Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 149148 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 746(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149148 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 746(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
Never again, he thought with grim resolve. Whatever it took, he would win this fucking race and he would never let her go again, never give Bobby a chance to even remember another man’s name but his.
Chapter Seven
THE CLUB’S NAME ÁF̱XI̱SI̱ meant ‘rise’ in Greek, symbolizing the cornerstone in which all the club’s rules were founded on. Every member of the club had his own story to tell, his own tragedy to overcome, a self-made cage to break free from.
Throughout the world, everyone knew Áf̱xi̱si̱ as having the most daredevil riders, racers who dared stunts not even professional bikers and exhibitionists ever contemplated. In underground races, they were known for taking the same risks, a way of compensating for their dislike of using violence and underhanded tricks to win first place the way most other clubs encouraged its members to do.
When the old club died down, Helios had relocated the entire club to one of the vast properties his family owned, this time an abandoned ranch near the edge of the Evergreens. At the back of the sprawling two-story building he had built to house the club’s facilities was a racecourse of his own design – the kind that prevented any underhanded tricks from taking place but allowed for the most adventurous to take the wildest risks in order to win.
The most advanced sensors were installed to monitor every inch of the course, ensuring that racers would not be able to use any objects to destroy another racer’s beast or compromise the course’s integrity. On the other hand, there were ramps, rope bridges, and other obstacles that, when successfully conquered, offered shortcuts to the finish line of the circuitous course.
From where Bobby was standing, the entire course looked like something patterned after Snakes and Ladders, only this time human lives could be at stake. “Is this really safe?” This was the first time she would be watching an underground race where Leandro was competing. For that matter, it was her first time to see Sabastian race as well. Like Leandro, he had been “retired” since coming to live in America.
“98.4% safe.” MJ’s technical answer wasn’t much comfort, but she told herself she was only worried over Sabastian’s safety and no one else’s.
The girl Bobby had seen Leandro talking to earlier had been selected as the flag-waver for the race. Bobby tried not to look irritated even if she was at the fact that the girl had changed into a skimpy red bikini. Sure, it was summer now, but it wasn’t like there was even a stupid lake nearby. All the girl wanted was to flaunt her admittedly sexy body, and with the way she was hungrily looking at Leandro, there wasn’t any doubt who she was flaunting it for.
“She’s the president of the only all-female racing club here in Florida,” MJ explained, seeing the way Bobby was doing her best not glare at Erica Norwood. The two of them stood at the side of the starting line while the rest of the club’s members stood opposite them. It was always like this since MJ, as the official photographer, always had to look for a spot isolated from the crowds.
Bobby grimaced. “Am I that obvious?”
“Not at all, but I’m used to observing people when I take photos,” MJ said honestly. “So I often see more than I should.”
Bobby sighed. “Whatever you think you see in me, please keep it to yourself. Even from me.”
MJ couldn’t help but giggle a little since the other girl sounded truly desperate.
The sound made Bobby smile. “This day is honestly one of the most horrible in my life, but I have to say I’m really glad I got to talk to you. I hope we can have coffee and go out sometime.”
“I’d be glad to,” MJ answered shyly.
“You’re so shy it’s too cute for words,” Bobby teased. She burst out laughing when MJ turned red. “Okay, okay, I’ll quit teasing. If I keep teasing you, you might not talk to me again like you did last year.”
MJ’s eyes widened. “Oh no, did you think I was deliberately not talking to you?”
“Actually, I just thought you were shy.”
She shook her head. “No. It’s one of the rules of the club. When you’re a first year rookie, you’re only allowed to speak to officers when inside the club.”
“What?” Bobby exclaimed. “That’s crazy.”
“It’s for the club’s safety. There was a huge scandal a few years back because of a rookie’s indiscretion so...”
Seeing MJ was uncomfortable with disclosing club secrets, Bobby said quickly, “You don’t have to tell me.” Before she could say anything else, the bikini-clad flag-waver was shrilly counting down, “Three...two...one!”
Sabastian and Leandro’s beasts roared down the race course.
In a few seconds, it became quickly evident that Sabastian’s bike was a lot faster than Leandro’s, which was specifically built to conquer off-road terrain. On an even course, its bulk became a disadvantage, allowing Sabastian to take a greater lead.