Page 90 of Flock
Even if these weird-ass men belong to a strange club held in the backwoods of Bumfuck, Nowhere.
“So, what’s going to happen?”
“They’ll race.”
“And then?”
“One will come back the winner.”
Catcalls and whistles sound out as they collectively pull out, engines gunning as they make their way toward the road. The now-familiar rumble stirs something within me. It’s as if new code is being embedded into my genetic makeup. An image of Sean hovering over me the first night we were together flashes through my mind, along with the stolen minutes Dominic and I shared tonight.
“Anyone ever died?” I ask, the blood draining from my face.
“Twice. But that was years ago, before the rules changed.”
Years. I wonder how long this has been going on. Unease slithers through me as I focus on the fading taillights.
And then I hear it, the tell-tale signs, engines roaring in the distance. They’re racing. A part of me wishes I was inside that car with Dominic. But mostly, I’m terrified. Sean’s more careful, but Dominic is fearless with his driving, dangerously so.
“Don’t worry. They’ll be back,” Alicia speaks up from beside me.
“Let me have that joint,” I say, hoping it will calm my nerves. She laughs and passes it to me, and I inhale deep.
Ten minutes later, the sound of an engine has us all craning our heads. Dominic is the first to arrive, and the bodies around us roar with cheers.
“He won,” Alicia lifts her beer toward him in salute.
“Of course he did.”
He’s hell on wheels, and tonight he represents his name well, a king amongst the masses crowding around his car. Pride fills me as I watch him, knowing tonight is the start of something between us. I move to go to him, but the second he’s parked, he’s out of the car, pushing those congratulating him out of the way to inspect the body, a string of curses erupting from him. Miami comes idling in next, and the second the driver is stopped, Dominic flies toward him, meeting him at his door. Emerging from the car, the Miami driver smiles in a way that makes my stomach roll. A moment later Dominic wipes it off his face with his fist.
“Oh, shit,” Alicia says next to me.
Sean speeds in sideways, barely stopping before he’s flying out of his car and stalking over to where Dominic is unleashing hell. Tallahassee trails in last, the side of the car caved in as it comes into view under the firelight, wheels wobbling, smoke billowing out of the hood. The driver gets out, a crocodile smile in place as he watches Dominic beat the ever-loving shit out of the Miami driver. Everyone at the party stands by, watching—including Sean—for several punches before he moves forward, barking at Dominic to stop. I can’t help myself. I move closer to hear the exchange as Miami finally steps up in defense.
“Ease up, Dom.” The guy Sean informally introduced as Andre says, moving in. His expression puts me on edge. These men are dangerous, and as I survey the faces of most of the onlookers, I see amusement. They’re clearly desensitized by what’s playing out in front of them, which instills some fear in me. I’ve never bore witness to this type of raw violence. Not only that but by a man who less than an hour ago was lighting my body on fire with tender touches.
Though I’m a little fearful, a foreign but carnal desire begins to course through me as I watch him destroy his opponent. Dominic delivers one last punch and the guy goes down, landing limply at his feet.
Dom steps away, his power rolling like a tidal wave over the crowd as he addresses everyone within feet of where he stands. “Happy to fucking address any objections.”
Andre jerks his head up and two of the guys behind him lift what’s left of the guy on the ground.
Dominic’s livid gaze follows him. “You do that again, you’re out,” he barks as the guy spits out a mouthful of blood. Dom’s hand is dripping with it, and I push through the crowd to get to him as Sean speaks up.
“Ease up, man,” he mutters just as I reach them.
“Fuck him,” Dominic snaps, his rage-filled posture challenging everyone within feet of him.
“You’ve made your point,” Sean takes his place by his side.
Dominic looks over to where Tallahassee stands, surveying the damage to his car. “You all right, man?”
He nods as I reach Dominic, lifting his hand to inspect it. He jerks away from my touch, turning on a dime and rears back, fist drawn. He drops it once he sees my face, which drains of all blood when I witness the rage in his eyes up close.
“I’m good,” he snaps, jerking away from me, and I back away, right into Sean’s chest just as he hooks a hand around my waist. “Let him cool off, baby.”
I nod as Sean pulls me to his side and I glance over his tense frame, scanning for Alicia in the crowd, but she’s disappeared. “Let’s go,” Sean prompts, tugging me in the direction of his Nova.
