Page 18 of Austin

“I won’t tell anyone that I saw you at the race as long as you protect Beckett.”

I can see his mouth ready to spew insults, but I shut him down by opening the door and slamming it behind me. When I’m out in the hall, I’m beyond thankful to see it’s empty. I don’t need any of my new coworkers watching me emerge from a closet with the boss.

I hurry back to my desk and take a seat as the rush of what just happened has my pulse quickening.

It’s not more than ten seconds before my hand subconsciously rises to my lips.

Because, even though I don’t want anyone to know what just happened between us, I can’t help but feel his kiss. I’ve never been kissed like that.

It also looks like I won’t ever be again.

5

AUSTIN

I slam my palm on the closed door and curse under my breath, “Fuck.”

My back falls hard against the wall as I take a few seconds to gain my composure. With my dick solid as a rock and my heart revved up, my brain is having a hard time telling both to calm the fuck down.

I rub a hand over my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose. This day has turned out to be the opposite of what it should have been, and it’s not even nine o’clock.

Pulling my phone from my pocket, I power it up and tap on Gregg’s name.

Before he finishes saying, “Hello?” I’m shouting, “What the hell happened last night?”

“Tyler’s dead,” Gregg says with a raspy voice.

I spit into the phone, “I know. There’d better be a good reason I found out from Bryce and not you.”

“Try answering your phone, asshole.” His breathing is heavy.

I know he doesn’t need my shit right now. He knew Tyler, too, and his ass is on the line just as much as mine, but he doesn’t have a facade to hide behind.

“What happened last night, Gregg?”

“I don’t know, man. We all left when the sirens came through. I was with Julie. We were home, asleep. It wasn’t until my phone started blowing up this morning that I heard Tyler had gotten into an accident. He was getting on the freeway on his way back to Richmond. Car lost control and slammed into a barricade.”

“The police are looking or us. They know he came from a race.”

Gregg lets out a sigh. “Yeah, he was in the car with friends. One was taken to the hospital, but everyone else is okay. They were shaken up and told the cops where they had been. They can’t put this on us, right?”

“They can’t. It’s just politics. No one is coming after us. It didn’t happen during an actual race. You have any info on the funeral?”

“No. I’ll keep you posted. You’re gonna pay for it, right?” Gregg asks.

My fingers massage the back of my neck, feeling the clamminess of my skin beneath the collar. “I can’t leave a mother to bury her son like that. Just get me the info, and I’ll take care of it.”

“Will do,” he says with a slight bit of hesitation in his voice. “You okay? I know this is a bit unnerving, but you sound … off.”

Clearing my throat, I lift my head and get my shit back in order. “I’m fine. Make sure the next race is still on. We’ll make it a tribute to Tyler.”

“Next race? Austin, are you sure you want to have another race with the police breathing down our necks?”

I give a light laugh. “Can’t think of a greater rush.” With my hand on the door, I open it and step out into the hallway. “We race for Tyler. Now that Beckett’s out, I want to scout some new talent.”

He lets out a heavy sigh. “Whatever you say.”

I end the conversation and let the phone slide back into my pocket.