Street Heat

Chapter Six - Unseen Signals

"I'm going to talk to Carlos about today's cut," I said, stepping out from between the two. The energy felt thick, and I needed a moment away. "Don't start the party without me, boys."

I didn't notice Magnus's clenched fists or the way his gaze followed Roman as I walked off toward Carlos, where he was sitting in a folding chair by a firepit. The crowd of racers and spectators swarmed around me, and the beat of the music made the air vibrate, but I could still sense the weight of their unsaid feud. After discussing the reward money with Carlos, I looked back toward where I'd left Magnus and Roman. Roman had moved on, standing casually by another girl, his hand resting lightly on the roof of her car. She was laughing, tilting her head toward him in a way I recognized all too well. But it didn't seem like a big deal, because he seemed not that interested, despite a couple charming grins. So many girls came up to him, but he was interested in me. Only me.

It was nothing. I turned back to Carlos, shrugging it off. Roman was Roman, and I didn't have time to overthink his every move. No point in stressing over Roman's flirty demeanour, especially when Magnus didn't seem worried.

Or so I thought.

Magnus, however, had seen enough. He stormed over to Roman, the calm expression he usually wore gone, replaced with anger. He grabbed Roman by the collar, shoving him back against the car. The loud thud made the girl Roman had been talking to jump.

"What's your problem?" Magnus sneered, voice low but deadly. Roman's expression stayed calm, a smirk still playing at the edges of his lips. 

"Relax, man," he said, hands up in a mock surrender. "We're just talking. You know I like Lottie."

Magnus didn't budge. "You think I don't see through you? You think I don't know what you're doing?"

Roman raised an eyebrow, his smirk growing wider. "What exactly am I doing?" His tone was smooth, calm, but it only seemed to make Magnus angrier.

"Don't act like you're not trying to mess with her," Magnus spat, pushing Roman again, only harder. "She's not just another one of your flings, dickwad."

Before the situation could escalate, I intervened. "What the hell is going on?" I demanded, shoving myself between the two of them. "Magnus, stop!"

They broke apart, but Magnus's fists were still clenched, his eyes burning with anger. Roman, meanwhile, remained infuriatingly calm, shrugging like nothing had happened. "Magnus, what is this about?" I asked, staring at him in confusion. Magnus avoided my eyes, shaking his head. 

"Nothing. He owes Carlos money. A lot of it. And I don't want you caught in the middle of it. I got carried away." Magnus answered sharply, his eyes still remaining on Roman. Roman, ever the charmer, played along, straightening his jacket with a casual shrug. 

"I down owe him that much. Just a misunderstanding, baby." He said, wrapping his arm around me and looking into my eyes with admiration. I scowled, sensing something was off but unable to put my finger on it. I glanced at Roman again, then back at Magnus. "Mag's just worked up, that's all. Guess he's not used to seeing you hang out with someone other than him."

I glimpsed at Magnus, who now looked embarrassed. But that quickly faded, and he looked at me with a grim yet sombre expression etched on his face. His eyes were soft when looking at me.