Zoya was relieved that the weather was exceptionally warm today. The sky was crystal clear and the sun was high up in the sky brimming with its cheerful light. Some of the snow had melted, so the pavements were cleared from any ice, which made it perfect to go where she had planned this special date. Frankly, she woke up this morning convinced that she wasn't going to trouble River, but when she called Azura to ask about the flowers, Azura had laughed so hard that Zoya needed to see River's reaction herself. She called River and she could sense his awkward reaction through the call, that she couldn't hold back. Instead of driving to work, she turned the car around and came straight to the Centauri pack territory.

"Look who's in the back!" Ryder exclaimed, as he pulled out of the car and held River in his arms.

"He'll be joining us," Zoya said.

"I think he grew," Ryder said as the pup who was overflowing in his arms.

"Really," Zoya stared at the pup seeing no difference.

"He has," River said as he came up behind her. "Since you're always with him, you don't notice the change."

Zoya grabbed the pup's squishy face, his blue eyes looked at her. "You can't get big too fast," she said. "If you grow up you'll stop listening to me."

Ryder laughed. "I don't think he will do that," he said. "He loves you too much."

"At least one River does," she remarked dramatically.

Ryder put his hand on her shoulder. "I apologize on the behalf of my idiot brother."

Zoya put her hand on his shoulder and said; "Your brother is lucky to have you."

"I know but he never shows it," said Ryder with a pout.

"What will we ever do?" Zoya said dejectedly.

Ryder wiped a non-existent tear. "I don't know-"

"Are you two done or should I give you another minute?" River remarked between them.

Zoya bit her laughter back. "Okay everyone, get in the car," she said. "Let's get this show on the road."

Ryder put the pup in River's arms and went around to the passenger side leaving River standing in the back. "Oh, did you want to sit next to Zoya?" Ryder asked.

Zoya looked between the brothers; while one was glaring, the other was grinning like the cheeky wolf he was. "Don't tease him too much, Ryder," she said. "I already do that enough." She laughed as she got in the car and so did they.

They set off on the road and she drove down the long highways to get to the outskirts of the city. She knew these roads like the back of her hand, because these roads lead to the only place that comforted her when she needed an escape from her parents.

"So, where are we going?" Ryder asked her.

"A place that is my most favourite in the whole world apart from my company," she revealed and she caught River's gaze through the rear-view mirror. Curiosity was brimming in that blue gaze, which made her smile.

"Sabrina told us that you travel a lot," Ryder said. "Where have you gone so far?"

Zoya pressed on the gas pushing past a few slow cars. "Where haven't I been," she retorted. "I've gone to every place there is to go on this planet."

"Must be nice," said Ryder. "River and I wanted to go to Barcelona for the longest time."

Zoya caught River's eyes again, but he was playing with the pup on his lap. "I've been to Spain many times, it's a beautiful place," she said.

"Have you been to-" Ryder's voice fell when he saw the large billboard rushing past them and then he saw the colossal stadium on the field. "You've got to be kidding," his eyes widened and he went quiet from shock.

Zoya chuckled. "Don't get too excited right now," she said. "I still have a lot more to show you."

They arrived at Storm-Speed stadium, that was empty this morning since all motor races were held later on in the year. However, Zoya was always welcome to the stadium to enjoy the open track.

She parked the car at the front and got out of the car. "River, hold on a sec," she told him.

Grabbing the leash from the trunk she came around to River's side of the car and opened the door. Both Rivers' looked up at her and she felt a smile tug at her lips. She leaned inside crowding River as she secured the collar on the pup's neck and let him jump out of the car from River's lap.

Zoya held the leash and escorted everyone inside the stadium. The building was pretty empty except for the cleaning staff who were sweeping the floors and wiping the windows. Security was light too and they recognized Zoya right away letting all of them through.

"Is this even allowed?" Ryder asked while walking beside her.

"Of course, and it doesn't hurt that I happen to be a shareholder here," she said. She wasn't showing off, but these perks definitely helped when working her charm on people and showing them a good time.

They climbed into the elevator and went to the top floor, just when the doors opened Zoya spotted Silvia Moss standing across the floor with her phone on her ear. Zoya recognized her friend from her platinum blonde hair that was combed back and tied into a long ponytail, which showcased the sapphires hanging on her ears and around her neck. The woman was tall and even taller in her platform heels that matched her blue suit, which was tailored by Zoya herself. Silvia was beautiful and her age made the lines around her green eyes non-existent.

Silvia spotted Zoya and cut her call immediately. "Zoya!" she exclaimed and ran with open arms, which Zoya gladly accepted. "How've you been, dear?"

"Good, Silvia. What about you?" she beamed happily.

"Even better now that you are here," Silvia said. "I prepared the track for you."

"Thank you so much-" she kissed Silvia's cheek- "come, let me introduce you to my friends."

Silvia's amusement fell and she held her stern expression which was her usual and scared many people from her. She oozed a mature energy and had a dominant gaze which was rare for humans to have, but Silvia was the one woman who established herself as a dangerous businesswoman for a long time.

"Silvia, this is River and his brother Ryder," she introduced happily.

"The infamous Drakov's," said Silvia.

River and Ryder didn't seem surprised that Silvia knew their last name. Instead, the humour in them left and Zoya felt the air in the room thicken, like they presented themselves not as guests but the partners of Gabriel Centauri who the whole world knew about, even Silvia.

"Zoya never brings anyone here," she said. "So, I was surprised when she told me she was bringing someone. But I never expected for her to bring you two."

"Silvia, don't be scary," Zoya said as she linked her arm with Silvia. "They are my special friends." She grinned at the brothers who were definitely caught off guard by Silvia Moss's austere demeanour.

"What are we going to do here?" Ryder asked Zoya.

"What do you think?" she remarked. "We're going to race. Time to get geared up."

Silvia guided them to the showroom in the basement where hundreds of cars were on display. However, Zoya took River and Ryder straight to her favourite spot.

"Pick any you want," offered Zoya as she presented the first row of the dozen cars to them.

"Can we really?" Ryder asked.

Silvia smiled at Zoya. "These are all Zoya's cars anyway," she told them. "Pick the one you want and I will get them prepared on the track."

"What about the gear, Silvia?" asked Zoya.

"All the suits are in the change-rooms," said Silvia before her phone rang. "I need to get this. Pick the car and get ready." Silvia walked off with her phone against her ear.

"Alright," Zoya clapped her hands together. "Shall I suggest which you should ride." She walked over to the hot-red Bugatti Chiron Super Sport and looked at Ryder. "I think this one is for you and the one over here-" she pointed at the black Mustang GT500- "is made for you, River."

"What will you drive?" asked River.

"My trusted Porsche 911 Turbo S," she answered and revealed the white car behind her. "You two can head to the change-rooms. I left a surprise in there for you."

Zoya took both of them to the private change-room and let them walk in alone. She went off to her room to change into her own gear, that she designed herself along with River and Ryder's gear too. She didn't have enough time to personalize their gear, but their suits were red, black and white with their last names stitched onto the breast-pocket. However, she wore a crisp white suit, that had no other colour on it. Her name was on the back and she wore it with silver stitching, she absolutely loved it.

After getting dressed, Zoya bent down to River who was staring at her. "I hope they like their suit," she ruffled his head and kissed his nose. "I will try to hold back on the track, so I don't get carried away and beat them. But no promises-" she chuckled- "I hope they have fun today." She got to her feet and walked out with River trudging along behind her.

She just walked out into the hall, when she spotted the two tall men standing in their gear. She caught her mouth before it fell open and she was filled with pleasure. The suits were made for them, River and Ryder looked absolutely perfect and it was fair to say that they were built to be riders. From behind, they looked identical; from their broad shoulders and controlled postures, that exuded a fierce intensity from both of them.

River noticed her first and his gaze froze over her when he saw her walking towards them. He muttered something, but she couldn't hear him. She just didn't take her eyes off him and neither did he.

"You three ready?" Silvia returned with the three keys in her hand.

Ryder grew excited and he grabbed the key Silvia passed him. "I am going to destroy both of you," he challenged.

"Oh, don't get ahead of yourself," Silvia warned. "Zoya isn't an easy opponent. She's been doing this ever since she got her license."

"I don't want to brag but three championships back-to-back should scare you," she revealed.

"So, that is you," River said pointing to the wall behind him. It was the large glass case with many award, trophies and medals and respected pictures that were taken at the time.

Zoya stiffened. "How'd you find me? There are a lot of pictures." She was surprised, since the award pictures were of her younger self.

"You're not hard to spot," said River making her smile.

"Let me take you to the cars," Silvia said. Ryder followed her as he was excited to be on the track already.

She sighed dreamily as she faced River alone. "You're playing dirty," she said.

River straightened to his full height. "What did I do?" he asked facing her with a cool expression.

"Acting cute and charming me into going easy on you," she told him.

River's eyes searched her own and then they fell to her lips. Seriously, he was not subtle at all. "You don't need to go easy on me," he said. "I like a challenge."

Zoya stepped closer putting her arm on his shoulder and their lips inches apart. She took a small breath of his dark pheromones and that deep aroma of the leather of his suit, which clung to his body. "Then challenge accepted," she said. "But if I win, then I get a kiss, River Drakov."

"And if I win?" he whispered.

"What do you want?" she grinned at him. "I'll happily give you anything."

River put his guard back up, it was clear to her when he had because he looked away. "I'll think about it," he said and walked off.

Zoya looked down at the pup who wasn't impressed at all. "What are we going to do with him?" she sighed and went towards the track following the others.

Just as she stepped out the large doors, climbing the large steps onto the gated track, the excitement in her stomach exploded with hundreds of butterflies. Blood rapidly pumped through her veins and her pulse was felt even in her ears. She couldn't wait to get behind the wheel. Silvia opened the gate and let them through the small tunnel onto the track.

Ryder was brimming with excitement like her. "Oh, this is going to be fun," he said.

"Alright kids, the rules are simple," said Silvia. "Once the light turns green, you will go and the finish line is at the other end of the track."

"Let's do one round first," suggested Zoya. "You two are new to this, so we don't want to scare you."

Ryder scoffed and nudged his brother. "Us. Get scared," he laughed. "You're going to be eating my dust."

Zoya lifted her chin. "We'll see about that," she said.

Each of them got in their car and Zoya gave the leash with River to Silvia. They rolled up to the start line where the triple traffic lights were hanging in the air. All of them were brightly lit red and Zoya was parked in the centre with the twins around her. She rolled both her windows down and looked at them with a smile on her face, her foot on the ignition pressed down and released the engine which reverberated behind her.

"Ready?" she asked them.

"Hell yes!" Ryder was revving up his engine and he looked more than ready.

Zoya looked over to River who usually held a stern expression, but he was smiling too as he eyed the track ahead of him. She did make a good decision of bringing them here. Except, her kindness ended here because now she was about to kick their ass all the way to Christmas.

The red turned yellow and then just when it turned green; all three cars released their brakes and speeded ahead.

Zoya's entire body felt as if on fire when all she did was press her foot further on the gas and her speed accelerated to the point that many could never handle. Not Zoya though, she thrived in this speed because it let her forget everything around her and only see this moment. A moment where she needed unbreakable focus to guide her on this track; one mistake and it was life or death.

Zoya knew the first turn was about to arrive, just as the three of them saw the turn, Zoya knew that some would be afraid of the turn and slow down, but she knew this was the moment to speed it up. She pressed on the gas and let the sport boost to let her drift across the first right turn leaving the two behind her. Zoya rushed ahead of them with them rapidly tailing behind her. However, she wasn't intimidated at all, especially since she had a bet to win at the end of this game.

Suddenly, the hot-red Bugatti reached closely beside her and so did the black Mustang. They were reaching the last turn of the track and Zoya couldn't speed ahead of them since they locked her in the middle. They trapped her purposely and these brothers were plotting against her.

Zoya wasn't one to lose though. She matched their speed and slammed her car into River surprising the hell out of him for sure. He stayed focused on the road though and Ryder was pressed against the other side of her car. All three of them locked together made the final turn together, except Zoya knew her game and she saw the opening the moment the turn was made as the cars separated just enough for her to slither past them and make the finish line just at the nick of time.

Zoya braked the car and drifted around stopping on the side of the track. She got out of the car and so did River and Ryder who were overflowing with excitement.

"Look behind you!" She called out to get their attention.

River and Ryder looked at her as she pointed behind them to the large screen above them. In slow-motion, the race played and the end of the finish line showed how Zoya's white Porsche was ahead of the other two cars. She beat them both and the brothers tied.

"You were awesome," praised Ryder.

"Thanks," she smiled to the point that her cheeks hurt. "You two weren't so bad and I can't believe you ganged up on me."

"And I can't believe you scratched the Mustang!" astounded Ryder.

"You do want you need to win right," said Zoya. "I'm sure River taught you that."

"Great, you're just like him but strangely cooler," remarked Ryder making her laugh and River glower.

"I have to admit, I didn't think to win you'd harm the cars," added River.

"What can I say, the prize I'm getting was worth it," she grinned at him. "You guys need to try rally racing."

"Rallying is done outside on unknown terrain, right?" asked Ryder.

"In snow or rain or whatever mother-nature gives us," said Zoya. "I've done it before and it's like anything you've ever experienced before."

"Let's do it-" River and Ryder said together.

Zoya chuckled. "I'll take you next time," she said. "But how about we change the cars and do an open-wheel race. This time we can destroy them and the track as much as we like."

It was after the third race that Ryder beat Zoya and River. They let him gloat about it for an entire hour before River got pissed and asked for a rematch, he beat Ryder but came in second losing to Zoya. Ryder laughed at River even more now.

They were going to the terrace for lunch when Zoya followed behind the brothers, a wave of butterflies made her stomach flutter. In the past, when she came to this track it was usually to clear her head or subdue all her hatred down so she could live another day. However, these two brothers changed that by having fun with her. They didn't judge her even though she knew her competitive streak was a lot for people, River and Ryder accepted the challenges she threw with open arms. She never knew she could feel this way about anyone. However, here she stood with two brothers and her dog remembering not her past, her parents, her difficulties, but she saw a future.

"Zoya," Ryder called out to her. "Hurry up, we're starving."