Ride: A Driven World Novel

by Heather Guimond

  “Here,” he replied, pulling his mobile phone from his jeans pocket and tapping a few buttons on the screen. With one final tap, I heard his voice coming from the screen… “Open up, Kenni, baby…”

  My stomach revolted as I heard the faint sound of my own voice mumbling something in reply. He turned the screen toward me, just in time for me to see my own face right before he…

  “Give me that,” I shouted, leaping for the phone. He held it away, his greater height and longer arms keeping it just out of my reach.

  “This is my insurance for your future cooperation. You do as I say, when I say, and you’ll never have to worry.” He shrugged, the wretched giggle still tingeing his words.

  “Fuck you. We’re done. If you so much as breathe a word of this to anyone, I’ll end you.”

  “Just what are you going to do?” Dalton sneered as he slipped his phone back into his pocket.

  “This, for starters,” I said, drawing back my arm and punching him in square in the nose. He dropped to the ground as though I’d kicked him in his junk. Several other riders were milling in the corridors, waiting for their various races. Three girls who’d been eyeing him when we arrived were suddenly pointing and giggling. I stomped away in a huff, neither one of us realizing they were mocking me, not Dalton, at least not until it was too late. The following year was spent in constant fear he’d leak my video, but he always stopped short, hinting around about using it for a big payday if Matt ever won Supercross. I’d mistakenly assumed he’d moved onto more vulnerable targets when nearly a year passed without any new rumors. He’d insisted he’d gotten rid of the video, but now I knew I was even stupider than I thought, having believed him.

  “Hey, baby, no one forced you to do anything,” he said with a leer as he reached out to stroke my cheek. “I’ve let you skate for the last two years without calling in my marker. Now, unless you want everyone to know about your starring porn debut, you’re going to do whatever I say. You’re my girl until I say you aren’t.”

  “Fuck you!” I hissed, batting his hand away with one of my own. “I don’t want anything to do with you. I was drunk. I didn’t know what I was doing, let alone that you were recording it with your phone.”

  “Now you’ll make sure you keep your eyes open and on me like you’re supposed to when you suck my dick,” Dalton crudely snarled through clenched teeth.

  “I always kept my eyes closed, so I wouldn’t have to look at you!” I shouted, unashamed to admit the truth.

  Dalton’s face went stone cold, his flinty eyes hard and narrowed. I watched him work his jaw as he reached out again in what seemed like slow motion. Grabbing my arm, he roughly pushed me against the stucco wall of the apartment building. I could smell the sour scent of too much whiskey on his breath as he leaned into me.

  “You really need to think twice about being nicer to me, Kenni. You know what I can do with just one tiny text message to our nearest and dearest friends.”

  “You told me last year you deleted that video!” I croaked hoarsely, my throat dry and tight with emotion.

  “Can I help it if you just look too good with your mouth full? I tried to get rid of it, I really did since I promised, but in the end, it would have broken my heart to lose something so... precious.” His sickening laugh returned, making my stomach revolt.

  “Fuck you,” I said again, finally shoving him away from me with both hands. “What do you want now, anyway? I heard you found a new whore. Why are you still harassing me?”

  “Because you owe me, Kenni. I put in a lot of time with you, and you snatched it away from me, just like that,” he said, snapping his fingers for emphasis. “I want you back. I’ll keep Sandra around, of course, but you can keep face by being my main girl. I think that’s more than generous after the way you’ve treated me lately.”

  How I’d been so blind for so long, how I’d ever loved this animal, I couldn’t fathom. Shamefully, he had the video evidence, so I couldn’t pretend it never happened.

  “You’re disgusting. I won’t be yours ever again—we’ll never get back together. Go fuck yourself,” I snarled, finger pointed directly at his face, fighting the temptation to poke him in both eyes.

  “If that’s the way you want it, fine. I want thirty grand by the end of the month, or your debut performance will find its way onto social media. I’m sure it’ll go viral. And you know Matt is absolutely reckless on the track. It’d be a shame if something happened to him, just when his career is getting started.”

  “I never knew you could sink so low,” I whispered viciously, advancing on him, getting right in his face. “Leave me and my brother alone. If you fuck with him on or off the track...”

  “What are you going to do about it?”

  “I’ll make it my life’s purpose to bring you down, even if I have to get in the dirt with you to do it.”

  “They sure don’t get any dirtier than you, do they, Kenni?” Dalton chuckled bitterly, doing his best to be witty. “I’m not bluffing. End. Of. The. Month,” he hissed before wrapping a hand around the back of my neck and roughly dragging me into a brutal lip crushing kiss. Without a second thought, I bit his lower lip hard, letting go only when I tasted the metallic flavor of blood on my tongue.

  I calmly poured coffee into a mug I found in the cupboard as Matt stood by like an idiot, mean-mugging me. As if I would be cowed by dirty looks. Since I never fought back on the track, he probably thought I was a chump he could easily intimidate. He was sorely wrong. I kept a tight lid on my emotions and wasn’t easily manipulated, but this guy just rubbed me the wrong way all around.

  “Don’t get too comfortable around here, Hawkins. You won’t be staying long.”

  “I think that’s up to Kenni, don’t you?” I responded nonchalantly, blowing the steam off my piping hot drink. “She seems to like me well enough, and I’m determined to make her mine, so you have two choices. We can settle whatever your problem is with me and try to get along for your sister’s sake, or we can slug it out, which will put us both in the doghouse with her.”

  “I think you underestimate the influence I have over my little sister. She’s always looked to me for guidance,” he said, his smug expression getting worse as he crossed his arms over his chest.

  “And I think you underestimate your twin sister for knowing her own mind and what she wants. If she doesn’t want me, fine, I’ll walk away and only meet you on the track. After last night, however, I’m pretty sure we’re going to be seeing a lot of each other.”

  “You’re scum, Hawkins. Other people might not see through you, but I know what you did to Ayers, and a leopard doesn’t change his spots.”

  I plopped my half-full mug on the countertop, splashing its contents on my hand. Fortunately, the brew was no longer as hot as when I first poured it.

  “Ayers was a long time ago. You and I have been racing since I returned to the sport in the U.S. I took two whole years off to get my head right, then honed my new skills in Spain for another two. You don’t know what I went through, what that horrible, unforgivable event cost me. I can’t ever make it right, but I’ve done my best to be a better person. Have you ever seen me do anything even remotely questionable over these last two years? That’s what you should judge me by—your experience.”

  “All I know is you severely, irreparably injured someone. You’re a hazard to motocross.”

  “I won’t deny that I was, but what happened was an accident.”

  “Because that’s the way the great Finn Hawkins wins,” he said, tilting his head and looking at me as if he knew me. “I have to admit, you’re not nearly as impressive as you were.

  What you lacked in flair, you obviously made up for with dirty tricks. You just don’t have the skill as a rider.” Matt thrust his chin at me defiantly, daring me to disagree.

  “I’m going to whip your ass in Anaheim. You’ll be chewing my dirt the whole race,” I growled, standing nearly nose to nose with Michaels. “You know what, I’ll do you one bette
r. On one of our next breaks between races, you and I will have a private one of our own. Just you and me, then we’ll see who the better rider is.”

  “Deal. Get ready to go down, Hawk,” Matt replied, his square jaw thrust proudly at me. He wouldn’t be so full of himself once we met head-on at the track.

  “You just mind yourself, Matthew,” I said, glaring down at him. “You’ll need that focus if you want to have a prayer of beating me.”

  The sound of the front door closing caught my attention. When Kenni didn’t return after a few moments, I shook Matt off and headed out to see where she’d gone. My jaw dropped as I caught sight of her kissing someone—someone other than me. Just when I was about to storm over and demand an explanation, I was startled to see Dalton Simmons jumping away from her, a hand to his mouth. She hadn’t been kissing him. She was obviously upset, her eyes wild and afraid. I felt her fear in my gut, my caveman instincts demanding I protect my woman.

  “What’s wrong?” I demanded as I strode forward, not allowing Kenni the opportunity to avoid what I’d just seen.

  “Um, nothing. Just an overly aggressive,”—she looked away for a moment, before brightening and returning her eyes to mine—“bill collector.”

  I glanced at Dalton, wondering what the hell she meant. She knew we knew each other.

  “What do you want, Simmons?” I turned to face him.

  “Just here on some personal business. What are you doing here?” he asked, his tone suggesting he had a right to know.

  “That’s my personal business. Judging by the look on Kenni’s face, your business is done,” I said as I loomed over him threateningly. He shrank back slightly, but it was obvious.

  “Thirty days, Kenni.” Dalt spat at my feet before turning to walk away. I took a step after him, but Kenni grabbed me by the arm and hauled me back.

  “Let him go, Finn. He’s just an asshole.”

  “I already knew that. What I want to know is why he was here?”

  “I told you. Well, sort of. Dalton’s my ex. I borrowed some money from his sister once and forgot about it. I guess she wants it back after all these years. C’mon, let’s go back inside.”

  Kenni led me back into the apartment as I wondered why she was stiff and uncomfortable when she’d been perfectly fine before she’d left the apartment.

  “Who was that?” Matt asked, standing in the kitchen where I left him, his arms still crossed against his chest, and a curious but cynical eyebrow raised.

  “A friend looking for money. It was no big deal.”

  “Which friend and what for? If you needed money, you should have come to me.”

  I watched in fascination as Kenni looked at her brother, telling him in a silent twin language or some shit, he needed to shut up. He blinked twice, a sure signal he understood, but I smelled bullshit, even though I wasn’t sure why.

  “Thanks for everything, Finn. I have a full day of chores and work to get done, so you’re going to have to go,” Kenni said abruptly, wringing her hands but obviously unaware she was doing it.

  “I almost feel dirty doing the walk of shame,” I quipped after a moment’s deliberation. I’d give her whatever space she needed—crowding her would do me no good, and it was too soon to test our bond. “I’m headed back home this evening, but I’ll see you in Anaheim, okay?”

  I moved toward her gently, not wanting to startle her when she was clearly rattled. I made a mental note to keep my eyes open until she chose to confide in me. Taking hold of her elbow, without any regard for Matt still standing with us, I drew her to me and gave her a simple kiss. A soft stroke of my big hand over her fair hair, and I was gone.

  I strode through the apartment, my eyes peeled for signs of anything unusual. I didn’t see anyone as I walked to my truck but was tempted to sit out in front of the building for the night. Whatever it was, Kenni was spooked. In the end, I reluctantly went back to my budget hotel room rather than giving her the wrong idea. I would find out what was going on, sooner rather than later, even if I had to play nice with Matt to do it.

  Once I finally got Finn out the door, I was able to dodge the bullet—I called my brother—for a total of twelve minutes and thirty-seven seconds. I would have lasted longer, but I’d hid in the bathroom to avoid having to tell him about Dalt. I needed the time to compose myself, but after seven of those twelve minutes and thirty-seven seconds, he threatened to remove the door from the hinges if I didn’t come out. I called his bluff. Right up until I heard the high-pitched sound of a drill.

  “Stand down, Matt,” I said, coming out with my arms raised, my tone nowhere nearly as playful as my words. “I’ll tell you what happened.” I led him out to our cramped living room, indicating he should sit on the sofa while I pulled up a couple square feet of carpeting, sitting uncomfortably on the floor at his feet.

  “It was Dalt who came by,” I said softly, wringing my hands together again. Matt was likely to try to go after him on the track, and he didn’t need to invite the kind of viciousness my ex was clearly capable of.

  “What did the little fucker want? To get back together? You know he’s banging Sandra Carson, right?”

  “I don’t care who he’s banging. I’m not getting back together with him.”

  “So, you told him to take a hike?” My brother looked at me, impressed.

  “I tried, but...” I trailed off, cringing. I hated my brother knew I starred in my very own sex tape, but to have to bring it up again was even more mortifying. “When I refused to get back together with him, he demanded cash to keep quiet about the video.”

  I scrunched my eyes closed and waited for the bomb to explode. When I only heard labored breathing, I cracked one eye open to see a red-faced Matt, his chest heaving.

  “Please, tell me you didn’t give him any money or say you would,” he finally replied, lowering his brow and leveling his gaze on me.

  “No, of course not, but he walked away, still demanding it.”

  “Wait, Hawkins went out there. Does he know?” Matt’s eyes went wide with anxiety. I couldn’t blame him. I was an embarrassment.

  “No, and he can never find out. We need to pay Dalton whatever he asks.”

  “That brings me to my next question. How much does he want?”

  “Thirty-thousand.”

  “Dollars?” Matt shouted as he leapt to his feet, the bomb I’d been anticipating starting to tick faster toward detonation. “Kenni, that’s all the money we have left. I’m doing okay this season so far, but you know we have to watch our pennies.”

  “I know, I know. This just can’t get out, though. You don’t need the shame on the circuit, and I... I want to see if things can work out with Finn.” Again, I cringed, waiting for my brother’s booming voice to echo around the room.

  “Are you high? I swear, you have the worst judgment, you know that? First making that godforsaken video with Simmons…” Leaning toward me, his face right in mine, he began to count on his fingers. “Now, even though I told you to stay away from him, you’ve gone and fallen for Motocross’ favorite bad boy.”

  “He’s not that guy anymore,” I shouted back. “Yes! I know about Ayers. He told me everything. There’s more to the story than meets the eye, Matt. I’ve gotten to know him in a way you don’t. He’s not what you think.”

  “Agree to disagree, Kenni. You do what you want, though. I can’t protect you if you won’t listen to a goddamned thing I tell you!”

  “Maybe it’s been long enough,” I said, my tone dropping back to a normal decibel as I sank onto the sofa. “I don’t know where this is going, but I’ve fallen for him, Matt.”

  My brother flopped down next to me, resting his head on the sofa. He threw an arm over his eyes and exhaled loudly.

  “I swear, if you weren’t my sister...” He straightened to look at me. “Forget Hawkins for now. We need to get rid of Simmons. I’ll give him twenty thousand, but no more. I’ll get my own video of him and the transaction, then take it to the police if I have to.”


  “Then everyone will find out. It’s better if I take him the money and—”

  “No, I’ll handle it. You concentrate on keeping my bikes in top shape, so I can win and make up for the financial hit we’re about to take.”

  I nodded quietly, understanding it was a big concession. I prayed and crossed my fingers. Dalton would accept the smaller amount.

  ***

  The following few weeks and races went by in a blur. Finn won the second Anaheim race, with Matt following closely behind. Unfortunately, Dalton took third, making my stomach sour and my mood salty. The next three races went the same way, always coming down to Matt or Finn in first place while the other took second, but Dalt made a showing more times than I liked.

  In all that time, I only caught glimpses of Finn. He texted and called me regularly, but we were always so pressed for time, we couldn’t linger over our conversations like I wanted to. I made a disgusted sound as I wrenched a nut into place. How had I turned into such a needy girl? I needed to get a grip. The next race was about to start, and Matt’s race bike wasn’t quite ready.

  The sound of someone entering our tent broke into my thoughts, so I stood and wiped the grease from my hands as best I could. Before I could turn and greet whoever had arrived, a pair of hands covered my eyes.

  “Guess who?” the deep voice intoned, familiar and most welcome.

  “Hmm… Jason Momoa?” I replied, instantly getting a huff back.

  “Aim higher, Kenni.”

  “Chris Evans?”

  “You’re getting closer.” He had to be referring to the wholesome, All-American image he’d tried so hard to cultivate.

  “In that case, there’s only one person who fits the bill. It has to be the famous motocross racer... Matt Michaels.” I giggled as I waited for his reaction.

  “That stings,” Finn replied with a disgusted snort as he removed his hands from my face.

  “Oh, it’s you!” I feigned surprise as I threw myself in his arms, my giggles spilling over into a big laugh. “Believe it or not, Hawk, I missed you.”