The club’s name Áf̱xi̱si̱ meant ‘rise’ in Greek, symbolizing the cornerstone in which all the club’s rules were founded on. Every member of the club had his own story to tell, his own tragedy to overcome, a self-made cage to break free from.

Throughout the world, everyone knew Áf̱xi̱si̱ as having the most daredevil riders, racers who dared stunts not even professional bikers and exhibitionists ever contemplated. In underground races, they were known for taking the same risks, a way of compensating for their dislike of using violence and underhanded tricks to win first place the way most other clubs encouraged its members to do.

When the old club died down, Helios had relocated the entire club to one of the vast properties his family owned, this time an abandoned ranch near the edge of the Evergreens. At the back of the sprawling two-story building he had built to house the club’s facilities was a racecourse of his own design – the kind that prevented any underhanded tricks from taking place but allowed for the most adventurous to take the wildest risks in order to win.

The most advanced sensors were installed to monitor every inch of the course, ensuring that racers would not be able to use any objects to destroy another racer’s beast or compromise the course’s integrity. On the other hand, there were ramps, rope bridges, and other obstacles that, when successfully conquered, offered shortcuts to the finish line of the circuitous course.

From where Bobby was standing, the entire course looked like something patterned after Snakes and Ladders, only this time human lives could be at stake. “Is this really safe?” This was the first time she would be watching an underground race where Leandro was competing. For that matter, it was her first time to see Sabastian race as well. Like Leandro, he had been “retired” since coming to live in America.

“98.4% safe.” MJ’s technical answer wasn’t much comfort, but she told herself she was only worried over Sabastian’s safety and no one else’s.

The girl Bobby had seen Leandro talking to earlier had been selected as the flag-waver for the race. Bobby tried not to look irritated even if she was at the fact that the girl had changed into a skimpy red bikini. Sure, it was summer now, but it wasn’t like there was even a stupid lake nearby. All the girl wanted was to flaunt her admittedly sexy body, and with the way she was hungrily looking at Leandro, there wasn’t any doubt who she was flaunting it for.

“She’s the president of the only all-female racing club here in Florida,” MJ explained, seeing the way Bobby was doing her best not glare at Erica Norwood. The two of them stood at the side of the starting line while the rest of the club’s members stood opposite them. It was always like this since MJ, as the official photographer, always had to look for a spot isolated from the crowds.

Bobby grimaced. “Am I that obvious?”

“Not at all, but I’m used to observing people when I take photos,” MJ said honestly. “So I often see more than I should.”

Bobby sighed. “Whatever you think you see in me, please keep it to yourself. Even from me.”

MJ couldn’t help but giggle a little since the other girl sounded truly desperate.

The sound made Bobby smile. “This day is honestly one of the most horrible in my life, but I have to say I’m really glad I got to talk to you. I hope we can have coffee and go out sometime.”

“I’d be glad to,” MJ answered shyly.

“You’re so shy it’s too cute for words,” Bobby teased. She burst out laughing when MJ turned red. “Okay, okay, I’ll quit teasing. If I keep teasing you, you might not talk to me again like you did last year.”

MJ’s eyes widened. “Oh no, did you think I was deliberately not talking to you?”

“Actually, I just thought you were shy.”

She shook her head. “No. It’s one of the rules of the club. When you’re a first year rookie, you’re only allowed to speak to officers when inside the club.”

“What?” Bobby exclaimed. “That’s crazy.”

“It’s for the club’s safety. There was a huge scandal a few years back because of a rookie’s indiscretion so…”

Seeing MJ was uncomfortable with disclosing club secrets, Bobby said quickly, “You don’t have to tell me.” Before she could say anything else, the bikini-clad flag-waver was shrilly counting down, “Three…two…one!”

Sabastian and Leandro’s beasts roared down the race course.

In a few seconds, it became quickly evident that Sabastian’s bike was a lot faster than Leandro’s, which was specifically built to conquer off-road terrain. On an even course, its bulk became a disadvantage, allowing Sabastian to take a greater lead.

Her heart in her throat, Bobby watched through her binoculars as Leandro leaned forward on his bike, resolve stamped on his face. But if this continued, there was no way for him to win. Surely Leandro had known how his bike would fare against Sabastian’s in this kind of race, Bobby wondered uneasily. And if he did, then why had he even bothered to race in the first place?

A more sinister thought occurred to her, and Bobby stiffened. Was it because Leandro wanted to fool her again for whatever reason? Did he want to fool her into thinking that he cared for her – again?

When Blaine had played his cruel trick on her in high school, Bobby had told herself that she would not be fooled by another man again. That she would be wiser. But Leandro came and proved her wrong. Once a fool, always a fool.

Bobby deliberately kept her face expressionless as she watched Sabastian increase his lead, speeding along as he and his beast bent to the side when making a sharp turn to the right.

Leandro was a good distance behind him, and Bobby told herself it was how it should be. Sabastian would win the race, she would not have to be Leandro’s prize, and---

Her eyes widened when Leandro made a sudden turn towards the ramp.

What the---

Was he serious?

A silent gasp of horror broke out of her as she watched Leandro take the ramp, his bike shooting into the air before diving down and landing in an explosion of dirt and gravel. The dangerous jump had given Leandro a shortcut, but Sabastian was still a few miles ahead of him.

Leandro didn’t seem bothered, racing down the course but when he reached the first intersection, he made a turn to the left, away from where Sabastian was and heading to the rope bridge. This time, Bobby cursed fluidly.

That rope bridge didn’t just look flimsy – certainly not strong enough to bear the weight of Leandro’s big, badass bike. It was also thin, leaving him no room for error. Was he seriously thinking of---

Oh my God, he was!

Bobby started to run. She didn’t care that she was giving herself away. If that fucking rope gave out, Leandro would crash from twenty feet up in the air and take a nosedive into a mountain of gravel. Whoever designed this racecourse had clearly been watching too many Saw sequels. If something happened to Leandro---

She halted mid-run when the rope bridge did give out and Leandro was still a few feet away from reaching the other end.

Bobby screamed.

* * *

The scream had Leandro almost jerking his head around to look over his shoulder. That scream could only belong to Bobby, but he knew he would end up killing himself if he did look. As the rope gave out under him, Leandro took control of his bike, allowing his instincts to take over.

Every obstacle in Helios’ ever-changing racecourse was designed with safety nets. If the rope bridge had given out, Leandro knew it didn’t mean the end.

His gaze quickly scanned the land below him, sizing up his options and he immediately saw the best safety net to take advantage of. He turned his bike towards the sharply inclined ramp. It would mean careful balancing to prevent him from driving down at a vertical angle, but it was better than a head-on collision with the ground.

The moment his beast’s wheels hit the ramp, Leandro focused on his balance, making sure not to lean too forward or back. Just the slightest change in his position could prevent his beast from safely traversing the ramp.

The crowd cheered as he successfully rode out of the ramp, which placed him just a few feet ahead of Sabastian. He heard Sabastian revving his engine, gearing for a full blast to the finish line, and Leandro leaned forward, giving it everything he had.

He broke through the finish line just a second before Sabastian did, and triumph burst inside him. But more than that, an overwhelming sense of relief had surged into him.

Finally.

Finally, he had a chance to make Bobby truly listen.

Finally, he had a chance to make Bobby understand that he had always, always, always loved her. And he had never stopped.