Engines rumbled like thunder, headlights casting sharp beams through the industrial lot, cutting through the haze of petrol fumes and cigarette smoke.

The crowd had doubled, everyone wanting a front-row seat to see Ace Calloway back behind the wheel.

Jinx and Rev stood right up front, grinning ear to ear, barely containing their excitement.

"I can't believe this." Jinx nudged Rev. "This is Ace on her home turf. You realise how legendary this is?"

Rev smirked. "Yeah, and if she doesn't win, we'll never let her live it down."

Jinx grinned wider. "Oh, absolutely."

Dax, however, wasn't buzzing with excitement like they were. He was watching Ghost.

Ghost looked different. Not his usual smirking, smug, pain-in-the-ass self. His jaw was tight, hands in his pockets, shoulders tense.

Dax's eyes narrowed. "What's your problem?"

Ghost exhaled sharply, his gaze flicking from Erin to the stretch of road ahead. Then, in a low voice, just loud enough for Dax to hear. "This is the same route Jamie drove on his last race."

Dax's stomach dropped. His head snapped to Erin.

She was strapped in, hands gripping the steering wheel of the borrowed S2000, her expression unreadable as she adjusted the mirrors. If she had realised, if she knew what road this was it wasn't showing on her face.

Dax clenched his jaw. "Does she know?"

Ghost's lips pressed together. "She has to."

Dax swore under his breath.

Because if she knew, and still wanted to run it, then she wasn't just racing for fun. She was racing to prove something to herself.

That scared him more than any street race ever could.

Hunter pulled up next to Erin in his Celica, revving it slightly as he leaned over, motioning for her to lower her window.

She did.

His dark eyes studied her for a moment, like he was checking to see if she really remembered. Then he spoke. "You remember the route, yeah?"

Erin turned her head just slightly, giving him a look. Not annoyed. Not impatient. Just calm. Certain. "I never forgot."

Hunter's expression didn't change, but something flickered behind his eyes. Respect. And something else. Concern. "Alright then. Three miles. First one to the end past the rail bridge wins. No shortcuts, no bullshit."

Erin nodded once. "Got it."

Ethan pulled up on her other side in his Evo, rolling his shoulders, glancing at her with a small grin. "No pressure, Ace."

Erin smirked. "None at all."

Ethan chuckled, revving his engine. "Let's see if you can still keep up."

Rev bounced on his heels, glancing at Jinx. "Alright, tell me you're getting all of this."

Jinx held up his phone. "Recording everything. We're about to witness history."

Dax, standing slightly apart from them, exhaled slowly. He still didn't like this.

Erin was in her element. She had that fire in her eyes, the same one she had when they built the M3, the same one she had when she refused to let Logan push her out of the scene.

Ghost, still silent, took a slow step forward, watching as she tapped her fingers lightly against the steering wheel.

Dax noticed. "You're still worried."

Ghost didn't look at him. "Yeah."

Dax crossed his arms. "Why?"

Ghost exhaled, his gaze locked onto Erin. "Because I remember what happened last time someone tried to prove something on this road."

Dax's jaw tightened. He didn't like that. Not one damn bit. But there was nothing he could do now.

The flag girl stepped up, raising her arm.

Engines roared.

The crowd pushed closer.

Erin took one last breath, then let everything else go. She wasn't thinking about the past. She was thinking about winning.