His To Claim

Nova Reyes.

The dockyard came alive as the engines roared,neon lights danced around blessing the car fumes with illumination. 

Several tires could be seen lined as the cars sat side by side waiting for the activity to kick in while the air was filled with the chants of onlookers. 

"Fifteen grand. Twenty-four hours. Fail, and your brother won't be the only one in a body bag."

The gangleader’s threat echoed in my head as my heart pounded wildly against my chest. I stood in front of the gates leading into the abandoned dockyard on the outskirts of town. 

My fingers wrapped around my pendant and the other hand tightly gripped the envelope that contained all the money I had left.

This was my only shot at raising such an amount of money within such an unrealistic amount of time. It was either this or I watched Jonas, my brother, get ripped to shreds by the ruthless gang he had been dumb enough to mess with.

I felt the corner of my eyes pool as the memory from that day casually fleeted in. 

“You don't have to do it alone,Nova,” he had said to me that night as we sat outside the apartment after our parents were buried. I could barely hear his small voice over the stereo playing. 

My hands found their way to my face as I wiped the little tears. I had to do this. 

Going to the cops was out of the question. I had already exhausted all other options two times. Sold all that was worth selling,borrowed till there is no left to borrow from. 

I wish I could feel brave but this is just stupidity-the only option I had. 

I squeezed my eyes shut and exhaled sharply as I wiped away my tears with the back of my hand.

Slowly, I made my way inside and the moment I stepped past the rusty gates, it felt like I had just entered another world.

Graffiti-splattered walls and neon floodlights buzzing in the dark were the first thing my eyes rested on. I jumped in fear and almost bolted at the sudden sound of engines rev like beasts in cages. The strong smell of gasoline, smoke and the insane chants from the audience coupled with the heavy bass music thumping through moded car speakers filled the air.

The illegal street race that kept the city alive was right in front of me.

“This is a stupid idea, Nova. Even the cops avoid that dockyard.” My bestfriend’s warning filled my thoughts but I kept walking.

With each step, I felt my heart thump so hard like it was about to rip its way out of my chest. I felt a thin line of sweat trickle down the sides of my temple and resisted the urge to wipe it. I refused to succumb to the terror I felt.

And no matter how hard I swallowed, the dryness in my mouth didn't ease up, it worsened even and so I faced ahead, resisting that bulging urge to scream and turn around. 

I was totally out of place, dressed in ordinary clothes in a place where customized and expensive cars were everywhere and almost everyone had a tattoo or was covered in it. A handful of women were there and they were all scantily dressed.

At the side was what looked like a rundown liquor store which was heavily guarded with bars on the window, a cage-like counter and a man with tattoos crawling up his neck seated inside taking money from the crowd without looking up. A crowd had formed a line in front of it as they waved their money frantically in the air, enthusiastically waiting to place their bets.

Thinking about it would only make it worse so I walked right up to the counter, “I want in. I need a car.” My voice steady as I slammed the envelope down on the table in front of the man seated behind it.

He looked up slowly, his brows slightly raised and for the few seconds he stared at me in silence, I felt my knees buckle and threaten to give way under me. My breath caught in my throat and I gulped down in fear.

Lily was right, this was definitely a bad idea!

Suddenly, a low rumbling sound erupted from him just before he burst out laughing. Everyone around joined in.

“You lost, princess?” He mocked, his tone condensing.

“What’s this? A waitress wandered in? Maybe she’s here to hand out drinks.” Another whistles and another bout of laughter exploded from the crowd.

My stomach knots and my face burns hot with embarrassment but I maintained a calm expression.

“Honey, the strip girls are that way. You’re in the wrong line.” Another pointed out as he jerked his chin towards a group of girls draped across car hoods in glitter tops.

One of them stepped closer, too close, and the heavy stench of alcohol oozing off him hit me hard as he hooked a finger under my jacket collar and his eyes slid over my body in a creepy manner.

“Why don’t you take off these clothes, huh? Bet you’d look s*xy without them.” He slurred as he reached out to touch me but I shoved him off and staggered backwards.

My reaction must have amused them because the laughter from them rang out louder than it did before.

“Yeah, strip, baby! That’s the only race you can win.” Someone else shouts wildly.

For a split second, I wanted to bolt. But an image of my brother’s lifeless body flashed before my eyes.

I squared my shoulders, my voice shaking but fierce,

"I can drive… better than most of you.”

“Hear that? Princess thinks she can drive.” An onlooker mocked and the crowd laughed harder.

Another man, a much sober one stepped forward with a smug look on his face, “Tell you what, if you really want to join in the fun then I can get you a car.”

“Really?” I looked up at him, my eyes filled with both suspicion and hope.

“Of course sweetheart but here’s the deal, you don’t make it past the start and I’ll take you home for the night.

How’s that sound, princess?” His eyes gleamed with mischief and I knew entering a deal with a cutthroat in a place like this was definitely a bad idea but I had no choice.

$15,000 was a lot of money for a waitress/babysitter that lost her parents two years ago and was left alone to fend for her junior brother.

That amount was ten times the money Jonas owed the gang leader but I knew better than to point that out, especially when I knew for a fact that he would waste no time at all to kill Jonas and dump his body somewhere.

“Deal.” I blurted out and he grinned devilishly as he signaled to one of the lackey

“Give her a car. Give my princess for the night here a ride.”

Every word was dripping with mockery but I didn’t mind. I was here for the money and nothing else.

Almost immediately, he began to shove me forward and we soon came to a halt in front of a rusted out car with dented hood, mismatched doors and as soon as the engine was turned on, the coughing exhaust roared to life.

The crowd doubled over with laughter and some even began to place bets on how long it would take before I would crash.

A voice suddenly boomed through the speakers from somewhere above. 

“Hold on,hold on, are my eyes playing tricks on me or we have a girl at the starting line tonight?” 

Horrendous laughter followed as several sneers came out of different corners of the dockyard. 

“Don’t die princess, at least, not until you’ve kept your end of the deal.” He whispered into my ears and a shiver raced down my spine as I climbed into the car and gripped the wheel.

Heaving and panting heavily, I grabbed onto my pendant with an image of my late Dad safely tucked inside and planted a kiss gently on it, “Dad… help me.” I whispered softly before the other cars began to appear beside me on the starting line. Sleek custom mustangs, souped-up imports and insane customized monster cars surrounded me.

“Who’s going to take home the prize tonight?!” A loud voice boomed from the large speakers as the crowd went into a frenzy of cheers, “$25,000 and an opportunity to race with legends!!! Place your bets now!”

That was more than enough money, just enough for me to settle Jonas' debt and start over again somewhere very far away from here, I said to myself as I closed my eyes and struggled to steady my racing heart.

All I had to do was win.

Nova Reyes.

It’s been six years since the accident. Six years of avoiding cars and races, only for me to end up in the one thing I now dreaded the most.

“What the f*ck is that?” One of the commentator’s voice boomed through the dockyard.

“That’s not a car, that’s a coffin!” The second one shouted and laughter rolled through the crowd.

A petite woman paraded herself between the cars, clad in nothing but underwear and a flag clutched in her right hand.

My grip on the wheel tightened as my heart beat intensified. It’s been years since I’ve last been behind a wheel and suddenly being trapped behind one was suffocating me.

The memories began to flood my head, overpowering my reasoning as fear creeped into my mind.

I was so lost in thought and trying to pull myself together that I didn’t notice the petite woman raise the flag high up in the air until my peripheral vision caught sight of her b