'Die or grow'

Bella sent me a message telling me that she would come over tonight, I couldn't wait for that.

"Are you listening?" Dane asks.

"Sorry yeah, are you going to race?" I raise my beer to the track. It's just The Lost Souls today. Hanging out and racing for fun. I watch as Boon and Diesel line their bikes up at the start of the track.

Dane shrugs. "I'm happy watching, are you going to?"

"Nah, I'm good," I take another swig of my drink.

"You're not going to race me?" We turn to see Ace walking over to us. "For old times' sake?" His tone is questioning but I know it's not really a question as it is a demand.

I down the rest of my beer. "Sure."

He smiles. "You can borrow Mormon's bike."

"Of course," Dane slaps me on the back.

Good, because I really didn't want to put a paddle tyre on mine. We head to the start of track in silence. The members lining up to go next step aside for Ace to race first.

As I hop onto the bike, with the sand track in front of me, I'm taken back to my childhood. To my dad pressuring me to be better, to ride faster. My hands begin to sweat. I haven't raced since I was little, the anxiety isn't something I have missed. Did I actually want to win? Do I even care about this?

A girl in tiny bike shorts and a bikini top walks onto the track, holding a white shirt. The bikes rev as she holds the shirt above her head. As she drops it, we both take off. My bike wobbles in the sand as I remember the slippery feeling. I quickly adjust, Ace and I are neck and neck. Slowly I creep forward though, the finish line is seconds away. At the last moment, I stop accelerating, letting Ace cross the finish line first.

We both break, around me sand is flying through the air; following the bikes. Ace has a massive smile on his face as we move the bikes out of the way. "Still undefeated," Len says to Ace as we park the bikes.

"Come walk with me," Ace asks.

I follow him away from the other members, reaching to my back pocket to pull out a smoke. Ace does the same, lighting his before passing me the lighter.

"Thanks."

He blows out some smoke before talking. "You did the same thing when we were kids."

"What?" I ask confused.

"Let me win," he says simply.

I look to see if this has made him mad, but his face is hiding his emotions, so I decide not to say anything.

"Our dads would hit the loser; you would purposely lose and take a beating for me."

I shrug, placing the cigarette back to my lips.

"I'm sorry about Bella, but it needed to be done."

I try not to let my anger get the best of me. Stan had already given me a huge lecture about not breaking up with Bella, and how dangerous it was for her. Now Ace was bringing her up again, no doubt Stan would be seething as he listens. "It didn't," I say calmly.

Ace smirks at my small act of defiance. "There were members that didn't trust you, that were in my ear calling you a rat. I needed them to see the loyalty I know of you."

I drop the cigarette butt into the sand. Wishing for this conversation to be over.

"I will never hurt her, just so you know."

"It doesn't matter anymore, I cut her off," I try to say with no emotion.

"Oh please, you were ready to die for her that day, I could see it."

"What do you want me to say?" I ask feeling frustrated.

"I want the truth from you, I want that loyalty and the friendship we had as kids."

"You want the truth?" I say threateningly as I step closer to him.

He smiles. "Yes."

"You forced me into a club that reminds me of the man who murdered my mother."

Ace holds my stare. "Your brothers are nothing like your father. Surely you've seen that by now."

I had seen it with some of the guys. "Am I really here to repay some debt for my dad?"

"You're here because my father wants it." Ace keeps walking and I follow beside him.

"What do you want then?"

"I want that brotherhood back, the brotherhood where we protected each other."

"Then you probably shouldn't have held a gun to her head," I say firmly.

"Believe it or not, I did that to protect you also. Bella knew the gun wasn't loaded."

"Protect me by leaving her completely away from this life."

"You have my word," he shakes my hand. "But if you cross me, I'll kill you both."