Chapter 176 Preparing To Race

Chapter 176 Preparing To Race
Jeremy’s POV

The cigarette burned slowly between my fingers, the smoke curling up toward the wooden ceiling of the lodge like it was searching for a way out. I leaned against the counter by the wide glass window, one shoulder pressed into the cool stone wall, staring out at the stretch of mountains beyond. The morning here in Monaco was quiet in a way that felt peaceful and grounding. I loved it.

I shouldn’t have been smoking.

I knew that. My lungs needed to be clean. My body needed to be sharp. This race wasn’t some underground run I could muscle through with adrenaline and rage. This was official. International. Precision mattered. Discipline mattered.

But the last week had wrecked me.

I needed something to take the edge off. Something to quiet the images that kept replaying in my head no matter how hard I tried to focus—blood on white tiles, Teyana’s limped frame that had shaken me to my bones, my father’s hand striking my face, the sound of my own breathing when everything inside me felt hollowed out. And now…Alice’s death.

I dragged in another breath of smoke and let it sit in my chest before exhaling slowly.

I had secured a private lodge. High up, tucked away from the rest of the racers and spectators. I didn’t want noise or anyone breaking in occasionally. I was not in the mood for people.

I was representing the ‘Los Alamos biker team’ today. That still sat heavy on my shoulders. I wasn’t scared. I was confident in my skills. My other biker brothers were lodged in a room nearby.

My phone buzzed on the counter.

I glanced at the screen. I guessed it was the hotel receptionist, and when I picked, I was right. “Some people are here to see you. Mr Zayne Greyson and Miss Taylor Geoffery,” I told her to send them in.

“Got it.” She said. 

The only people I was expecting were here.

I ended the call and paused smoking. I went to the bathroom to look at myself in the mirror. I wasn’t ready to be interrogated by Zayne about why I looked high. I was dressed casually—black joggers hanging low on my hips, a plain armless white tee stretched across my chest, sleeves pushed up to my elbows. My hair was damp from a shower I hadn’t fully enjoyed, my head still too loud for hot water to do its job.

Zayne had told me days ago that he’d be traveling out here to watch the race. He’d mentioned he wouldn’t be alone. He was coming with his girlfriend- Taylor.

The same Taylor who had spilled red wine on his jacket two months ago at the hangout Hartley had invited us to. 
I remembered Zayne coming back that night after going after her. He had been genuinely amused in a way I hadn’t seen in a long time.

“She’s a challenge,” he’d said, almost proud of it. He wasn’t even able to achieve her number.

But later on, he was able to contact her. Trust a man who was willing to get something to get it at all cost. “She’s been a fit,” he’d added later. “Hadn’t agreed to shit for three weeks now. She wouldn’t even go on a date with me.”

I had chuckled and told him that alone should’ve scared him off.

But Zayne had looked genuine as he said, “I like the chase.”

Taylor was 21.One of two twin daughters of a multimillionaire scientist. Old money. Quiet power . Any other girl would’ve melted under Zayne’s attention—his looks, confidence, wavy lifestyle.

But not her.

One day- last month to be precise, Zayne had come to me while I was getting ready to ride with a satisfying cunning look on his face. 

“Guess what? We fucked,” he’d said.

I’d barked out a laugh. “How the hell did you go from her dodging you like a plague to that?”

He’d shrugged, “Turns out she liked me too. She just didn’t want another rich fuckboy pretending he wanted something serious. She wanted to know if I meant it.”

He’d told me she laid it all out on their first date. She wanted seriousness.

After that, they’d gone back to his strip club. Drank and danced— One thing leading into another until they ended up in bed.

I’d told him he’d lose interest now that he’d gotten what he wanted.

But Zayne had surprised me with his words, “I don’t think so,” he’d said. “She’s still in my head.”

That had made me smile. I was genuinely happy for him. I wouldn’t lie, I had been scared of the chances of Zayne still having feelings for Teyana. And when I got to know he was in love with someone else, I was glad. But that was only when I still had hopes of Teyana and I getting together. Not anymore. But I was still happy for Zayne.

I lifted the cigarette again, inhaled once more as I waited for them.

Alice’s death still felt unreal.

I could still remember how my father had broken the news to me on the phone. I hadn’t known she had cancer. None of them told me. And for once, I didn’t even have the energy to be angry about it.

I just let the pain sink deep and wondered—‘how is Teyana holding up?’

The burial replayed in flashes in my head. The way she looked when she turned and saw me. Carol would be there for her. I knew that. That was the only thing that gave me some peace for not trying to stay. Not like she would have wanted me to. Her love wasn’t as strong as mine. I had come to learn that.

A knock sounded at the door.

I crossed the room and opened it.

Zayne stood there first, hands in his pockets, dressed in dark jeans and a fitted jacket. “Hey man,” He stepped inside. Taylor was behind him, elegant as usual in a long beige coat over a fitted black dress, her hair sleek and loose over her shoulders.

And then—

Charlotte.

Taylor’s twin. Sunglasses perched on her head, lips glossy, wearing a cropped leather jacket over a fitted white tank and ripped black jeans. She looked like she belonged in the woke world- comfortable in noise, and attention. And she did.

My chest tightened a little. I’d hung out with them a few times before. When the line between friendship and something else had started to blur, and I’d pulled back the moment I noticed it.

Charlotte didn’t blur lines. She erased them.

She was unapologetic. Bold. A bad girl in the truest sense. She went for what she wanted without pretending otherwise. And for a while, it had felt like she wanted me.

But I didn’t want her like that.

“Hi, Jeremy,” Taylor greeted warmly, stepping forward to hug me.

I returned it, “I’ve missed seeing your pretty face,” I said, and she visibly blushed when she pulled apart.

Charlotte hugged me next, closer, her lips brushing my ear as she whispered, “You liar. You didn’t later call.” 

I smirked. I had honestly forgotten I promised to call her when she asked me.

She reached for the cigarette still in my hand, plucked it away, and took a slow drag.

“Charlotte,” Taylor warned as they stepped fully in. “I thought you stopped smoking.”

Charlotte shrugged. “There’s love in sharing.” She glanced at me. “I’m just sharing with Jeremy.”

She took another puff, her gaze unapologetic.

Taylor shook her head as they all stepped fully in. Zayne settled on the couch beside the bed. “Honestly, you two should just be together. I don’t know what you’re waiting for.” I scoffed.

“Jeremy’s actually in a relationship,” Zayne cut in.

Taylor immediately settled onto his lap after pulling her coat off, looping an arm around his neck. “Oh right. You told me.”

I shot Zayne a look. “Stop it. I’m single.”

Charlotte slid down beside me on the bed. I took the cigarette back from her and took a drag from it.

She eyed me naughtily. “You just kissed me. You know that? Your lips just touched where mine were.”

Taylor groaned. “I’m ashamed you’re my twin. You flirt too much.”

Zayne’s hand traced a slow line over Taylor’s bare shoulder. “Not everyone needs to prove they’re hard all the time like you. Life doesn’t have to be difficult.”

“Thank you, Zayne. Someone needed to tell her.” Charlotte said dramatically- making faces.

Taylor eyed him. “You’re lucky I love you. I would have taken offense right now.”

“Well, I’m also lucky I know how to fix that. You know, when you are angry” Zayne shamelessly bit his bottom lip, his hands now sliding underneath her top. 

And just like that, they were already kissing—the kind of deep kisses with tongues and all. They were unapologetically too involved with one another.

I chuckled. “Get a room, guys. Can you, please?” I grabbed the key to one of the empty rooms secured and extended it to Zayne.

“We will,” Zayne said impatiently, snatching the key from my hand. I was half-joking and wasn’t expecting he would grab it. The grin on my face stretched as he lifted Taylor up. She squealed, laughing, clinging to him as they headed out.

“Call me when the race starts,” Zayne said over his shoulder.

The door shutted and silence settled. Shit, I was embarrassed I knew what they were going to be doing in the next minute just beside us. 

That was when I realized Charlotte was still here. She raised a brow at me. “How was the journey?” I asked to clear the awkward silence.

“Well, throughout the journey, I was looking forward to seeing you.” She shifted closer to me on the bed. 

I handed her another key. “There’s another room if you want to be alone.”

She ignored it. “You are the one who’s trying to be alone. Yes or yes?” Her voice was low now. God knows I would have taken advantage of this moment to get dirty with her if it was in the past. She was sexy, so alike with her twin. Charlotte wasn’t only that, but she knew how to go for what she wanted without wasting time. But I don’t want her. I couldn’t want her.

I must have lost track of the moment because her face was now almost in mine. Charlotte was going to kiss me.

I leaned back immediately. “What are you doing, Char?”

She sighed and moved to the couch opposite me, facing me directly. “Tell me honestly. Could we ever be a thing?”

I snorted. “I find you attractive. But I’m not ready for something like this.”

“That’s sad,” she said lightly. “We’d be great together you know. We’re both hot. Rich. I model, you ride. I love races. I love…men who are like you.” Her voice quieted towards the last part.

“It’s not about chemistry,” I cut in.

She paused, then nodded slowly. “I get it. I was heartbroken too. I’ve been wanting to get laid with another man, but yunno… I’m picky. Haven’t met my type again, until I met you. Trust me, the attraction was fast. I guess I’m just trying to get laid. I also don’t want a relationship.” She poured honestly without blinking.

I couldn’t help but smiled. “The guy who broke your heart was blind.”

The corner of her lip rose “That helps. I thought so too.”

She extended her knuckles. “We good?”

I bumped them. “We good.”

My phone rang. I checked to see who was calling. My heart jumped. ‘Maxton.’

If he was calling, it only meant one thing. The bailing worked.

I answered immediately.

“Bro, can’t miss your huge race day. I’m downstairs,” he said.

I grinned.

“I’m coming.”