin yells at us from the garage doors.
“Thanks dad." I yell back before I get into Xavier’s pickup.
Once we’re in Xavier’s truck and driving down the road, I turn in my seat, so my body is facing Xavier.
“Where are we going?” I ask him.
There’s a smirk on his face and he doesn’t answer me. I turn the radio off and glare at him. “X, where are we going?"
Xavier takes his eyes off the road for a second and looks at me. He wiggles his eyebrows, which annoys me. “It’s a surprise. So, sit back and enjoy the ride.”
I huff out a breath of annoyance and turn the radio back up. The local rock station is playing Five Finger Death Punch’s remake of Bad Company. I love this song so I turn it up to a deafening level and sing along.
We pull into a driveway of a small white building and I look around. I’ve never been here before. The building is old and needs a new paint job. There is no sign o
ut front telling me where we are or what we’re doing. There is a couple of other cars in the driveway and Xavier pulls up in front of the building, shutting his truck off. We get out and he grabs a big box from the back of his pickup.
I cock an eyebrow. “What’s in there?"
“You’ll see. Now quit asking questions and get your sexy ass inside." Xavier says, swatting me on my ass.
“Yes, captain.” I mock salute him. Xavier shakes his head and we walk inside.
The bell jingles above us as we enter the dark interior of the building. I take off my sunglasses as a blast of cold from the air conditioner prickles my skin.
I look around, but the first thing I smell is paint, the second is a light scent of pot. Someone is having a little fun while they work. That stuff isn’t for me, but hey, who am I to judge if someone has their own way of blowing off steam. I’ll stick to running.
A skinny guy with shaggy brown hair, hazel eyes, and paint all over his clothes comes out of a backroom.
“Can I help you?" He asks.
“Hey, I called you earlier about doing airbrush details. I’m Xavier and this is Izzy,” Xavier answers him, pointing at me.
“Mark. Yeah, I remember, do you have the stuff?" Mark asks.
Xavier opens the box he carried in and pulls out our new helmets. He then pulls out a piece of paper.
I peer over his shoulder at the paper and my jaw drops. It’s my drawing I made a few days ago for us. It’s a big black flame that can be whatever color you decided, covering the whole racing helmet with our last names on each side. This symbolizes to the whole racing world, we were in it together. Even though we have different last names, we fight for each other on and off the track. If someone messed with one, they messed with the other.
“X, what are you doing?” I ask him, breathlessly.
He turns to look at me a smile gracing his lips. “Happy birthday, Izzy. Mark here is going to airbrush your artwork onto our helmets.”
I’m speechless, utterly speechless. This is one of the best birthday presents ever and it’s not even my birthday yet. I still have three more days until I turn eighteen. Xavier’s eyes look worried when I don’t say anything.
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