Playing with Fire

✨ Chapter Fifteen | Rally, Part 1

— Carlos —

The rumble of engines thudded in my chest, steady and wild all at once... like my heartbeat. Fast. Nervous. Alive.

I leaned against the registration table, fingers gripping the edge tight, like it might hold me together. The sun lit up dozens of rows of gleaming bikes, reflecting off the polished chrome and candy-colored paint jobs. Around me, riders laughed, talked, shouted, the whole lot buzzing with energy and the smell of leather and exhaust.

We pulled it off.

Well... mostly.

The rally wasn't perfect, not by a long shot... The banners showed up late, the coffee guy ran out of cups, and that gnawing pit in my stomach? Still there. Because whoever decided to sabotage Phoenix Cycles... whoever had the nerve to use Chuck's code? They weren't done yet. I could feel it.

Like a shadow on the edge of everything. Watching. Waiting... Hoping we'd fail.

But the lot was full. Bikes lined up, ready to hit the road. For now, the chaos could wait.

Riders leaned on handlebars, hung out in clusters, or revved their engines in short bursts, all lit up like they'd just won the lottery. Leather jackets, boots, patches... this crowd was family in their own way. And we'd given them this. Pulled it off, even with everything working against us.

Still... I couldn't shake the unease. My eyes darted to the edges of the lot, skimming over gaps between bikes and groups of people. I half expected someone to step out with a smug grin and reveal themselves... Probably irrational.

Probably...

But after all the cancellations, "accidents," and weirdly timed screw-ups? It was hard not to jump at shadows.

Near the starting line, Chuck stood talking to one of the marshals, clipboard in hand, completely in his element. His voice carried... calm, commanding, and steady.

Watching him work the rally wasn't just hot as hell, it was reassuring. Chuck was my rock in a storm I hadn't even realized I was caught in. If anyone could keep this rally from imploding, it was him. He wasn't just the backbone of the event, he was the one holding me together... Whether he knew it or not, I was clinging to him.

"Carlos!" Colton's voice yanked me out of my spiral.

He jogged over, clipboard in hand, his tall, lanky frame buzzing with restless energy. His dark hair stuck up in a way that screamed too much coffee, not enough sleep.

Hudson trailed behind, as steady as ever in his favorite worn-out sweater and dirty old Converse, looking so out of place in this sea of black leather and roaring engines... but I fucking loved that about him. While everyone else tried to blend in, Hudson didn't bother.

Meanwhile, I guess I wasn't blending in either... I was rocking my boots, pink crop top, ripped jeans  under a baggy jacket. Not exactly biker chic, but... whatever, I wasn't here to impress.

"First wave's ready. You and Chuck sticking around for the first half?" Colton asked, barely sparing me a glance as he scribbled on his clipboard.

"Yeah," I said, my voice more confident than I felt. "We're keeping an eye on things here, making sure the second wave gets out clean."

Colton nodded, scanning the lot. "Good... Just make sure nobody does anything stupid, okay?"

I forced a laugh, but my focus drifted back to Chuck... He was looking at me now, his gaze steady and unreadable. For a second, the chaos of the rally faded.