The night air was thick with gasoline, burned rubber, and the steady hum of engines idling in the distance. The underground meet was tucked away in an abandoned lot, neon lights bouncing off the damp pavement, casting long shadows over the crowd of racers, spectators, and the occasional troublemaker looking to stir something up.

Dax and Erin pulled up in Ethan's Lancer Evolution IX. It wasn't the Evo II from the other night, but it handled well enough to blend into the scene.

Ahead of them, Rev and Jinx arrived in Hunter's second car, a Celica GT-Four.

Jinx let out a low whistle as he stepped out, stretching his arms. "Man, these meets always got that right mix of sketchy and exciting."

Rev smirked, adjusting his jacket. "Yeah, means we're in the right place."

The lot was alive with movement, cars lined up, hoods open for inspection, racers discussing setups, small side bets being exchanged. The smell of fried street food drifted in from a vendor near the edge of the lot, mingling with the acrid scent of burning rubber from a group of drivers messing around near the far end.

The low, unmistakable growl of a high-performance motorcycle cut through the atmosphere.

Erin turned her head just in time to see Ghost rolling in on a different bike.

This one was a matte-black MV Agusta Brutale, aggressive and sharp, with a ghostly silver detailing on the bodywork. He didn't make a big entrance, no revving, no showing off. Just rolled in like he had always belonged there, his presence unsettling enough on its own.

Jinx nudged Rev. "Oh, great. Here comes our friendly neighbourhood shadow."

Rev just huffed, not taking his eyes off Ghost. "Man's got a new bike every time we see him. You'd think he was a damn ghost for real."

Ghost parked near the outskirts of the meet, helmet still on, and didn't immediately approach. He was watching. Assessing.

And so was Erin. But right now, she had something else to focus on.

There were rumours swirling through the scene tonight, whispers of something big coming. Not the big one, not the race that would finally drag Alex and Jace out of hiding, but something big enough to shift the balance.

Erin and Rev moved through the crowd, listening, watching, waiting for the right person to slip up and say too much.

They caught fragments of conversation.

"It's invite-only, but the payout is huge..."

"Not just cash. There's something else on the line..."

"Only the best are getting in. If you ain't got a name, don't bother."

Rev exchanged a look with Erin. "You thinking what I'm thinking?"

She nodded. "This might be the one to get us closer to Alex and Jace."

If they played it right. If they got in. It might just put them exactly where they needed to be.

Rev had a way with people. He knew how to talk, how to pry information out of someone without them even realising they were giving it up.

So, while Erin let him work his magic, charming some girl in a crop top (who seemed to know more than she was letting on), she made her way over to Ghost.

He was still near his bike, standing slightly apart from the crowd, his helmet now resting on the seat. He was watching, as he always did, like someone who knew more than they ever let on.

Erin crossed her arms as she stopped next to him. "So. You disappeared again."

Ghost exhaled, tilting his head slightly toward her. "I do that."

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, no shit. Where'd you go this time?"

For a moment, he didn't answer. "Catching up with old contacts."

Her brows furrowed. "From before you left the UK?"

Ghost nodded, his expression unreadable.

Erin studied him. "And? You find what you were looking for?"

His gaze flickered toward her, sharp but guarded. "Maybe."

That wasn't an answer, and they both knew it.

Erin knew Ghost well enough by now to know he'd only say what he wanted to, when he wanted to. Pushing wouldn't get her anywhere. Still, she wasn't going to just let it drop. "So, what's the deal?" she asked, shifting her weight slightly. "You just running around reconnecting with old ghosts, or is this leading somewhere?"

Ghost smirked slightly at the choice of words but didn't bite on it. Instead, he exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Some doors don't stay closed forever, Calloway. And some people don't stay buried."

That sent a chill down her spine, but she kept her expression neutral.

"That sounds cryptic as hell," she complained.

Ghost just shrugged. "What can I say? It's my thing."

Erin shook her head. "You're a pain in the ass, you know that?"

He smirked. "Yeah. But I'm a useful one."

Before she could respond, Rev's voice cut through the crowd. "Calloway! Got something!"

She shot Ghost one last look. "This conversation isn't over."

He chuckled, but there was something knowing in his eyes. "It never is."

And with that, she turned and made her way back to Rev, because whatever he'd found out might just be the break they needed.

Erin made her way back through the crowd, weaving past racers huddled in conversation, engines rumbling from the occasional test revs, and the ever-present scent of gasoline lingering in the air.

Rev was waiting for her near the back of a modified Supra, a cocky smirk stretched across his face. Whatever he'd found out, he was pleased with himself.

She arched a brow. "You gonna make me drag it out of you, or are you actually gonna talk?"

Rev chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "Relax, Calloway. Got what we needed. And I didn't even have to break hearts this time."

"That implies you usually do."

He shrugged. "Can't help it if I'm charming."

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. What'd you find out?"

Rev's smirk lingered, but his tone turned serious. "It's real. The race. It's big. Invite-only, high buy-in, and only names that actually mean something get in."

Erin exhaled sharply. "So, it's not some random underground bet. This is organised."

"More than that," Rev said, glancing toward the racers near the starting grid. "Word is, some heavy-hitters are already in. And the stakes? Not just cash. There's something else on the table, but no one's saying what."

That set off alarms in Erin's head.

Underground races always had money on the line, but when it became more than money, that meant power, leverage, something big enough to draw in the right kind of attention. Which meant, if they played this right, it might just be the event that dragged Alex and Jace out of hiding.

Rev glanced at her. "So? We getting in?"

Erin smirked. "Wouldn't be here if we weren't."

Rev grinned. "That's what I like to hear."

Before they could strategise further, Dax's voice cut through the noise.

"You two gonna stand around whispering all night, or are we actually gonna make a move?"

Erin turned to see Dax and Jinx approaching, both looking way too interested in whatever she and Rev had been talking about.

Jinx, still holding the remnants of whatever snack he'd swiped from a vendor, smirked. "Lemme guess. We're about to do something stupid?"

Rev chuckled. "Depends on how you define 'stupid'."

Dax crossed his arms. "We getting in?"

Erin nodded. "We're trying to."

Jinx grinned. "Well, shit. You know I'm down. Who do we gotta convince?"

Rev nodded toward a group near the centre of the lot, a cluster of racers that looked like they belonged to the right crowd.

"Word is, the guy running this thing picks the drivers himself," he explained. "No application process. Either he notices you, or you prove yourself worthy."

Dax exhaled. "So, basically, we gotta make someone notice."

Jinx smirked. "Guess we better start making some noise."

Erin cracked her knuckles. "I like the way you think, Jinx."

Dax, ever the voice of reason, chipped in. "This is how we get into trouble."

Rev smirked. "And this is how we win."

The challenge was set.

They had one night to make an impression.

Jinx was in his element.

The second they told him to stir shit up, he didn't hesitate.

He hopped up onto the hood of Ethan's Evo IX like it was his car, clapped his hands together, and let his voice cut through the meet like a siren. "Aight, listen up, you beautiful, reckless degenerates!"

Heads turned. Conversations quieted. Engines idling in the background provided a low hum beneath his voice as people turned their attention to whatever chaos was about to unfold.

Jinx grinned, arms wide. "We've been here long enough, and y'know what? I'm bored! So let's make things interesting!"

Dax sighed, rubbing his temples. "Here we go."

Rev smirked. "Nah, let him cook."

Jinx gestured toward Ethan's Evo IX behind him. "We got a real driver here, a name y'all should know. If you don't?" He scoffed. "You will by the end of the night." He paused for effect, then pointed straight at Erin. "Y'all ever heard of Ace?"

The shift was immediate.

The energy in the lot changed, some murmurs, some nods, but mostly interest. Some people had heard of her, especially after what went down with Nate. But there was always someone who didn't believe the hype.

From across the lot, a voice called out, "Who the hell is 'Ace'?"

Jinx's grin turned downright wicked. "Glad you asked, my guy! Lemme educate you." He gestured grandly to Erin. "This right here? This is Ace. UK-born, LA-made, and the reason Blaine's walking around mad as hell tonight!"

A ripple of interest ran through the crowd now.

Erin crossed her arms, giving Jinx a look. "You really love running your mouth, huh?"

Jinx smirked. "It's a gift."

Then, louder, "So here's the deal! We need a race. Ace versus whoever's got the stones to take her on!"

More murmurs, people shifting, looking around.

A tall, broad-shouldered guy stepped forward, casual but confident. His leather jacket and unimpressed expression screamed money but also skill. He wasn't just some loudmouth. He knew he was fast.

"That a real challenge?" he asked, voice calm, steady.

Jinx nodded. "Depends. You think you got what it takes to keep up?"

The guy smirked. "I know I do."

But before he could step forward, another man, older, maybe mid-forties, with the kind of presence that made people step aside, cut in.

"This isn't just any race," he said smoothly, stepping into the circle forming around them. His dark button-up and tailored jeans screamed money, but his eyes were sharp. Watching. Calculating.

Erin immediately knew, this was the guy.

The one behind the real race.

The man looked directly at her. "You're Ace?"

She met his gaze without hesitation. "That's me."

He tilted his head slightly, as if considering something. "I've heard whispers. But whispers don't mean much in this world."

Erin arched a brow. "That so?"

He nodded. "I deal in results, not stories. And right now, I have something you want."

Rev smirked. "That invite."

The man's lips quirked in amusement. "Smart crew." He nodded toward his friend, the same racer who had stepped up earlier. "Here's my deal, Ace. You run against my guy. Win, or even get close, and we'll talk."

"Close?" Erin asked, arching a brow.

The man chuckled. "You think you're fast enough to make this a real race? Prove it."

Dax exhaled, crossing his arms. "And if she wins?"

The man smirked. "Then I'll make sure you all get in."

The tension in the air thickened.

Erin tilted her head, cracking her knuckles. "And if I lose?"

The man's expression didn't change. "Then you go home, and we never have this conversation again."

Jinx let out a low whistle. "Damn. No pressure, Ace."

Erin smirked. "Please. This is light work."

Rev chuckled. "Yeah, I love that confidence."

Dax, standing just beside her, leaned in slightly. "You sure about this?"

She glanced at him, then back at the car. "I was looking for a reason to wake up the Evo."

Dax exhaled, shaking his head with a smirk. "Alright, Calloway. Let's see what you got."

The challenge was set. The stakes were high.

And as Erin stepped toward the car, ready to put her name on the line, she knew one thing for sure, she wasn't walking away from this without a fight.

The weight of the challenge settled over the crew as the crowd around them thickened. The night was alive with murmurs, bets being made, and engines revving in the background.

Dax wasn't watching the crowd, he was watching her.

As Erin walked toward the Evo IX, ready to put her name on the line, he stepped in beside her, voice low so only she could hear. "Calloway."

She exhaled, knowing that tone. "I already know what you're gonna say."

Dax wasn't smiling. "Do you? Because I don't think you do."

She glanced up at him, arms crossed. "Dax, I can handle this."

His jaw clenched. "That's not what I'm worried about." He nodded toward the race organiser, the sharp-eyed man who had just laid down the challenge. "You don't even know this guy. You think he's just gonna hand over an invite that easily?"

Erin sighed. "I don't think he's handing anything over easily. That's why I need to show him I'm worth the risk."

Dax exhaled sharply, glancing at the Evo. "I don't like this."

Erin's gaze softened slightly. "I know."

He ran a hand through his hair. "You don't have to prove yourself every time someone throws down a challenge."

Her lips twitched. "Dax, you know that's not how this works."

His eyes flicked over her face, searching for some kind of hesitation. There was none.

Finally, he sighed. "Just don't wreck the damn car."

Erin smirked, reaching up to pat his chest. "Wouldn't dream of it."

Dax huffed a laugh, but there was still tension in his eyes. "Be smart, Ace."

She just grinned and pulled away, heading toward the Evo as Jinx called out, "Alright, let's get this shit started!"

As Erin climbed into the car, the race organiser stood near the starting line, talking quietly with his driver.

His name was Morgan Wade, and he wasn't just some random player in the underground circuit.

Morgan had been around, a name that carried weight among the older racers. He wasn't the loudest, wasn't the flashiest, but the right people knew exactly who he was.

Late 30s now, Wade had been in the game long enough to see the golden era of street racing, back when Jamie Calloway was still burning up the roads. Older than Jamie by a few years, he had built his rep as a driver who never took unnecessary risks. Smart. Calculated. The kind of racer who won by knowing exactly how much to push and when to hold back. But that wasn't how he had started.

Back in the day, Morgan had been reckless, fast, too fast. He had nearly lost everything in a bad crash over a decade ago. Unlike Jamie, he had survived, but barely. He spent months in rehab, rebuilding his body and his life. After that, he stopped racing for the thrill and started racing for the long game.

Now, he ran selective high-stakes races, ones that mattered. And this one was a test.

If Erin impressed him, she'd earn her way into something bigger, but first, she had to prove she belonged.

The engines roared as both cars pulled up to the starting line.

Erin's fingers curled around the wheel of the Evo IX, her pulse steady.

Her opponent, in a BMW E36 3-series, revved the engine, its driver smirking at her through the window.

Morgan stepped forward between them, raising his hand. "You both know what's at stake. No bullshit. No second chances. You win, you earn your spot."

Erin exhaled. Focus.

Morgan's hands went up.

Three... Two... One... GO!

The instant his hands dropped, they launched.

The Evo's AWD gripped the road hard, surging forward with a violent growl. The BMW, despite being RWD, kept pace immediately.

Erin didn't panic.

She shifted up, feeling the Evo's turbo kick in, keeping her lines tight as they approached the first bend.

The E36 went wide, trying to power through with raw speed. Erin tucked in, keeping her momentum steady.

They were neck and neck.

Through the first straight, the Beemer edged forward, slightly.

Erin gritted her teeth, knowing the Evo had the grip advantage. She waited. Calculated.

Then, a sharp left turn ahead.

This was her chance.

She braked late, sending the Evo diving into the corner while the BMW had to slow just a fraction longer.

For a split second, Erin pulled ahead.

The crowd erupted.

But the Beemer's driver was good. Coming out of the turn, he gained speed faster, using raw power to reel her back in.

They were side by side again.

Erin pushed harder, shifting up, the final straight ahead.

It was going to be close.

Both cars tore down the last stretch, the finish line approaching.

The BMW just barely edged ahead. By feet.

The crowd exploded.

Erin slammed her palm against the wheel, but she wasn't mad.

She knew what she had done. She had made it close. That was enough.

As Erin stepped out of the Evo, exhaling hard, Wade approached.

His expression was unreadable at first, then he smirked. "You're fast, Ace," he said. "Faster than most. And you're not reckless, you know how to race."

Erin wiped her brow, still catching her breath. "But I didn't win."

Morgan tilted his head. "No. But you were close. Closer than most get against him." He nodded toward the BMW driver, who was now grinning beside his car.

Erin crossed her arms. "So, what now?"

Morgan let the silence stretch for a second. "You're in."

Erin's eyes flickered with something sharp. "Just like that?"

He chuckled. "No. Not 'just like that'. You earned it."

Rev clapped Erin on the back. "Hell yes, Calloway!"

Jinx grinned. "That's my girl!"

Dax, standing a little further back, just exhaled, his shoulders relaxing slightly. He knew she had this.

Morgan glanced at the crew. "Keep your schedules clear. The big one's coming." He turned to Erin. "And if you're serious about making a name for yourself?" He smirked. "Then this is just the beginning."

The message was clear.

She wasn't done proving herself. She had just opened the door to something way bigger than a simple underground race.

The crowd was still murmuring, the buzz of the race settling as Erin faced off with Morgan Wade.

She knew how this worked, he wanted her in his race. He wouldn't have made the offer if he didn't. Erin wasn't about to take scraps off anyone's table, no matter how respected he was.

She crossed her arms, meeting his sharp gaze. "I'm in, under one condition."

He smirked, amused. "That so?"

She nodded. "All of us get in. My crew, my terms."

Morgan raised a brow. "That's a big ask."

Erin didn't flinch. "Then find another driver."

The silence between them stretched.

Morgan chuckled, shaking his head. "I like you, Ace. You don't just have skill, you've got nerve."

She shrugged. "Gotta have both to survive in this game."

He exhaled, glancing around at Rev, Jinx, and Dax, all of whom were watching the exchange closely. Finally, he nodded. "Fine. Your crew's in. But I don't wait around forever. I expect you all ready when the time comes."

Erin smirked. "We will be."

That led to the next problem. The crew wasn't at full strength. Not yet. And there was only one way to fix that.