I freshen up in the bathroom of Travis' house, I glance at myself in the mirror and smirk a bit, I put my gun back in the waistband of my jeans once again and flip my leather jacket over it.

Tonight was a mistake, I knew that. Yet I couldn't either want to stop it, it was happening and Jake would be pissed–Marcus was already pissed, he hadn't tried to talk to me all night.

Not that it bothered me or anything.

I exit the bathroom and see everyone dressed and ready to leave, Travis's eyes took me in, he drank my body up with his eyes, if I didn't know any better I would've covered under his disgusting gaze–but I held my place and challenged him.

He chuckled in amusement before calling everyone out to their cars and motorcycles, I followed Marcus who walked up to his motorcycle.

When I realized I had to ride with him, it made me uneasy, I cleared my throat as Marcus waited for me to get on behind him.

"I'll ride with Connor" The words escaped my mouth and I hurried up to Travis' second in command dog and got into his truck, he laughed pleased by the fact that I ditched my supposedly most trusted colleague.

At least that's what they thought he was to me, I shook my head and turned up the music as Connor took off.

Marcus seemed shocked by my actions and looked flabbergasted as he didn't get the memo to take off after us, I glanced back in the mirrors to see Marcus shake his head and take off.

Anger radiated off of him as he raced up beside Connor's truck easily, I ignored his glare, I could feel it through his helmet– he raced ahead up to Travis and remained at the front as we approached the race site.

We pull up at the races and I start out by having many drivers to race against. Marcus easily handed his keys over to me as I had my first challenger.

No words were exchanged, only a glance, but his eyes spoke what words couldn't, he wanted me to not fuck his motorcycle up and be safe.

So, this far I've won two motorcycles, the rest of the races were for money, everyone quickly learned not to race with pink slips against me nor Marcus.

I loved Marcus' motorcycle, it was incredible–I was able to move perfectly when I rode it, it was just perfect.

"Alright, I think it's my turn now" Travis calls out, everyone turns to him and looks are shared back and forth between us, I chuckle and Marcus laughs from beside me, he licks his lips in amusement and I look away from him.

"Alright—I'm gonna win you a new motorcycle" I say and stand up, Marcus does as well before pulling me closer to him, I freeze at his actions– but decide to not create an even bigger scene than Travis had.

"Please do" Marcus says amused before turning serious, like he had more to say, so I wait for him to continue.

"Travis is known for his temper and you're racing pink slips—if he loses–well, he's known for his violence. Last week a rookie kid went missing after Travis lost a motorcycle and a car to him. Just warning you" Marcus half whispers as he eyes our surroundings.

"Got it, you got my back just in case?" I ask and look up at him, our eyes lock and his eyes soften. "Always" His lips curve up into a genuine smile, his eyes are soft and shows what words once again can't say.

A smile creeps onto my face as well. In the moment I got lost in his eyes, he seemed genuine–his hand came up to my chin, he lifted it slightly and I swallowed the lump in my throat, he slowly dipped his head down towards mine.

I could feel his warm breath on my skin, goosebumps raised all over my body, but sadness also hit me, as well as the sudden need and lust for him.

"Marcus...—we know how it goes–so let's not do this" I half whisper, he nods slowly before leaning down to press a kiss to my forehead.

He hands me the black familair helmet and I swallow the lump in my throat, even so, I put on the helmet and secure it before sighing to myself.

Marcus gently pulled me closer by my neck and leaned his head down next to the side of the helmet.

"Crush them" is all he says before letting go of me, my chest hurts at the way he instantly lets go of me, nevertheless I nod and get onto his motorcycle, then I race up to Travis, I still had my gun in my waistband.

"Are you ready baby?" The race starter shouted at me, I gave a firm nod and a rev in response.

"Ohh, are you ready?" She shouts to Travis who revs his engine as well, Travis was the typical asshole, he's an alpha male, he loves himself so much he would fuck his own ego, which is what I hope to use against him.

"Go!" She shouts.

I take off and feel Travis next to me. I grit my teeth and race faster down the road, no fucking way I'm losing Marcus' motorcycle to this prick.

Travis glanced sideways to me, I returned the stare, I could feel the smirk he sent me, he took off doing a steep to get ahead, I cursed under my breath and pushed the motorcycle to its limits.

I caught up to Travis and even got ahead of him, he shouted at me in frustration and anger, his anger gave me fuel and I continued to race faster towards the finish line.

My eyes widened in a wicked way when I realized he had no way of winning, the front tire flew across the finish line and the crowd went crazy as I flew past the line.

Everyone cheered and waved at me, I stopped the motorcycle and watched Travis carefully, while waiting for the outburst Marcus talked about.

The instant I saw him getting off, I started making donuts on the road—creating smoke to blind him momentarily.

He reached behind him and I knew he went for his gun, I smirked and continued till smoke covered the sight of me and Marcus' motorcycle.

I got off and pulled out my own gun, as the smoke cleared I saw Travis looking confused around, trying to spot me.

I aimed at his head and when he saw, his face fell. He was about to direct his gun to aim at me, but a gun pressed into his temple.

"Try that once—and I'll paint the street red with your brain mass" Marcus snapped at him, Travis put his gun upwards in the air to surrender and Marcus took it.

I grinned as he truly had my back, Travis shook his head in defeat before getting the keys out of his motorcycle, he threw them towards me and I caught them he instantly left after that, I walked up to Marcus and grinned.

"Like your new ride?" I ask him and he chuckles before shaking his head playfully, we drive back on the motorcycles and we load them in the truck before starting the drive home.

"That was so awesome, seriously— you crushed them—how did you get so good?" Marcus asks me as he now drives the truck back home.

"I practiced a lot and eventually got lots of races" I say and shrug, Marcus laughs while shaking his head, amazed by me. My heart fluttered at the fact.

"We should stop for the night" Marcus said as he watched the time.

"What? No—we're just four hours away" I say, insisting that we did not stop.

"Alex, I'm tired as fuck. Besides Jake gave us money to crash somewhere" Marcus says and I sigh. "Fine"

The next motel we pass we get a room. "Two beds please" I say and lean forward on the counter.

"We only have bedrooms with one bed left" The lady says and I sigh in annoyance.

"Of course you do" I say as I feel Marcus hovering over me from behind.

She hands me the key and I walk out immediately. "I'm taking the couch" I say as I unlock the door and walk in.

"Don't be stupid. We're not animals—we can share a bed, Alex" Marcus retorts with an offended scoff.

"If you say so" I say and go straight to the bathroom, I take a shower and rinse off the dust and dirt from racing, once I get out I realize there were no towels in here.

I groan loudly and lean back against the shower wall in defeat. "Fuck" I whisper angrily.

What is the point of having towels anywhere else but in the bathroom? Like come on people, grow a brain.

"Marcus!" I shout, I hear movements and so I know he's by the door.

"I forgot a towel, can you plea—" I'm cut off as the door opens slightly and he throws in a towel before closing it again.

I chuckle as I catch it, I dry myself off before wrapping it around my body and then I walk out to get fresh clothes.

The silence is filled with tension and awkwardness between us, I get my clothes and walk back into the bathroom and slip it on.

I grab an oversized shirt that I got from Louie and slip it on, it went just above my knees, so it was perfect to sleep in.

"Thank you for not wrecking my motorcycle, today" Marcus mumbled and I gave him a small smile in response, I got into the bed and turned my back to him. I heard more movements and I figured he stripped off his clothes before getting under the covers.

"Thank you for trusting me with it" I half whisper back to him as he turns off the light.

I hear him chuckle quietly. "Of course"

My heart fluttered some more and I had to pinch myself to stop smiling like an idiot in the darkness.

"Alex...there's something you should know" Marcus suddenly says, I turn my head to give him my attention and he does the same–our faces are inches away and our eyes lock.

"What?" I ask him. "I cared about you a lot back then, I still do—so, I want to make it work, I want to be able to be civil with you. Can we at least do that? For your brothers?" Marcus asks and I remain silent for a moment.

"I can do that" I say as I make up my mind, today was actually fun, Marcus had my back and he didn't hold me back, he trusted me as well as I trusted him.

Marcus breathes out in what I assume is relief and I turn to lay flat on my back, we lay in silence and I sigh as I realize I can't sleep.

"Stop sighing" Marcus mumbled sleepily. "I'll do whatever I want, thank you" I retorted amused.

"Stop being a childish brat" Marcus retorts and I scoff in offense–"You think I'm a childish brat? Really?" I retort in disbelief and Marcus chuckles dryly.

"I don't think—I'm concluding you are" Marcus snaps amused.

"Fuck you" I retort and turn my back to him once again–"See? Fuck you" Marcus mocks and I turn my head to glare at him.

"Yeah, fuck you, Marcus!" I spat and turned my head back to stare at the wall. "Stop saying fuck you" Marcus says in a warning tone, I rolled my eyes at the way he thought he could make me stop saying what I wanted.

"Fuck you" I repeat, before I know it—I'm turned in the bed and I'm laying on my back, with Marcus hovering over me.

"Stop" Marcus repeated, I scoffed and fake smiled at him. "Fuck you, Torres" I retort and roll my eyes.

He grabs my bare thigh and holds me in place as his other arm is holding him up, but his hand is holding my chin–a warming sensation of the heat of his skin and arousal shoots through my body.

"Careful, Alex" He says through gritted teeth, I could hear his heart hammering in his chest, I grew amused by the situation and smirked at him as he was on top of me.

"Oh really?" I retort and roll my eyes once again.

Without warning he smashes his lips onto mine.