Page 249 of Rogue Riders Duet

He blinks. “You’re done?”

“Yeah. I’m done racing. My career ended with the last race.”

“Finn—”

“It’s fine. Honestly, it was over a long time ago. I was just too much of a coward to admit it. Kept chasing ghosts because I didn’t know who I was without the plate on my bars.”

His silence is heavy on the other end, but I press through it.

“Doesn’t mean I’m leaving the sport, though. You know I love this too much to stay away, but I won’t be racing again.”

He exhales hard. “I get that. I really do, but you’ve still got a contract with us, Greer. Walking away like this will cost you.”

I shrug. “I know. It’s fine.”

“Fuck.” He scrubs a hand down his face, then softens. “Go on, break some hearts on a random Friday morning.”

I smile faintly. “I’m sorry to end it like this, but I’ll be around for the rest of the circuit. I’ll come find you in Val di Sole, say goodbye properly, okay?”

“You better.” He jabs a finger at the screen. “Or I’ll come find you, Finn Greer.”

“Yes, sir.”

The moment the call ends, I sag back against the headboard, my spine finally giving out. Relief hits me so hard, I exhale sharply through my nose and grimace at the sting, but it’s worth it. God, it’s worth it.

That conversation has been overdue for months, years really, and yeah, it’s going to cost me. Terminating my contract, the payout clauses, the fines, they’re going to gut my savings and maybe ruin me for a while, but I can come back from that. I can fight through financial ruin. I’ve done harder things.

My phone buzzes in my hand, the screen lighting up with a text from Luc-fucking-Delacroix.

Luc

Alaina’s check-up is in 30, better be there.

Harder things, like dealing with that maniac.

No emojis. No forgiveness. But still, it’s a bone. One I don’t deserve but will grab onto like a lifeline because that’s exactly what it is.

Maybe he hates me a little less today than when I left his home with a shattered nose and blood down my shirt, with Dane’s fist print on my face and her name still bleeding from my mouth. Or maybe he just pities me.

Either way, I’m going.

I’m dressed and in a taxi in record time, and twenty minutes later I’m standing outside the same hospital I limped out of three days ago. The one where they reset my nose but not the rest of me.

The sun beats down on me like it’s in on the punishment.

Not that I haven’t done enough damage on my own.

Since I got back to the hotel from this place, I’ve been making a plan. Trying to line up every step like a clean race line. Smooth, direct, and with no room for error.

Like any of that ever worked for me.

First priority? Alaina.

Fix what I broke, which is everything.

I don’t even know whether that’s possible, but I decided I’m done being a coward. I’m done hiding behind what-ifs and could-have-beens. If this is the hill I die on, so be it.

She’s worth it.