Gat lost sight of her for a moment in the crowd. Finally spotting her watched as she headed back over to the guy she just talked with previously taking his phone from him. Gat glared daggers at the guy.
Shaundi came to the driver's side, "Shit, people here know her. She has eyes on her at all times? She nearly killed me for almost spilling her name at the club. Can she really race?"
Gat was trying to play it cool. "Yeah, best fucking racer in Stilwater." Without missing a beat, he walked through the crowd over to where the two of them were flirting. Gat placed an arm around her neck, glaring at the guy the whole time. "Baby girl, Daddy needs you now." He led her away.
"Gat, why?" Ky whispered, thinking something was wrong. She looked around and thought she saw someone she knew.
"Aww, baby, you taken?" The guy she left called after her.
Ky went to say something, but Gat cut her off. "Yes." Then kissed the top of her head. Li's eyes narrowed. "Chill, you know the deal. Head in the game, ripping them off, not sleeping with them." Gat's plan was to snuff it out before the fire got hot. It was bad enough the outfit she had on had eyes glued to her.
Li's mouth opened and closed. It pissed her off she wasn't just gonna let it slide this time. "Every fucking time with you, new name Cockblock. I will have you know I don't sleep with anyone." She growled out and could not shake the feeling someone was really watching her.
Gat chuckled, thinking of that possibility. "How about me then?" he mumbled over the music and crowd, then shaking the thought from his head.
Kyouki waved to the dude once again, then felt a sharp sting on her ass. "Johnny! Cut it the fuck out!" She swung on Johnny, who caught her hand, turning her around and had her arm behind her back. "Ow damnit. Get off me." Ky grumbled.
Gat looked around before he swatted Li hard on her ass. Letting her go when she said, pushed her forward. That ass of hers tempted him to do it again, but they had people watching them closely. Several still greeting the woman walking in front of him. Gat waved Carlos and Shaundi over.
Ky leaned in the car sitting in the driver's seat, Gat handed her a pair of sneakers from the trunk. "Shaundi, get in the car."
Shaundi looked scared, "Why?" Going to the passenger side, taking Aisha's place.
"They handicap me." Ky should have known it would happen. Her car was tuned for her weight, not additional. Carlos had worked a miracle getting the car ready for racing on short notice. Ky just wanted her car back. It was sheer coincidence Shaundi was hip to the race scene.
Johnny started laughing. Li threw a heavy boot in his direction. Kyouki got in and adjusted the seat. The race was starting in seven minutes.
Li took her other boot off and put on her sneakers. "You know Maurice likes to do this to me." She handed the boot to Carlos and told Johnny to get the other car to park in the spot she was about to vacate. Snapping her fingers for Shaundi to focus and to fasten up her seat belt.
"Five minutes…" Came from the megaphone, announcing the time left to ready up.
Carlos seemed a bit worried, as he leaned in the window with worry all across his face. "Yo, can you do this?"
Li popped the hood, turned the nos line on, she got back in, starting the car. "Of course I got this. See you at the finish line."
They pulled up to the line as Shaundi buckled in tight. They were in for two laps around the marked locations. Li sat there as the flag dropped. Despite that, she sat.
"Go, the race started!" One spectator. shouted.
Another was looking at the cars that had already left. Urging the well known to go. "Empress go!"
She heard people saying, Li smirked, she gave them a head start. The crowd was laughing and jeering behind them. Carlos patted Gats' arm when he came to stand with the others. "Can she do this?" Carlos was really worried. His eyebrows were unifying into his hairline. Aisha patted his shoulder, smiling, remembering days gone past.
Li reached her arm out, handing her lollipop to Gat. He popped the cherry lollipop in his mouth when he stepped back, folding his arms.
"Watch."
Li turned the volume up - Jerk - Sucked In , blaring proudly. She pressed on the pedal and took off like a bat outta hell. You could hear Shaundi's sad cries for help trail off as they drove around the first corner. Her tires dug into the pavement soaring, leaving behind a white trail that smelled of rubber. She drifted around the first corner, swinging the back end around and caught up on the straightaway.
There was a black car that, out of nowhere, sped up after them all, whipping the smoke around like a micro storm. The crowd cheered as this race just got much more interesting.
Shaundi hung on the handle and the belt across her chest, hanging on for dear life as she was pressed further into the seat. All of her color drained from her face.
"How dare they underestimate me, fuckers!" Li drifted between two cars as she came speeding around the other curve, catching up to the fourth position with the mysterious black gaining on her.
~*~
There were race positions being called over walkie-talkies along the track.
"Aight, I got the money that says she's gonna win this. Who's in?" Gat called, pulling a wad of cash out of his jacket. They made bets on Kyouki, win or lose.
"Here they come to turn. The Li in the pink car is in third followed by some black car - who is that? Bullet is in the lead, RJ is in fourth."
By the time they looked and heard the cars approaching, she was in the second position as they sped past them into the second lap. Gaining on "Bullet" riding on his bumper.
"She can't pass him. That's Bullet, he wins all the races this past month!"
"He ain't winning against my girl Li!"
"4k she loses."
"Bullshid. That's The Empress driving!"
"Aight bet. She beats Bullet I'll throw in another 2k!"
"I'm in!"
"Bet!"
The onlookers fired up, with all the bets that were going on. They quieted, hearing updates on the races. Forty-five thousand on the line so far, and they just came up to the last turn. The walkie-talkies went wild at the announcer on the last stretch Li was indeed in first, with the previous lap leader in second, with the black car in third.
They all ran to the line. Li was ahead by a full car's length. They came speeding past one after the other in a blur of color.
~*~
"Pay up!" Gat opened a bag, and they poured the money in. Carlos stood there like a fish out of water, mouth hit the floor.
Aisha closed his mouth and laughed. "Gat said she's the best in Stilwater. You should have seen her years ago, cleaned house, people got scared to race her, then again, her and Troy ain't help much either, he was a demon on the road too."
As she linked her arm with Carlos, they waited for Li. Aisha told Carlos more of 'Li, Saints Lieutenant and Empress of Stilwater racing circuit.'
He couldn't believe it, neither did Shaundi, who stumbled out of the passenger seat... hugging Carlos, he held her upright.
She gasped for air. "Never again." She whined, shaking.
Li hopped out and looked over at a spot of chipped paint on her car. "You tapped me, bitch! Lookit this shit!" She pointed to a spot where the paint had nicked off.
"I almost had you, but your ass cheated, you got this dude helping you!" He pointed to the car that came up in third, the driver leaning on the door of his car watching them.
"Bull, you didn't have anyone and as far as someone helping me, I don't need help in these damn streets, unlike the training wheels you need." Li bit back, hearing people jeering and laughing behind her.
With a snap of her finger, getting information from the driver, who came in second. Gat hopped in Li's car and moved it next to the other car.
~*~
Carlos and Aisha were watching after Li, who stalked over to the mystery driver, who realized a little too late he had left instead of sticking around.
"So, who the hell are you?" She was already at the hood of the car when she hit it with her fist.
He pulled his baseball cap down, shaking his head no quickly. Backing up a few steps, he went to the trunk of his car and opened it, appearing to be busy.
"I asked you a question!" She shoved the man's shoulder, and he stumbled. His brown eyes shined in the trunk's low light.
Li gasped, taking a step back. "You, what the fuck are you doing here, no, nevermind I'll leave." Li turned on her heel.
Troy reached out and pulled her by the wrist. "Please, I just want to talk."
"No, usotsuki." she growled, wrenching her wrist from his hand.
Troy grabbed her arm. "Please." He practically begged.
"If I scream cop, it won't be pretty." Jerking her arm from his grasp, she stormed off.
Troy had no choice but to let her go. He was just keeping an eye on Li; she being his major priority. Watching her walk away, he grunted, throwing his hat in the trunk, roughly rubbing his face in frustration. There was nothing that he could do or say to get her to listen.
She didn't answer his text, not a one, emails, nothing.
It left him floundering and in thought about what he could have done differently since she had left that night. She would have definitely killed him if she had the chance.
~*~
Aisha looked, following Li as she stormed past her. "Troy." Her friend growled out as she passed her. "Get him out of here."
Aisha's head snapped back to the former Saint now Police Chief, trotting over to him. "Troy, what the hell?" she asked over the booming music, looking back to see if Gat was in sight. Spotted Li near the second-place driver, motioning for him to follow her.
"I gotta look out for her, ya know. And when I saw she stole her car back, I had been keeping my eye on her. Ish, look, I'm sorry about everything. I know she told you. I-I just want her back." Troy was pleading with her. If anyone besides Gat can get through to Ky, it was Aisha.
Aisha nodded. "Yeah. No, you know how she is. I don't know how you did it . What can I say? I'm on her side. You should have been honest with her, hey just give her some time." Aisha looked up at Troy and sighed. "When she calms down, she'll listen." She finished.
Troy shook his head, pissed at himself. "Nah, she wants to kill me. I fucked up, I really fucked up." He closed the trunk and looked over Aisha's head at his former girlfriend.
He saw her wade through the crowd and saw Gat coming towards her. The two exchanged words. Aisha spoke, breaking the longing gaze he had on Ky.
"You're blessed you are still standing. If she really felt like killing you, you would be dead." A chill ran up her spine. "You should go, I'll talk to her…" Aisha turned to see Kyouki looking directly at her, the young woman cocked her head to the side pointing to a raging bull of Gat, she shifted and turned following to see Gat pushing people out of the way, heading right to them. "Shit. You need to leave."
Aisha patted his arm quickly and hustled over into the crowd as a furious Gat heading on a direct war path to where Troy was.
Troy, taking note as he watched the direction of where Aisha was heading. Seeing Gat moving people out of the way scrambled to get in the car. The engine revved, screeching as it sped away. Troy pulled off just as Aisha placed her small hands on Johnny's chest to slow him down.
"Baby, it's ok, he's gone." Aisha held tight to his arm.
Seeing the taillights disappear around the corner. "I'll fucking kill him!" Gat turned on his heel, heading to the cars to catch up to the traitor. His mood now spoiled after forcing Ky to fill him in, seeing her excitement fade from her entire demeanor.
Johnny planned to end the man right there and then.
"No, he's gone. Ky needs us now. Johnny... Johnny!" Aisha soothed, pointed to where Ky was standing with Carlos and the others.
Johnny ground his teeth, jaw tight, wrapped an overprotective arm around the small woman's shoulders. "Don't talk to him again."
Aisha could only nod. "Yeah." She whispered into his chest. She never told Gat that Troy had been fighting to keep her safe after he had gotten locked up. Aisha didn't know how to tell him.
~*~
They reached the cars, and Li was still fuming. "The hell was he here for? He had zero reasons to be here. The chief cop in a street race. Fucking laughable." She scoffed, looking at the guy, Brian, as they stood near their cars. "Aye Brian, I'm sorry about that. It's complicated. I will split some of the profit with the kid who really came in third."
Before Brian could answer, someone who recognized Li stepped up. "OMG, Li! Shit, we heard you were back, Saints RULE!" throwing her fists in the air, "Sign my shirt please?"
Li hung her head, smiling when she finished the autograph, as Aisha and Gat walked up. "Yo, do me a favor and keep quiet with that, aight?" Gat warned the fan. The girl nodded, grinning hard, and snapped a picture of Gat - then took a picture with Li. Brian looked on confused.
Li waved goodbye and shrugged. "It's a long, complicated story."
Brian snorted. "Yeah, I know what that's like. Lemme guess, robbery or illegal street racing? How did you get the nickname, Empress?"
Kyouki chuckled, shaking her head, "Racing, one someone said I was Impressive, someone overheard and heard Impress, then it went to Empress, blah blah." She chuckled. "Yeah, it's my first time back in years. I was running with a family, The 3rd Street Saints."
Johnny raised his hand, pointing in the direction, along with Aisha. Carlos and Shaundi looked around. Those who overheard cheered.
Several in unison chanted. "3rd Street. Saints rule!"
Ky laughed mirthlessly, frowning slightly, tears clouding her vision briefly. That was love. Brian flashed a smile in knowing they all talked into the night.
Between music and dancing, three hours blew by and people were finally heading out.
~*~*~
"Yo, Brian, listen. If you are interested, I plan on doing this for a project of mine. If you are as good as you were tonight, I'm looking for a driver."
Brian nodded. "Yeah, I can use the money." As they exchanged numbers before he himself went to crash for the night.
Ky, looking off into the distance, sighed when she saw Gat approach. "So… no cops."
"No cops." Johnny agreed with a slight scowl, leaning on the trunk.
Kyouki nodded. "So?"
"Eighty-two thousand. Why did you give away money?"
Kyouki shifted, getting a bit more comfortable. "The real third-place winner needed it. What we have, we will put some up in the next race."
Was all Kyouki wanted to say. She had to admit it felt good to be racing again. It stung seeing Troy there in the race, too.
That made her think of the old times when Troy, Gat, Dex, and she ran the races cleaning people's pockets when not running around for Julius. Sitting looking to the night sky, she shivered a bit, breathing unsteadily, wiping a few runaway tears - then smelled Gat's scent, feeling warmth as he placed his jacket over her shoulders.
They sat like that on the back of her work car; as Aisha slept in the Racer across the back seat, with Carlos resting in the passenger seat. Shaundi was curled up in the passenger seat of the car Gat and Ky were.
Gat pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pants pocket and put it to his lips, checking his pockets for his lighter, not finding it he reached into the jacket pocket, pulling one out - clicking the lighter, Ky snatched the cigarette out of his mouth. She took the lighter from him and handed him a piece of gum. They sat like that for another hour, just sitting and looking at the night sky.
"You good?" Gat asked.
Kyouki nodded. "Eventually."