Teen Street Racers

Chapter 5: Into the Lion's Den

Jax and Ava’s cars rolled to a stop just beyond the finish line. The tension hung in the air like thick smoke as the crowd erupted in cheers, but neither of them celebrated. They knew this wasn’t a victory, not yet. Not with what had just happened.

Jax glanced at Ava as she climbed out of her Mustang, her eyes still burning with anger. Whoever had tried to sabotage her car clearly wasn’t interested in playing fair, and that meant they were getting closer to uncovering the truth.

“That was too close,” Jax muttered as he stepped out of his Skyline. “They weren’t just racing us, Ava. They were trying to take you out.”

Ava’s lips pressed into a tight line. “I know. They’re scared. They know I’m not going away.”

Before they could say more, the blacked-out SUV they had noticed earlier pulled up beside them. The men who had been watching the race stepped out, their faces obscured by the low lighting. Their leader, a tall man with slicked-back hair and a cold, calculating expression, approached them.

“So, you two are the talk of the night,” he said, his voice smooth but dripping with condescension. “Ava… Jax. You made quite the impression.”

Ava crossed her arms, standing tall despite the danger looming in front of them. “We’re here to race. If you’re not going to talk about that, we’re done.”

The man chuckled softly, his eyes flickering with amusement. “Oh, we’ll talk about racing. But first, I think we should talk about who you’re really here for.” His gaze locked onto Ava, his smile fading. “Leo.”

The mention of her brother’s name made Ava’s expression harden. “What do you know about Leo?”

The man’s eyes gleamed with a cold amusement. “I know he was a good driver. One of the best. But he made a mistake—he crossed the wrong people.”

Jax felt his fists clench. “And those people were you?”

The man shrugged. “I’m not the only one who runs things around here. There’s a whole network, and your brother… he got in over his head.”

Ava took a step forward, her voice steady but seething with anger. “What happened to him? Where is he?”

The man’s smile returned, but it was darker now, more menacing. “That’s not a question you should be asking in public, Ava. But if you really want answers, meet me tomorrow night. Same place, same time. And bring your A-game, because the stakes are going up.”

Jax glanced at Ava, knowing this was the moment they had been waiting for. But it felt like a trap. The man turned and walked back toward the SUV, his cronies following close behind. Before getting in, he shot one last look at them. “Oh, and tell Mason he’s got something coming for him, too.”

As the SUV pulled away, the crowd began to disperse, but the tension between Jax and Ava remained thick.

“They know everything,” Ava whispered, more to herself than to Jax. “They’ve been watching us this whole time.”

Jax placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to steady her. “We knew it would come to this. But now we’re in. Tomorrow, we get our answers.”

Ava turned to face him, her eyes filled with a mix of determination and fear. “And what if tomorrow’s our last race, Jax? What if we’re walking into something we can’t handle?”

Jax met her gaze, his voice firm. “Then we handle it together.”

---

The next day felt like a blur. Jax spent the afternoon fine-tuning his car, his mind racing with thoughts of the night ahead. He had been in dangerous situations before, but this felt different. This was personal—not just for Ava, but now for him too. He had gotten himself deep into this mess, and there was no backing out now.

As night fell, he made his way to the same warehouse where it all began. The tension was almost unbearable as he pulled up to the spot. The familiar sound of engines filled the air, but there was an undercurrent of danger tonight—everyone seemed on edge, waiting for the real action to begin.

Ava was already there, leaning against her Mustang, staring into the distance. Jax could tell by the look on her face that she hadn’t slept. She looked like she was ready for a fight.

“Are you sure about this?” Jax asked as he approached her. “These guys aren’t playing around, Ava.”

Ava didn’t take her eyes off the road. “I don’t have a choice, Jax. I need to know what happened to Leo.”

Jax nodded, understanding the weight of her words. “Then we go in smart. No reckless moves.”

Just then, the familiar black SUV from the previous night pulled into the lot, parking just far enough away to keep things tense. The same man from before stepped out, flanked by two bodyguards. He walked over to them with a smug smile on his face.

“Glad you two made it,” he said, glancing at Ava. “Tonight’s going to be fun. But remember, if you want answers, you’ll have to earn them.”

Ava glared at him. “What’s the deal?”

The man grinned, nodding toward the distant stretch of road. “A simple race. But this time, it’s not just about winning. The winner gets the answers. The loser… well, let’s just say you don’t want to lose.”

Jax felt a chill run down his spine. This was exactly what he feared—a trap. But they had come too far to turn back now.

Ava stepped forward, her voice cold and controlled. “Fine. Let’s race.”

The man’s grin widened as he turned to walk away, but before he did, he paused and looked back at them. “One more thing—no rules this time. Anything goes. I hope you’re ready.”

As the man and his bodyguards walked back to the SUV, Jax turned to Ava, his voice low. “This is bad, Ava. He’s setting us up.”

Ava nodded, her jaw clenched. “I know. But I don’t care. I’m not leaving here without the truth.”

Jax could see the fire in her eyes. She wasn’t just racing for her brother anymore—she was racing for herself. To finally put the past to rest.

“Then let’s do this,” Jax said, gripping her shoulder. “But we do it our way.”

---

The engines roared as the race began, the night air filled with the smell of burning rubber and gasoline. The road ahead was long and treacherous, and Jax could feel the weight of every turn, every decision. The black SUV followed behind them, keeping a close eye on the race—like vultures waiting for the kill.

Ava pushed her Mustang to the limit, her focus razor-sharp. Jax stayed close, watching for any signs of foul play. They knew the stakes, and this time, they were ready for anything.

But as they neared the halfway point, Jax spotted something up ahead—another car, parked just off the side of the road. It wasn’t part of the race. He didn’t have time to think before the car pulled out, speeding straight toward Ava’s Mustang.

“Watch out!” Jax shouted into the radio, his heart pounding.

Ava swerved just in time, narrowly avoiding a collision. The mystery car slammed into the side barrier, but it was clear this wasn’t just a random attack. They were being hunted.

Jax’s mind raced as he gunned the accelerator, catching up to Ava. “They’re trying to take us out.”

Ava’s voice crackled over the radio. “Let them try.”

As they neared the final stretch, Jax knew this race wasn’t going to end with a simple finish line. This was just the beginning of something far more dangerous. But together, he and Ava would face whatever came next.

Because now, it was about more than just winning—it was about surviving.