Racing Hearts (Hollows Garage Book 3)

I woke up to Jax pulling me against his chest.

“I have to get up and head to the garage. Would you like your cup of coffee before I go?”

I snuggled in closer to him, the warm blankets, soft bed, and his arms around me to enticing to move from.

“Or you could stay here and we get our coffee in a bit,” I said.

His chest rumbled with a laugh as he kissed my head. “I think my heart just exploded. You’re asking me to stay close and snuggle? I knew you secretly loved all of those, all of me. I do, unfortunately, have to get to the garage today, though. I stayed with you all day yesterday and if I don’t go today, I don’t know if I ever will again.”

“One more day won’t hurt.”

“We could have a thousand more days like this if you stay.”

I could feel my body stiffen, but I didn’t pull away. “A thousand? So about 3 years and that’s it?”

He laughed again, reaching down to smack my ass. “You’re terrible. Thousands, forever if you want it.”

“So I could have forever, but not this morning? Seems like a trick,” I said, stifling my laugh.

“It is. I have to keep you guessing, so you are curious enough to stay.”

“Stay forever.” I repeated the word that was currently in my face. Forever was tattooed on him, but I still didn’t know how to promise someone forever or believe that they could promise me that. As though he read my thoughts, he leaned in to kiss my forehead.

“Need your name tattooed above it so you believe me? It could say ‘Carly forever’ if you want.”

“Absolutely not. You better not tattoo my name on yourself.”

He shrugged. “I would do it. I don’t care. If you don’t want your name, we can do something else. It could just say ‘little witch’ above it,” he said, laughing harder. “You can tattoo the rest of my body if it means you believe in forever with me.”

“I do not want the pressure of choosing tattoos for someone. I can’t even choose one for myself,” I said, trying not to panic.

“I’ll choose then. It will be a fun surprise one day for you,” he said, laughing as he kissed me. “Now, I’m getting up before I take you up on your offer of staying here all day. You can come with me if you would rather.”

“Go stay in the dirty garage all day or stay here with my dog and this amazing bed? I think I’ll choose here.”

He kissed me again before getting up. “I don’t blame you.”

I hung around Jax, telling him goodbye, and kissing him a hundred more times before he left.

AN HOUR LATER, I stepped out with Riot for his walk and pulled out my phone. Riot knew the longer path we were taking now and led me along while I watched cooking videos. It had become a routine that I loved. The calming walk each day making me feel some semblance of my life being normal.

We walked down the street towards the garage, turning down a side street to go around the block. I had thought about going to see Jax instead, but decided I might need to calm myself down and walk around the block once or twice, instead.

I could hear the rev of an engine, the sound not making me jump anymore. Their shop was so close that I knew it would be them. I was comfortable, finally feeling completely at home with Jax and the crew.

I turned the next corner, the peaceful street one of my favorites. The rev of the engine got closer, and I turned back, smiling to myself at the thought of Jax coming to see me. I had told him I was heading out on a walk, and knew that he was also hoping I would walk down to the garage. The car came to the stop sign and turned.

My heart dropped, my stomach churning as I watched the white car come towards me, the orange stripe down the side impossible to confuse with any of the crew.

It was Slaughter.

“No. No, no, no,” I said, trying to remember how to make my feet move.

But I could only stand there frozen, watching as his car sped towards me as bile rose in my throat. This was it.

He was here. He came to take me back. The sound of my own heartbeat filled my ears, the overwhelming rushing sound only making the anxiety worse.

My brain finally caught up, and I turned in the opposite direction, breaking into a run with Riot helping to pull me along. My throat tightened as tears threatened me. I didn’t want to go back.

I could make it, though. I could turn the corner, and then another before heading right to the garage. The entire crew was there, and I knew Slaughter wouldn’t be able to face them all alone.

The light at the end of the tunnel disappeared fast as another car turned the corner in front of me. This one was white with a blue stripe.

Tristan.

He turned down the road towards me, and I stopped. They were trapping me in, the entire yard behind me, surrounded by a tall fence. Riot realized something was wrong, his hackles going up as he watched the approaching car. I fumbled for my phone, wishing I hadn’t shoved it into my pocket before they showed up.

Jax.

I needed to call Jax. He wouldn’t let me get taken without coming for me.

I only had to make sure he knew where I was. I laughed, the sound coming out like a cry instead. I pulled out my phone as soon as Slaughter got out.

“Hey Carly, I’ve been looking all over for you,” he said, the furious tone chilling.

“How did you find me?”

“Had a friend tell me about a bitchy girl he ran into at the races. I almost didn’t believe him that it was you at first until he described you.”

Tristan came to a stop, jumping out and blocking me in further. I hit Jax’s name as Riot lunged, knocking the phone from my hand. The snarl that ripped from Riot made me pull back in shock, but he only pulled me forward again.

“Get him back or I will shoot him,” Slaughter said. I already knew how serious he was, but the gun he waved in his hand gave me a second reminder.

I pulled back again, only getting him half under control as Tristan came up behind me. Riot turned on him, snapping until he took a few steps back. “What are you doing here?” I finally said, my voice so unsteady that I only grew angry with myself.

“You know why I’m here. I’m running out of time and need your help, so come on, we are leaving.”

“I’m not leaving with you,” I said, trying to sound more firm this time.

Slaughter stepped forward, ignoring Riot. “I wasn’t asking. The fucking dog isn’t invited. I’ll take care of him before we leave.”

“I’m not going with you, and I’m not helping you steal cars.”

“I didn’t get you all that computer training so you could sit around on your ass. I told you we needed you for this job, and you ran out. You owe it to me, and you know what? You owe it to your mother to help the family get more money. She has worked her ass off for you and now you don’t want to do this for her?”

“For her? How is committing crimes going to help her?” I yelled. I could hear it now. It was so clear to me how he used every word to manipulate me.

“I really wasn’t asking,” Slaughter said. “Get her.” He nodded to Tristan who ran up behind me. His arms came around my waist, pulling me back against him. Fear coursed through me, the world spinning into a nightmare as I realized escaping was slipping further away. I was helpless. This was exactly what I had been scared of.

More engines revved around the block and I knew it was over. If there were more of them, I would never stand a chance. Even now, the odds were not in my favor. Tristan’s arms tightened on me as I fought back, a scream ripping from my throat as Riot barked, jumping up onto us as he snapped his jaw. Tristan lowered me, my feet finally touching the ground again. That was one bonus point of being a little heavier. There was no way he was carrying me, while I fought back, all the way to his car.

A sleek black car rounded the corner, two more behind it, and I recognized it immediately.

The Charger. It was Jax.

It was enough to remind me that I wasn’t alone. I pulled my arm out of Tristan’s grip, swinging my elbow back. In the same moment, Riot attacked, biting down on Tristan’s arm and not letting go.

Tristan screamed, dropping me to the ground as I lost my footing, but Riot wasn’t done. He lunged at him, biting down on his arm again and pulling. Tristan’s screams filled the air.

Slaughter started yelling over him, waving his gun around, as he tried to get it all under control, but his eyes were on the cars pulling up. His resolve seemed to waver as he realized he was now outnumbered. He hesitated, taking a step towards his car as his grip on the gun faltered. I knew Slaughter would assume they all also had guns, even though Jax had told me before that they don’t.

Riot, always vigilant, was back to guarding me, his teeth bared at Tristan who was awkwardly holding his arm, and trying to back away. I could see the blood dripping down and pooling at his feet, and grabbed onto Riot, trying to keep him close.

Jax got out of the Charger, walking past Slaughter like he wasn’t even there.

“Carly,” he said, his eyes searching over me for injuries. I was still on the ground, holding meekly onto Riot. I really had no care if he went after Slaughter or Tristan again, but I was too aware of Slaughters gun, and the threat to kill Riot. Jax grabbed my arms, pulling me up. “Are you okay?”

I nodded, not finding any words.

He nodded back, pushing me behind him, but I stepped back next to him, clinging to his arm.

“Considering you have six other pissed off people behind you,” he looked down at Tristan who was almost in tears holding onto his ruined arm, “and your little sidekick is a mess right now. I’m guessing you won’t be staying.”

“I’m on a deadline. She can’t hide forever, and she can’t keep my fucking laptop forever. Maybe now that I know where she is, I’ll call her in for theft.”

“She won’t be hiding. You obviously know she is with us, so no need to hide. As for calling in theft, that’s pretty rich coming from you. We’ve figured out how to ruin your life before. I’m sure we can do it again,” Jax said with a smirk.

Slaughter stared hard at Jax before his gaze shifted to me, and for a moment, I saw uncertainty flicker in his eyes.

“Tristan, get the fuck up and get her.”

I looked over, but Tristan was already stalking back to his car. “That fucking dog just about ripped my arm off. You get her! I need to go get my fucking arm reattached.” He slid behind the wheel, slamming his door, and taking off on the sidewalk to get around the crew’s cars.

“Fuck,” Slaughter screamed. “Fuck, that stupid asshole, running off like that”

He turned to me. “I’m coming back, Carly, and you can expect I will be taking you and that laptop home to finish my job. I have a lot riding on this deal, and you better step up to help your family.”

“I’m not your family!” I screamed as he slammed his door and took off.

We all stood, watching as he rounded the corner, and waiting until the sound of his engine faded. Jax turned, grabbing my arms, and looking me over again.

“Are you really okay? He didn’t hurt you?”

“No, he didn’t have a chance with Riot. He only grabbed me for a minute to try to get me to the car. Thank you,” I said, before turning to the rest of them. “Thank all of you for coming.”

“Of course,” Quinn said. “We will always be here.”

Everyone agreed before Jax wrapped an arm around me.

“We are going back to the apartment. Can you guys head to the garage to make sure he doesn’t try anything.”

They nodded.

“Come on,” he said, pulling me towards the car. I went along, not quite believing what had just happened.

“Why are you driving this?” I asked.

“I did have to take it for a test drive,” he said, smiling. Riot came over, barking until Jax opened the door before jumping up, crawling over the seat until he was sitting comfortably in the back. I slide in as he held the door open.

“Well, that makes one of you who wants to go for a drive. Could we make it two?”

“We shouldn’t be driving this. I don’t want to break anything.”

“First of all, you won’t be breaking anything. It would be me, and I would take the blame. Second, I was short on options and needed to get to you. I’m pretty sure your grandpa would be happy about that.”

“Okay, that is fair.” He got in, turning to Riot and petting him, telling him how good he was.

I didn’t disagree, but I still crossed my arms, watching his eyes light up as he looked at me.

In one beautiful moment, I was falling in love, and in the next, the terrible truth that I had to tell him crashed into me.

I did have to tell him now. Slaughter just told him so there was really no hiding it now, but first, I was going to steal one more moment that I wanted. One more second because there was no stopping the inevitable wreck that was about to happen in my life. Slaughter knew where I was, and I was out of options.

I leaned over, waiting for him to come closer. His hand wrapped around the back of my neck and pulled me in to kiss me.

“Ready?” he asked, putting the car back into gear to head out.

“Yeah, I’m ready.”