Breaking Away (Rocking Racers Book 3)

by Megan Lowe

  “Right.” To be honest, I’m still not entirely understanding what he’s getting at, but I think I get the gist. “So let me get this straight, I’m calm because I know I have something outside of riding?”

  “Yeah, that’s it. You don’t give a shit if you’re great or not, because you don’t care if you are, even though you are great.”

  “Huh.” I never thought about it like that.

  “It helps me, you know?” he says almost shyly.

  “What does?”

  “You being so calm. I watch you when you compete. You’re so cool and calm and I want to be that way so when I’m up, I pretend I’m you.”

  “Jax,” I say, my heart close to bursting. My little brother, the one full of jokes, is actually a sweet guy when he wants to be.

  “It’s nothing, but it does help, and that’s why I need you there.”

  “I’m probably going to make a fool of myself,” I say.

  “It’s all right, I’ll be so fantastic they’ll forget all about you.”

  I laugh. “I have no doubt.”

  “And as for all this shit with Aubrey and her family? You’re not destructive, Mav, you’re the opposite. They should be thanking their lucky stars that you came into their lives. You’re a great guy. A lousy brother, but a great guy.”

  “Love you too, fucker.”

  “I love you too, and that’s why I can tell you that you’re being a dumbarse thinking what you’re thinking. You also need to get on the horn to Rome so he can work on a bike for you. Better yet, come down so we can all see what a real-life uni student looks like.”

  “You live in a uni town,” I tell him.

  “Yeah, but Booker’s Booker. You go to Hale.”

  “You’re an idiot,” I say with a smile on my face.

  “I take after my brother.”

  “I’ll tell Park you said that.”

  “Pfft, he wishes he was as cool as me,” he says.

  I laugh. “He probably does.”

  “I don’t blame him, though. Everyone should be like me.”

  “So you keep saying,” I reply dryly.

  “Don’t be a stranger, Mav. We’re still your family.”

  “I know. Uni’ll be finishing up soon. I’ll look at coming down then, maybe bring Aubrey for a visit,” I say.

  “Sounds good.”

  “Yep.”

  “See ya soon, okay?” he asks, a bit of vulnerability filtering through.

  I swallow the lump in my throat. “Yep, real soon.”

  We hang up and I blow out a breath. Thinking back over our conversation, I laugh out loud. If there’s one thing I can count on with Jax, it’s that he reminds me things are never as bad as they seem.

  Chapter 29

  Josh

  “What did I tell you would happen if you screwed me around again?” Connor asks as he buries his fist in my stomach. My ribs are screaming from several previous hits, while my left eye is swollen shut, my lip is split, and I think my nose might be broken. I didn’t know the human body could feel so much pain from so many different places.

  “I’m-I’m s-s-sorry,” I stutter. The air I’m breathing in doesn’t seem to be filling my lungs the way it should.

  “You’re sorry?” Connor screams. “You’re sorry, that’s all I get?”

  “I’ll get you your money,” I say.

  “Damn straight you will, but you’ll do more than that.”

  “What more do you want?” I ask, genuinely at a loss.

  “The same thing I’ve wanted all along, tubby. I want your sister.”

  “Aubrey’s with Mav.”

  “Then she needs to not be with dear old Mav,” Connor demands.

  “I don’t know how to do that,” I whimper. I can’t believe I’m in this situation. Again.

  “Well, you’re gonna need to figure it out. I let you leave her out of our deal last time, but you’re not getting off that easy this time.”

  “What happens if she won’t leave him?” I ask.

  “Then things are gonna get real bad for you.”

  I want to tell him things are already pretty bad for me, but I don’t think he cares. Somehow I manage a nod.

  “Good, you’ve got a week. Don’t fuck it up again,” he says.

  I nod again and try to get up from my prone position on the floor. Just as I get to my feet, Connor buries his fist in my stomach again. My knees buckle and I hit the ground once more.

  “That’s in case you forget,” he whispers in my ear.

  I groan and roll over painfully, the footsteps of Connor and his goons quickly fading into the distance. Somehow I manage to get myself up and back home.

  “What the hell happened to you?” Grandpa asks as I stagger in.

  Gingerly I sit on the couch and lean my head back. “I’m in trouble, Grandpa,” I tell him.

  “Judging from the look of you I’d say that’s an understatement.” I groan. “What sort of trouble are you in, lad?” he asks.

  “Gambling,” I mumble.

  He shakes his head. “Tell me what happened.”

  I sigh. “Aubrey’s ex-boyfriend Connor takes bets. I’ve been betting with him for ages, but lately my luck just hasn’t been there.”

  “You owe him money.”

  I nod. “The first time he came to collect I couldn’t pay, so he was going to take Aubrey to work off my debt. Mav came in before that could happen and paid him off.”

  Grandpa shakes his head. “That girl,” he says, like she’s a lost cause.

  “What does Aubrey have to do with this?” I ask, confused.

  “You said it was her ex-boyfriend you’re involved with?”

  “Yeah,” I say, still not knowing where he’s going with this.

  “Then it’s just another lapse in judgment from her.”

  “She and Connor had been broken up for a while before I got involved with him,” I say.

  “Still,” Grandpa says.

  I brush his comment off. “Anyway, after that I stopped gambling for a while. I was doing real good too—”

  “And then something happened and you went back to Aubrey’s guy,” he finishes.

  I want to tell him that Connor is in no way, shape, or form Aubrey’s guy, but I know he won’t listen. Instead, I own my shame. “Yes.”

  “So what happened then?”

  “I got into another hole. I was round at Mav’s one day and saw his bike. He said it was worth a hundred grand, so I told Connor about it,” I tell him.

  “And now you’re feeling guilty about that?”

  I can tell by the tone of his voice he thinks I’m weak. Whether it’s because of the break-in or gambling in general, I don’t know. “No, I mean, yes I am, but there’s more to it. It turns out the bike may be worth a hundred grand, but only when Mav uses it. It’s customised to him, what he likes, and is incredibly specific.”

  “They can’t break it up and sell it for parts?” he asks.

  “They can, but only for a fraction of the amount, an amount Connor isn’t happy with.”

  “So what does he want this time?”

  “Aubrey,” I say as I hang my head.

  “So give her to him. She’s damaged goods now anyway, what’s a little more?”

  “You can’t be serious?” I ask. I know Grandpa doesn’t think highly of Aubrey, but to suggest this?

  He shrugs. “A girl is only as good as her reputation, and Aubrey’s is non-existent now.”

  “I’m not handing my sister over to that—that animal,” I say.

  He shrugs again. “It’s either that or you come up with the money to pay him back. Do you have the money, Josh?” I shake my head. “Neither do I. All I have is sunk into you and your sister, supposedly for your studies, but I see neither of you are particularly devoted to that. Honestly, I don’t know why I bother. It doesn’t change anything now. However, from my point of view, and your bookie’s, which is what he wanted, your options are limited.”

  Never in my life
have I felt so disappointed. Not that Grandpa won’t help me, but by what he’s suggesting. Aubrey is his granddaughter, his only son’s daughter, and he would so easily give her away for Connor to do God knows what with.

  I shake my head. “I won’t do it.”

  “Then I suggest you start begging, borrowing, or stealing from wherever you can in order to pay off your debt.”

  Even though I’m in a shitload of pain, I get up off the couch. “Aubrey is your granddaughter,” I say over my shoulder. “She is your own flesh and blood. How can you so calmly suggest I give her to someone who would destroy her, piece by piece?”

  Grandpa looks me dead in the eye, his stare unwavering. “She chose it when she chose to give herself to the wrong people.”

  “She made one bad choice, so she should pay for it for the rest of her life?”

  “She needs to learn,” he says.

  There’re so many things I want to say, like I’m certain she’s learnt her lesson already after the way Connor treated her, or even bring up my own bad choices, but it’s clear Grandpa is a lost cause. Instead, I just shake my head and walk out. I pull out my phone, dial Mav’s number, and wait.

  “Hello?” he answers after a few rings.

  “Hey, um, it’s Josh,” I say lamely.

  “I know, what’s up?” he asks, like I haven’t been a complete fuckhead.

  “I’ve got some stuff I need to tell you. Is it okay if I come over?”

  “Sure.” He doesn’t hide the surprise in his voice.

  “Thanks, I’ll be there in about half an hour, okay?”

  “Whatever, man, we’ll be here.”

  I hang up and start towards the tram. It’s time to make things right.

  Chapter 30

  Mav

  A little over half an hour later Josh shows up at my door. He’s a mess. Eye swollen shut, nose like a balloon with blood down his shirt, lip split, and he’s walking like his ribs are screaming at him.

  “Come on in,” I say to him, and hold the door open.

  “Oh my God, Josh!” Aubrey gasps when she sees him.

  “I’m okay,” he says as he shuffles slowly towards my new couch.

  “What happened?” she asks, trying to look over his injuries but not knowing where to start.

  “Connor,” he states.

  “So you are gambling again?” she asks. He nods. “Oh Josh.” She sighs.

  “I’m sorry. I was angry and upset, and Connor texted me offering some good odds. I couldn’t resist.”

  “You were doing so well,” she says.

  “I know.” He hangs his head.

  “How much do you owe?” I ask, no emotion in my voice. Inside my heart breaks as I realise the depth of the problems my friend has and what they’ve pushed him to do.

  Josh shakes his head. “It’s beyond that now.”

  “How can you be beyond money?” Aubrey asks. “That doesn’t make sense.”

  He looks up at me, his one eye telling me all I need to know. “He doesn’t want money, does he?” I ask.

  Josh shakes his head.

  “What does he want then?” Aubrey asks, confused.

  Josh looks at her, pain of a different kind written on his face.

  “He wants you,” I tell her.

  “What?” she gasps, her head whipping in my direction.

  “Mav’s right,” Josh says.

  “What? Why?” she asks. “Why would he want me more than money?”

  “Because I tried to give him money but I fucked up, and he doesn’t trust me anymore,” Josh explains.

  “How can you stuff up giving him money?” Aubrey asks.

  Suddenly the pieces snap into place. “Because you told him about my bike and when he realised he couldn’t sell it as is, that it’s only good for parts, he got pissed off,” I say. Josh nods.

  “How could you?” Aubrey asks, her face a mixture of sadness, anger, and despair.

  “I was desperate, and you two were always together. I felt left out. It’s not like Mav was riding it anyway,” he says, trying to justify his actions.

  “Actually, I was,” I tell him. “I was going to start training for the Extreme Games.”

  “Oh.” His shoulders slump.

  “So Connor figured out the bike was practically worthless and now he’s coming for Aubrey, is that right?” I ask.

  “Yeah.” Josh nods.

  “So what now?” Aubrey asks.

  “Now you have to go,” Josh says.

  “What? Go where?” she asks, panic written all over her face.

  “It doesn’t matter, you just can’t be here.”

  “How long do we have?” I ask.

  Josh winces from the cuts on his face but smiles through the pain. “I knew you’d be with her.”

  “I love her,” I say simply.

  “I know.”

  “So how long?” I ask again.

  “He gave me a week.”

  I nod. “Knley’s due to give birth any minute now, and if I want to get to the Extreme Games I’m gonna need a new bike. The best place to do that is Booker.”

  “Wait a minute,” Aubrey says, “we can’t just leave. What about uni?”

  “I’ll talk to our lecturers, get an extension,” I say.

  “It’s not that easy!” she yells.

  I walk over to her and hug her to me. “Sweetheart, I know it’s scary, but we don’t have a choice. If you want to stay out of Connor’s clutches, this is what needs to happen.”

  “What about you?” she asks her brother.

  “He can come with us,” I say.

  Josh shakes his head. “I need to stay here and try and clean up this mess.”

  “What’s going to happen when Connor realises I’m gone?” she asks.

  Josh shrugs. “I don’t know, but it’s not for you to worry about.”

  “You don’t have to do this,” she tells him.

  “No, I do,” he says. “It was my jealousy of you two that got me in this mess in the first place. You’ve already bailed me out once,” he says, looking at me. “I can’t and won’t ask you to do it a second time.”

  I kind of want to mention that I bailed him out the second time with my bike, but I don’t want to rub salt in his wounds. You know, kick a guy when he’s down and all that.

  “It’s the only way, Aubrey,” he tells her. She shakes her head. “Listen to me,” he says. “I made this mistake, I need to pay for it, not you, not Mav. You know what Connor’s like, and there’s no way in hell I’d let you within ten metres of the guy again.” She sniffs and he hugs her to him. “Besides, you could do with some time away. Go to Booker, meet Mav’s family, have fun. You deserve it.”

  “Thanks, man,” I tell him, extending a hand.

  He takes it and shakes it. “Just look after my sister, okay?”

  I look at my girl. “You have no worries there.”

  Chapter 31

  Aubrey

  The next day Mav and I are on a plane bound for Melbourne. I have no idea how he got us both extensions for the assessments we have due, but somehow he did. We’re met at the airport by his youngest brother, Jax. He’s slightly shorter than Mav, less solidly built, and not as heavily tattooed as my boyfriend. When he sees Mav, a massive smile breaks out on his face and he rushes for him. They embrace with a bone crunching hug and backslaps so hard I’m amazed they didn’t knock the wind out of each other. When Mav introduces me, I stick out a hand, but Jax ignores it, instead picking me up in a bear hug, my feet coming off the floor.

  “Nice to meet you, sis,” he says to me. Mav hits him on the back of the head but has a smile on his face regardless. “You’re way too beautiful to be with my big bro here. You sure he’s your final choice?”

  I look to Mav, see amusement and love shining in his blue-grey eyes, and I know there’s no one on this earth I’d rather be with. “I’m sure,” I say as I take his hand.

  “That’s a pity,” Jax says.

  “Shut it, fucker,”
Mav mutters.

  “You got any sisters?” Jax asks, brushing off Mav’s insult and my rejection.

  I shake my head. “Nope, just a brother.”

  “Cousins?”

  “My parents were both only children.”

  “I swear my brothers have all the luck,” he mutters.

  “Don’t you have, like, seven Extreme Games gold medals?” I ask.

  Jax’s face lights up and he slings an arm around my shoulders. “Why yes, yes I do. I see you’ve informed your girl of the important information she needs to know, Mav, well done.”

  “He also told me you were a terrible flirt, suck at cooking, and a closet Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones fan.”

  Jax stops dead. “I am not a Lord of the Rings fan!” he says huffily.

  “Whatever you say, Frodo,” Mav says as he walks towards an SUV I assume he recognises.

  “I told you, if I’m Frodo, that makes you Sam,” Jax says as he jogs to keep up with us.

  “But I thought you’re not a Lord of the Rings fan?” I ask.

  “I’m not.”

  “But you just said you’re Frodo,” I point out.

  “No, he did.” He points at Mav, who’s chuckling.

  “No, I’m pretty sure you said that,” I say.

  “Mav,” Jax whines. Mav just laughs and holds his hands up.

  “Don’t worry, little Frodo, I won’t tease you too badly,” I say.

  “I take back everything I said to you,” Jax says, a scowl on his face.

  I lean up to kiss him on the cheek. “That’s okay, I’m used to annoying brothers. One more won’t hurt.”

  “Aww, shucks, sis,” and he hugs me before loading my bags in the car.

  There’s something so different about Australian bush. I don’t know if it’s the gum trees, with their tall, white trunks, or the landscape, or what it is, but it’s something unique to Australia and I love it. It’s not a full-on forest, but more than a random tree here or there. Whatever it is, I see a lot of it on the three-hour drive to Booker. For most of the drive Mav and Jax catch up. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard my boyfriend talk so much, but I love seeing this side of him. I see it when we’re alone sometimes, but it’s nice to know I’m not the only one he has that connection with. I know Mav is naturally introverted, but sometimes I worry it’s more than that. I worry that he intentionally shuts himself off because he thinks it’s easier that way, or because he doesn’t deserve to surround himself with people who love and care for him. But seeing him with Jax, I’m relatively confident he’s over that now.