Chapter 55 Where Engines Roar
“She thanked me. Her voice is unreal.”
“You’re an artificial–born human. She even glanced at you out of pity. Stop dreaming.”
“Look at yourself. You really think you’ve got a shot?”
“Heh. Jealous. She talked to me, not you.”
“That’s it. You asking for a beating?”
ཛཱ།(6)
Finished
Ava was surprised by how confidently Asher handled the car. Each turn made her cheer loudly, her voice hoarse from the excitement. Asher seemed to thrive on the praise, his smile never waning.
That was why he liked having Ava around. She knew how to lift people up. If Jane were here, she’d already be pointing out every flaw.
Soon, the track was filled with noise. Engines roared. One man even tore off his shirt and shouted into the frigid air, his bare chest showing that the cold didn’t bother him.
“Asher, where do I watch from?” Ava asked, scanning the crowd. “Should I grab a spot outside?”
“Nope,” Asher replied. “It’s chaos out there. I won’t relax if you’re wandering around. There’s a control room inside where they track every car. You’ll be safe there.”
He had signed up for a team race today. The event ran team rounds first, then solo matches later.
“Come on. I’ll drop you with my crew before I prep.” After a few warm–up laps, Asher parked and led her toward a cluster of people.
“There he is!”
“Man, we thought you bailed. Eddie and Bryson were asking all over.”
“Those Fiasco punks even came sniffing around. Didn’t see you, so they started acting tough. Just wait till we crush them.”
Asher punched one of them on the shoulder. “Watch your mouths. My family’s here. Act stupid, and I won’t
be nice.”
“Yeah, yeah. Got it. Ms. Jane here today?”
Asher stopped and motioned Ava forward. “This is my cousin, Ava Morren. Burn that into your heads. You keep an eye on her. If anything happens, I’m coming for every one of you.”
“Nice to meet you, Ms. Ava.”
“Hello, Ms. Ava.”
Ava gave a small wave. “Hey.”
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Chapter 55 Where Engines Roar
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Finished
The noise around them swelled as more people crowded in, even drawing over the team from next door.
“Asher, you finally decided to show?” A rough voice cut through.
The group parted.
Ava noticed a man with a wall–like build–broad shoulders, a stern face–someone who seemed destined for trouble.
“As if I’d miss this,” Asher greeted with a grin. “Logan. Still breathing?”
Logan McCarthy approached with a chuckle and slammed two heavy pats into Asher’s back, enough to make Ava wince. “You vanished for two years like you dropped off the grid. Calls went unanswered. We had people hunting you down. Thought you switched teams.”
“Work buried me,” Asher replied, shaking his head. “Can’t live wild forever.”
Logan laughed louder. “Figured you got scared after you brought your sister last time and her husbands beat you up.”
Ava’s eyes widened. Huh? Those guys beat him up?
“What nonsense is that? Shut it.” Asher gave an awkward cough and leaned toward Ava. “This guy talks garbage. Don’t take him seriously.”
Ava hid her mouth to stifle her laughter. That reaction says everything.
Logan’s eyes drifted to her, watching how Asher hovered–tough on the outside, gentle underneath.
Asher gestured. “Logan McCarthy, team lead. Just call him Uncle Logan. He’ll feel ten years younger.”
“Hold it right there,” Logan protested. “I’m not ancient. Logan McCarthy. Seventy–six and still in my prime. Just call me Logan.”
Asher rolled his eyes. “Listen to him polishing his own crown.”
“Hello, Logan. I’m Ava Morren,” Ava introduced herself confidently. Despite their teasing banter, it was obvious that Asher and the man shared a long–standing rapport underneath.
Logan clicked his tongue. “Pretty and polite too. Why don’t I get a sister like that? This brat gets two? Life’s rigged.”
He shot Asher a wounded look. “Keep flexing like that, and nobody’s sticking around you.”
Asher shuddered. “Get lost. You’re giving me chills.”
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