♛Cameron Dawson♛

The house I lived in when I was in Colombia was huge. It had twelve rooms, excluding the kitchen, bathrooms and living room. It was always pristine, smelling of cleaning soap and expensive air perfume. My room was the only one that had some sense of a homely feel. The house was above average and my parents were hardly home due to always being at the cartel and if they were, they were either in my father's office or in the living room where my father smoked a cigar and watched bull fighting on TV.

It was one of the many reasons why I made a point not to be home too much myself. I had no one to share it with except the few maids who couldn't even look me in the eye out of fear.

My apartment here was much like that, too. My thoughts often became overbearing and I couldn't sit in my room. That's when I go and race for fun, to let out some frustration. However, to wake up next to someone now, not having to deal with constant silence or only cook for one person, is something completely out of the norm for me. But I would be lying if I say I don't like it.

Having Harley here has made the place feel more like... home. My bathroom now has a few bobby pins lying around and my pillow has the scent of Harley on it. I get to see her first thing in the morning and kiss her sleeping form in complete adoration.

After the kidnapping, I've thought of leaving her many times. I've thought of putting an end to our relationship since it's my fault she's in this mess anyway. I've tried to convince myself that that was the best solution, that we shouldn't be together and should go our separate ways. But then she would smile at me and the option would fade away. I can't leave her.

I'm too selfish to do that.

I want to be with her. And whose to say that our enemy wouldn't carry on harassing her simply because he knows how much she means to me? Breaking up won't stop my heart from feeling this way which is why, together or not, Harley is a pawn to try and get to me.

She's my weakness.

I feel a tap on my forehead and I snap out of my thoughts, turning to Harley. She looks at me in concern, her hazel eyes sliding over my face. "You okay?"

I nod, running a hand through my untamable hair. "Si."

She nods at me, her eyes lingering for a few seconds too long before she gets up from the couch and walks to my room. I check the time on my watch and stand up with a stretch before following her. She takes a seat on my bed, opening up a notebook and starting to jot down points. I lean against the door frame and watch as her face adorably contorts in confusion.

"You know," I interrupt her "You've never shown me any of your writing."

She looks up at me, her eyes widening, before she shrugs and flips through some pages. "I'm still learning and improving but I've being struggling to come up with anything creative lately. I'll show you when I can think of something decent."

I smile to myself. I've got a girl with an amazing heart and soul, an intelligent mind and a stunning body.

I sure hit the jackpot.

"What do you write mostly?" I ask, having never asked her this before. She shrugs.

"Poems, short stories, one shots."

"Why do you love writing so much?" I also find myself asking. Harley cocks her head to the side in thought and stares at me.

"It was the only way I could escape before you taught me to race." She explains, the words heavy. "I can be anyone, anything, I want to be when I'm writing."

I look at the girl in front of me, wishing more than anything that I could take away her pain.

"You're a passionate person."

"You need to be when writing."

I've never connected with words but I can understand the power of them. Words can make or break a person, plant flowers or burn down forests. Despite me not connecting with them, I can still say that being able to use them in such a powerful and effective way truly is talent.

I pull away from my thoughts and get up from off my doorframe to go and open my balcony doors, welcoming some fresh air into the room.

"I'm heading to the track now. You coming?"

Harley glances at me briefly, as if debating, before nodding silently. I watch her carefully and lean by the wall. "When are you going to start racing again?" I ask and her hand freezes from scrawling ideas down. She looks up at me.

"I don't think I'll be able to do it for a while." Her voice is disappointed, upset, and I frown.

"Why? You finally managed to get behind the wheel and give it a shot."

She lets out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through her locks. "Because I was just locked in a dark basement like old times the other day." Harley almost snaps at me.

"Are you going to let that get in the way again?" I ask and she sighs. Her frustration becomes more evident and she closes her notebook.

"I don't want to trigger my anxiety off and relapse to the point where I have an attack every day. I need to try and face the fear bit by bit because at this point, I'm not ready to race at all."

My heart aches a little. She finally managed to do what she wanted to for so long but just because some jackass wants to get me back for something still unknown, she has being forced to take a step back and restart. After finally pushing herself to her limits and breaking her own personal barriers, she's right back at where she started. The wound of her past has being ripped open and needs to heal once again.

I purse my lips. "I'm not pressuring you into racing Harley. I just want you to know that if you've done it once, you can do it again." I feel the need to remind her. Her mouth turns up into a small, grateful smile.

"I know." She says but her eyes deceive her words- I can see the hopelessness in them that she might not be able to get back on the track. 

I don't comment on it and rather reach for my leather jacket draped over my desk chair. "I'll be waiting in the kitchen."

I leave the room and wait in the kitchen for her before she enters with a denim jacket hanging on her shoulders. I grab the keys to my car and we both exit the building before climbing into the car.

As I drive with one hand on the steering wheel and the other nestled on Harley's thigh, I can't help but wonder if the psycho who is ruining our lives will ever be caught.

****

I feel like I can breath better as I park my car at the track. The sight of all the cars and people bustling about sends a sense of familiarity up my spine and I feel like I can finally relax a little. Racing has always being my escape and since I haven't being at the track as frequently as I usually am, I can feel the pent up frustration inside of me.

People stare at Harley as we walk side by side in the direction of the bar, people gazing at her in sheer curiosity and jealousy. Others sneer at me and I scowl back. Harley senses the gazes and steps closer to me, looking down to hide behind her hair and I grab her hand, trying to offer some comfort.

Harley is a grand prize now. Everyone wants to race the girl who won against the unbeaten champion. Everyone wants to taste the new competition.

When we step into the bar that's so full you can barely breathe, I go straight to the betting room. Clark's face lights up when he sees us.

"Cameron!" He exclaims before looking at Harley in amazement. "Harley." He nods his head in respect and she smiles at him.

"Hey Clark. Can I lay a bet down?"

He nods, pulling out a form. I hand him an envelope with eighty thousand in it. Clark looks at in surprise before glancing at me with a raised eyebrow.

"Why're you betting your whole bank account?"

I shrug. I'm no longer the unbeaten champion which is why I need to let people know that I'm still high competition. And betting a lot of money is just how to do that.

"Got to keep my reputation up." Is my simple reply and he smiles softly, understanding my logic. As he goes through the money and does what's necessary, Harley looks at me in curiosity.

"How much are you betting?"

"Eighty." I reply and although I see the surprise in her eyes, she doesn't try to convince me otherwise. We leave the betting room soon after before heading back out into the now much darker sky.

"Everyone is staring at me." Harley mutters beside me and I look down at her.

"You're a new threat."

Her head snaps up to mine. "I could never be a threat."

"You'd be surprised." I comment before catching sight of Emery walking. When he sees me, he walks over with a wide smile.

"Hello Cameron."

I return the greeting before his eyes trail to Harley beside me.

"Hello Emery." She greets and he smiles at her.

"Harley. Come to race?"

Harley's smile falters slightly and she shakes her head. "No. I just came to support Cameron."

Emery's eyebrows draw together. "Many racers have being dying to go against you."

She purses her lips. "I won't be racing for a while."

Emery cocks his head to the side and I watch as his eyes narrow slightly. "Alright. Well, just know you're always welcome Harley." He then turns to me, his eyes calculating. "Good luck Cameron. I trust you'll keep my name high."

I smile tightly and he's walking away before either of us can register it. I don't get time to tell Harley to ignore his words, not to doubt herself, when Mason and Samantha approach. I cast them both a greeting, Samantha laughing along with Harley at something. It seems the two of them get on well.

"You racing tonight?" Mason asks and I nod.

"Yeah. How about you? You haven't raced in a while."

He shrugs, pulling out a box of cigarettes and lighting one up between his mouth. "Got some gang shit to deal with." He responds and I don't bother to ask since I honestly don't want to know. "But you haven't raced in a while either. You looking forward to this one?" Mason asks, blowing smoke out of his mouth over his shoulder.

I nod. Racing is a part of who I am and has being the one thing to always provide me with comfort in times of need. I'm grateful that Frank has also never questioned me on my activities because it's no doubt he knows I'm up to something. I have an amazing apartment- that not many students my age can afford- and a vintage car worth millions while he knows I came here without that kind of money. Frank is bound to think such a thing. However, not even he has ever asked me about my whereabouts. Just earlier today he stopped by to come check up on Harley when he noticed her Mustang outside.

"Who does the beauty belong to?" He had asked and Harley had smiled, reaching out to touch her new prized possession.

"Mine." She responded to him.

Frank had simply raised his eyebrows in surprise before whistling under his breath. "Can I see its engine?" was his inquiry. We had opened the hood for him and he had glanced over all the items, his eyes wide in amazement before stepping back. "You sure are lucky Harley."

I'm grateful to have had such a kind and trustworthy officer help me get my life back on track.

"You know I get withdrawal symptoms." I joke and he chuckles.

"Don't we all."

I chuckle too. "What are you racing tonight?" I ask and he shrugs.

"Car. I'm getting tired of the same old thing."

I roll my eyes. "Hope you don't feel that way about Samantha."

Mason shakes his head. "Never."

It seems like things with Samantha are finally settling down and I couldn't be happier for Mason- their unstable relationship has caused the both of them enough pain. Mason's phone starts to ring and he pulls it out of his pocket, holding his cigarette between his lips before answering it and walking away.

I'm about to turn to the girls when my own phone goes off and I fish it out of my pocket. My heart drops and anger immediately starts pulsating through my veins when I see who the message is from.

Unknown: I hear you're working hard to try and find me.

I tighten my grasp around the phone.

Unknown: How about I make a deal with you... Meet me at the vacant lot on 27 Lorri Street, Crist Avenue tomorrow at two and we can finally have a chat.

Unknown: But you have to come alone Danté. Unless you want something else to happen to Harley. So... what do you say?

I glance up at Harley who is talking to Samantha with a smile and I realize that this may be my only opportunity to get a lead on the case for Frank. It may be dangerous but it may be my only choice. It's not like it would be my first time but now that someone who means so much to me is being dragged into my mess, it's my duty to fix things.

I purse my lips, typing in a quick reply.

Me: I'll be there.

•••
If you enjoyed this chapter, please drop a vote and comment :)
I know that I said updates would begin on the 1st of October but I was exhausted after coming back from my trip to Portugal. So here is the update I owe you guys :)
There are only a few chapters left to the book (less than ten) so updates will slow down during November because of this and the fact that I'm writing my final exams.
Updates will be as follows: 26 October, 12 November and 26 November. Thereafter updates will begin as usual so that I can mark the book as completed before the end of the year. Thank you for reading!

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