Page 81 of Ruled By Wizard

“Beats me. You’d have to ask one of the brothers.”

Natalia counted the riders in front of Wizard. He was fourth in line.

“Are they all going to make the jump?”

“No. Some of them just want to race their bikes. We never know who’s going for it until they head for the jump.”

“This is crazy,” she muttered, more to herself than to Raci.

“That’s one of the requirements for becoming a Last Rider,” Raci said, laughing.

“Does Wizard jump?”

“I’ve never seen him do it, but I don’t come often. I was only able to tonight because my mother-in-law offered to babysit. I have two children—one is three, and the other is eight months old.”

Natalia’s attention was diverted when another rider moved to the far end of the runway. She recognized him immediately. There was no way Doom would make the jump. Arden would kill him if the landing didn’t.

Doom started off at a speed that had her hands curling around the edge of the bench. When he didn’t slow, she squeezed her eyes shut. He was going for the jump.

Holding her breath, she waited for the shout, her fingernails digging into the wood.

“He made it!”

The shout was followed by cheers and stomping feet.

Fury began to simmer in the pit of her stomach. Opening her eyes, she saw Wizard move his bike toward the starting point.

“Who’s next?”

Raci leaned forward, staring intently at the rider.

“I think that’s Flint. He’s a new recruit, but I’m not sure. I don’t know many of the new ones. I don’t go to the club anymore, and I can only make it to a few of the bashes.”

Natalia heard the sad wistfulness in her voice.

“I’m sure a three-year-old and an eight-month-old keep you busy,” she said sympathetically.

Raci shook her head. “It’s not that. They really don’t want me hanging out with them anymore. They put up with me because they like Bender, and Wizard makes them.”

Seeing the hurt in her eyes, Natalia finally noticed they were sitting alone on their bench. The other women sat on another bench or stood nearby.

“Why, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“I broke their trust. They believe I betrayed them.”

The next question was harder to ask. “Did you?”

“Yes, and there hasn’t been a day since that I haven’t regretted it.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Raci nudged her, changing the subject. “Do you think Flint will go for it or chicken out? I think he will. If he’s a new recruit, he probably will. They hate to chicken out before they get their patches.”

Natalia studied the rider. “I don’t think he will.”

Before they could say anything else, Flint took off. From the start, she could tell he was going as fast as Bender and Puck had. Three quarters of the way down the runway, however, Flint slowed and made a U-turn.

Raci gave her a strange look. “You were right.”