Chapter 15
Blaze
“Hey, where the heck are you?” Felix’s voice blares through the phone, loud enough to make me groan as I turn over on my bed.
“At home, where the fuck else would I be?” I mutter, staring at the ceiling, my eyes still blurry from sleep.
“Damn it, Blaze! You promised to get my bike fixed. I got a kid renting it today!” he snaps.
I rub my face, trying to wake up. “Jesus, Felix, stop yelling. You’re gonna make my ears bleed.” I sigh, dragging myself up. “Give me 30 minutes, okay? I’ll take care of it.”
“You better,” he grumbles before hanging up.
I toss my phone onto the bed and stretch, my muscles sore as hell. It’s been a month since Max started training. Kid’s got potential, I’ll give him that, but he’s still got a lot to learn. The next race is coming up, and he’s eager as fuck to make a name for himself. Basics are covered—I just need to show him the tricks that’ll keep him alive out there.
Running my fingers through my hair, I remember tonight’s plan: meeting Mr. Zack. My chest tightens just thinking about it. It’s time to cut him loose, end whatever arrangement we’ve got going. Shit’s been dragging on too long, and I’m done.
I pull on some jeans and grab my jacket, the weight of the day settling on me. One thing at a time, Blaze. Get Felix’s bike sorted, train Max, and then deal with Zack.
"And Max has been acting weird lately," I mutter as I get to the shop. "The kid keeps saying how much he likes me. At first, I thought it was just a fan being all starstruck by his champion. But no, it's been more than that. And fuck, he's so cute when he makes those damn faces.”
I shake my head as I step inside. Felix is sitting at the counter, scrolling through his phone like the lazy bastard he is, while Max is working on his bike like his life depends on it.
"Hey, kid," I call out, tossing my jacket onto a chair. "You treat that bike like it’s your damn lover."
Max doesn’t even look up, just flashes that cocky smirk of his. "As much as I love it, my heart’s with you, Blaze. You can’t compare.”
I stop mid-step, turning to glare at him. "You’re fucking insufferable, you know that?"
He just laughs, the little shit. I swear, he’s so full of himself it’s maddening.
I walk over to Felix’s bike, crouching down to take a look. The damn thing’s in worse shape than I thought. "Dude, you broke this baby too bad," I mutter, running my fingers over the worn-out parts. "We gotta change the plug, wash the engine with petrol, maybe even replace a couple of parts. How the fuck did you even do this?"
Felix shrugs, looking guilty as hell. "I might’ve pushed it a little too hard."
"A little?" I shoot him a look. "You ride this thing like it’s a damn race car. It’s a bike, not a rocket."
As I get to work, Max finishes with his bike and starts cleaning up. But then, I hear the sound of tires screeching outside. My stomach twists.
Sure enough, Zack’s shiny black car pulls up right in front of my shop, the bastard stepping out.
"What the fuck is he doing here?" I mutter under my breath.
Max freezes, his eyes darting between me and Zack. I can see the question forming on his lips, but he doesn’t say shit.
Zack walks in, his gaze locking onto me. "Blaze," he says, his voice dripping with irritation. "You’ve been ignoring my calls."
I stand up, wiping my hands on a rag. "Yeah, because I’ve been busy," I snap. "You can’t just show up here."
Zack ignores my words and steps closer. "We need to talk. Now."
He grabs my arm, yanking me towards the door.
"Hey!" I bark, trying to pull away, but he’s stronger than he looks. "What the fuck is your problem?"
Max watches the whole thing, his jaw clenched, his hands tightening into fists. The jealousy in his eyes is so obvious it’s almost embarrassing.
Zack drags me to the side of the building, away from prying eyes. "You can’t keep avoiding me," he says, his tone sharp.
"I can and I will," I spit back. "We’re done, Zack. I told you that already. There’s no point dragging this shit out."
Zack’s face darkens, his grip on my arm tightening. "And how exactly do you plan to pay off your mother’s medical bills? Or the debt you owe? You think you can just walk away from me?"
I shove his hand off me, my anger boiling over. "That’s not your fucking business. I’ll figure it out."
Zack steps closer, his voice lowering to a dangerous whisper. "You need me, Blaze. Whether you like it or not."
Before I can respond, he grabs my face and forces a kiss on me. I push against his chest, but the asshole’s too strong.
"Get off me, Zack!" I shout, finally breaking free and shoving him back.
When I turn, my heart sinks. Max is standing there, his eyes blazing with fury, his fists trembling like he’s about to punch something—or someone.
"Max, it’s not—" I start, but he cuts me off with a look that could kill.
Zack smirks, completely unfazed. "Looks like your little admirer saw the show," he says mockingly.
"Shut the fuck up, Zack," I snap, shoving him again for good measure.
Max doesn’t say anything, but the look on his face says it all. Betrayal. Anger. Hurt. I want to say something, anything to explain, but the words stick in my throat.
Zack laughs, turning to leave. "I’ll be in touch, Blaze," he calls over his shoulder.
"You dare and watch me report to your wife, bastard!" I yell as he drives off. I sigh, ruffling my hair. Why the hell was I even explaining to that jerk?