er 2:

round Motorcycle

ft track-a derelict lot in Brooklyn's underbelly, lit by flickering floodlights and lined with jeering spectators. Her leather jacket clung to her athletic frame, the tear from last night's shootout at the De Luca estate hastily patched

oretti name, and that damn arranged marriage couldn't touch her. Out here, she wasn't a ma

e lead. Her lean muscles tensed, her body moving with the bike like it was an extension of her. A sharp turn loomed, and she leaned in

ce, and tonight, it was wea

et-black hair was slightly mussed, a rare crack in his polished armor, as if he'd run his hands through it in frustration. The silver signet ring on his right hand glinted as he clenched his fists, his broad shoulders tens

tanned skin flushed with adrenaline. The crowd swarmed her, shouting congratulations, but her smirk was all defiance, her hazel eyes darin

im, her shoulders stiffening. She turned, her smirk fading as she met his gaze. Those green eyes, sharp as cut glass, pinned her in

er the crowd's chatter. She planted her hands on her hips, her fitted jeans an

light. "You think this is a game?" His voice was low, a growl that sent a shiver down her spine despite

r to you," she snapped, poking a finger into his chest. His muscles were hard under the thin

longs to the families now," he said, his voice dangerously soft. "Or did you forg

cheek. "I didn't sign up for your leash, pretty boy. If I want to race,

s the best you've got?" He stepped closer, their faces inches apart, his breat

for a second, before she caught herself. His emerald gaze darkened, noticing the slip. She hated how he could u

ay. The crowd had thinned, but a few lingered, watching t

ant to be here babysitting you?" he said, his voice tight. "I've go

. "Then don't. Go back to your penthouse

omething darker, like danger. "You don't get it, do you?" he said, his voice low, almost raw. "If you die out

to shove him, to scream, to do anything to break the heat building between them. Instead, she leaned closer, her lips

he murmured, his voice a dangerous purr. "You're a li

epped back, breaking his hold, her chest heaving. "Stay out of my way,

r cold. "Moretti!" A burly man in a leather vest pushed through the

g on the knife strapped to her thigh. "You

s honed, but before she could draw her knife, Luca was there. He caught Tommy's arm, tw

id, his voice deadly calm,

mbled away, cursing. The crowd dispersed, sensing the shift in the air. Lu

fore he could speak. "I

smirk returning. "But I'm not here to

r reasons she refused to admit.

w. "Because I'm not here to save you. I'm here

words died as his gaze dropped to her mouth, just for a second. Her skin prickled, her body betray

to his black Mercedes parked

ck, mounting her bike. "

frame blocking her path. "You ri

ry to keep up," she said, her smirk daring him a

his car, the engine purring to life. As he followed her taillights through the dark streets, he couldn't shake the image of her h

s going to be