“That’s putting it mildly. I hate the fucker. He tried to screw up my life.”
“I hate to hear that,” Brad stated. “I also heard you blew up the track during tryouts. We could use a guy like you on the team. I need a racer who can outmatch the Bennett riders.”
Micah scoffed. “I was the best one out there. Chandler’s a pansy-ass bitch.”
Brad cleared his throat. “Do you think you could put aside your differences with him and race for us? Your riding is impeccable, but I know about your attempts to thwart Chandler off the track. I can’t have you doing that if you want to be a part of my team.”
“You want to win, right?” Micah argued. “Who cares what happens to the cocksucker.”
“I do. It’s no secret my guys don’t get along with the Bennett team, but I refuse to be a part of anything malicious. Levi’s death was a tragedy and it’s already dampened my reputation with people thinking I was involved with it. I can’t have anything like that fall on me again.”
“So you want me to ride clean?” The sound of disgust evident in his tone.
“Yes. Either you ride clean for me, or you’re out. I don’t want my riders involved in any scandals.”
The sound of a chair scraped against the floor. “Then I’m out. Sorry Hendrix, but I’m not a clean rider. Logan’s got payback coming to him for what he did to me. The fucker’s going down.”
Brad sighed. “I have to say I’m disappointed. Feel free to show yourself out.”
“So that’s it?” Micah growled. “You’re not gonna give me a spot on the team because of my vendetta for Chandler?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. I want to win, not hurt people. Now get out.”
A door slammed and Micah thundered away, his steps sounding angry. “Dude, what’s wrong?” Mark called out.
“Fuck off,” Micah growled.
The voices slowly dimmed, then I heard a door slam. Micah’s truck rumbled to life and he sighed. “Pick up your phone.”
A few seconds later, my phone rang. “That wasn’t what I was expecting,” I said.
“Me either. He looked appalled the whole time. The guy may be a dick, but he’s not a killer. I don’t think he’s the one we’re looking for.”
I wasn’t there to see the look on Hendrix’s face, but I trusted Micah. “We’re back at square one.”
“Not unless Hendrix is testing the waters,” he suggested. “I’m not saying I’m wrong in my assessment, but if he’s the one we’re looking for, maybe he has to trust me first.”
“I don’t know, man. I’m running out of options.” I didn’t like doubting myself, and even worse, investigating the people closest to me. I’d hoped it wouldn’t come to that, but it looked like I had no choice.
“Nah, man. We’re not running out of options. Maybe we’re looking in the wrong place.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.”
“What do you want me to do? If Hendrix doesn’t approach me again, I’m done on that end.”
I ran a hand through my hair. “Right now, hang tight and make sure you’re seen around town. If Mark and Jacob still want to hang, then do it. There’s no way you can join up with Bennett Racing after what we did.”
“What if you need help? How am I going to do that?”
“I don’t know, but we’ll figure it out.”
We hung up and I shut my laptop. There were so many factors, I couldn’t pinpoint where to start. If my accident was intentional, then who would want to hurt me? And what did that person have in common with Levi and Ethan? There was a name that came to mind, but Kassie wasn’t going to like it.
Kassidy
I woke up and the last thing I remembered was Logan picking me up in his arms and carrying me to his bed. After taking shots with Madison, I must’ve been drunker than I thought.
“Don’t we have to be at your dad’s for lunch?” Logan asked. I sat up and rubbed my eyes, realizing I was still in my clothes from the night before. The alarm clock said it was ten. Logan turned off the TV and pulled me into his arms, his T-shirt soft against my face. His blond hair was slightly damp and he smelled like he’d just gotten out of the shower. “I would’ve let you sleep some more, but I figured you’d need to take a shower.”
“I can’t believe I fell asleep. I wanted to hear what happened.” I looked up at him and his face fell. “What’s wrong? Did you find out anything?”
He nodded toward his bathroom. “Why don’t you get your shower in, then I’ll tell you.”
Getting up, I took off my clothes and hurried into his bathroom to take a shower. The room steamed up, so I hopped under the water. “Is Maddie still here?”