Somehow, I stop myself. Heidi doesn’t seem upset, and this is a good opportunity to gauge Eraser’s temperament. Judge how far Griff and Remy will go to have Eraser’s back.
Support club or otherwise, the Lost Kings MC has no use for hotheads or cowards.
I slide a look Dex’s way then Rooster’s and they both nod. Clearly, we’re on the same page, wondering if this crew can pass the first test.
Eighteen
Heidi
“So how many kids do you have?” Ella asks as I pull up to the line.
“Just the one. Although Murphy’s pretty eager to add more.”
She chuckles and places her hand over her stomach. “I want to start trying—wait for his signal.” She waves her hand at the starter and then the Christmas tree in the center. “Left foot on the brake. Right foot on the gas. Rev it good, girl. You got an automatic, so it launches a little different. Go! Go!”
The car jumps and bucks before blasting forward. I’m so startled, I briefly take my foot off the gas.
That second of hesitation costs me.
The Mustang is way ahead of us.
“Easy, girl. You’re not catching up to him. Don’t waste the gas. We’ll go again,” Ella assures me without making me feel bad for choking. “You want to go before the light turns green. It’s a delicate balance between braking and hitting that throttle. Just keep practicing.”
How much practice do I need? It’s not like I want to turn racing into my new career. Still, I can’t deny I’m having fun.
One glance at the field in the center of the ring tells me Murphy isn’t finished with his conversation. I pull in behind the Mustang and follow him to a shack. A skinny guy with brightly inked arms hands us a white slip with a bunch of numbers on it.
“Thanks, Pip!” Ella calls out. “I’ll be in later.”
“Take your time, girl. I’m good.”
Once I move past the shack, Ella reaches over and taps my leg. “So, kids?”
“Well, we’re getting married, and I’m finishing school. I can’t handle much more right now, you know?”
“I hear that. I’m finishing up my welding classes and going for my AWS certification.”
“Wow.” I’m genuinely impressed. She doesn’t look big enough to hold a welding torch.
As if she’d heard my thoughts, she flexes her arm. “I’m little but mighty.”
“I guess so.” They seem so different. “How’d you meet?”
“In foster care.”
That seems like a sensitive topic I shouldn’t poke at with someone I just met. “That’s sweet.” Damn, that sounded lame.
She presses her hand to her chest. “He is. I don’t know…I don’t know if I would’ve survived without him.” Her gaze travels across the field and lands on our men. “I know he doesn’t look it, but he’s a gentle soul deep down.” She chuckles. “Way deep down.”
“I’m familiar with the way deep down.” We both laugh. “My daughter has him wrapped around her finger.”
I pull into one of the lines of cars for another race. We’re side-by-side with an older Porsche Boxster. “Oh girl, you can smoke this clown easy.” Ella raises her hands and whoops.
“You know him?”
“I know that toy isn’t packing what you’re packing.”
Whatever that means.
As Ella predicted, the guy smirks when she asks if he wants to race me. “Sure, sweetheart. We can give it a go. First night here?” His tone borders on sarcastic, as if he’s taking on a charity race.
“Yup, she’s brand new,” Ella answers in an airhead-voice I haven’t heard her use all night.
He shrugs and motions for me to go ahead. We don’t bet any money, which is fine by me. I’m not as convinced as Ella that I can beat the Porsche.
For starters, I don’t line up the car correctly. I have to reverse and try again. And again.
“It’s tricky. Everyone does it,” Ella says. “Don’t get flustered.”
Maybe that’s true. It’s still embarrassing. My cheeks heat up, and I question why I’m putting myself through this humiliation.
For Murphy. So he can talk to Eraser. Get to know these guys. For the club.
Finally, I get the car in the right spot and the little yellow bulbs on my side of the Christmas tree light up.
My launch is much smoother this time. I stomp on the gas, and my heart thumps so hard, I can hear it over the throaty roar of the engine.
Nine.
Ten.
Eleven.
A high-pitched yelp rips out of my throat when I realize I’ve blown past the Porsche.
“You made it!” Ella shouts. She touches my hand. “Ease up. You won. You’re good. No need to make him cry.”
“Nice job. Going again?” Pip asks when we pull up to the shack.
“I think I’m good for now.”
I want to end on a high note, and Ella seems to agree. “The more serious players are lining up. You can still go, but you’ll probably need to start laying out some cash…” Her voice trails off as I pull away from the shack and look for a parking spot.
“Nope. I’m good. What about you?”
She waves me off. “Later.”
Hmm…Since Murphy wanted me to size up Ella and assess whether she’s cut out for club life, it makes sense Eraser asked her to check me out before he offers any support to LOKI.
Evaluating people, assessing the danger they pose, comes easier to me these days, but Ella seems so non-threatening. I give her another glance. Tiny or not, I shouldn’t underestimate her.
She directs me toward a parking area with a bunch of beat-up picnic tables in the middle. Murphy and Eraser seem to be slowly making their way to us from the other side of the track.
“This is where some of the betting will happen,” Ella explains.
“So, is Eraser into bikes, too?” I’m not sure how he can be part of a support club if he doesn’t ride. Then again, I don’t really know all the details and requirements a support club might have.
“Anything with wheels. When we finally get to build our dream cabin in the woods, the garage will be bigger than our house.” The corners of her mouth curl up in a dreamy smile. “I just know it.”
“Oh, I hear you. My brother bought an old farmhouse and has already added two additional garages
to the property.”
She glances over at our guys. “Is your brother in the club, too?”
“He’s the treasurer.”
She raises an eyebrow. “So you grew up around an MC?”
“Sort of. When I was younger, I spent more time around the club. Then, I moved out this way to live with my grandmother.” I shrug. “They’re the realest family I’ve ever had.”
She places her hand over mine. “That’s nice.”
Nice? I’m not sure that’s the word most people would use, but I smile gratefully. “It is. They’re all very tight. Loyal. Everyone looks out for each other and their families.” I nod to Rooster and Dex. “I trust them with my life.”
“Eraser’s friends with Remy and Griff. But Eraser’s the only person I trust with my life.”
Shit, is that her way of telling me they’re not interested in the support club?
“Growing up in foster care will do that to you.” She shrugs. “The only one you can depend on is yourself.”
“My grandmother used to threaten to put me in foster care,” I whisper. “She made it seem—”
“Like hell? It is.” Her gaze lands on Eraser. “If you’re lucky, the devil saves you.”
What can I possibly say to that?
The kid who’d been working the ticket booth earlier wanders over, and Ella reaches out to him. “Pip’s good people.”
“What’s that, girl?” he grins at her.
“He’s a foster care survivor, too,” she explains.
He arches a pierced eyebrow. “You spilling all our secrets?”
Ella bumps me with her shoulder. “Heidi’s good people.”
For someone who doesn’t trust easily, she seems to have arrived at that conclusion awfully fast.
As if she heard my thoughts, she turns and winks at me. “Sometimes, you just know.”
Maybe, that’s a good sign? I have a feeling Ella’s opinion on the support club will carry a lot of weight with Eraser.
Pip leans in and says a few words, I can’t make out, against Ella’s ear before leaving us.
A pretty red Mustang with thick white stripes up the hood pulls in. Ella narrows her eyes, then groans as the driver steps out. “Whatever he asks, say no. Firmly.”