Chapter 4 The End of Innocence

Marina's POV:

"Oh my god, that guy is really hot! Did you see him take off doing a wheelie? He must be fearless. The guys are definitely going to lose!" I exclaimed, completely euphoric.

If I'd known, I wouldn't have wasted my time chatting with them. I should have wandered around to check out more of the good-looking guys-he definitely couldn't be the only one here.

"We should go check out the finish line. Just to get another look at his body and maybe catch a glimpse of what's under that helmet," I said to Alix, grabbing her by the arm.

Alix seemed totally spaced out; I practically had to drag her through the crowd that had gathered near the finish line. We ended up standing in front of a stunning brunette with ocean-blue eyes. He smiled at me, and a shiver ran down my spine, but just then, a girl stepped between us. She didn't look friendly at all, so I stepped back and turned my gaze to the road.

"Do you think they stand a chance against that guy?" I asked Alix, who was still lost in thought.

"Huh?" she finally replied, snapping back to reality. "No, I don't think they have any chance of winning."

"I confirm," the brunette beside me interjected. "He's not called Speed Breaker for nothing." She gave a mocking smile.

"Speed Breaker," I repeated, trying to understand.

"Yeah, he's like a wave crashing through at full speed. Once he takes off, nobody can catch him," the guy next to her added, just as the roar of a motorcycle engine filled the air.

Everyone around us started shouting and jumping, yelling "Speed Breaker!" as we caught sight of motorcycle headlights in the distance.

"Where are the others?" I asked, surprised that their headlights hadn't appeared yet.

I didn't have time to question it again before the red and white Ducati shot past the finish line like a bullet and lifted into a wheelie.

"He always has to overdo it," the girl beside us muttered, moving in his direction.

"Come on!" I said to Alix, making my way toward the man on the motorcycle.

I was determined to see who was hidden under that helmet.

Alix's POV:

Marina pulled me through the crowd gathered around the tattooed man. A sexy brunette shoved us forward, and we ended up pressed closer to him along with her. The boy and girl who'd stood beside us earlier were already near him, and I realized they were his friends.

"Quick! Take off your helmet!" Marina shouted, unable to hide her impatience.

I glanced at Marina and smiled; honestly, if he didn't hurry, she looked ready to rip the helmet off herself.

As I turned toward the source of all the hysterical screams, he finally lifted his helmet, and his green eyes locked onto mine. Once again, I froze, overwhelmed by the intensity in his gaze that seemed to burn right through me.

I bit my lip. His stare was so fierce and so alive. Until now, I hadn't known the color of his eyes-and realizing they were the same shade as mine was almost unbelievable.

"I wasn't imagining it; he really was looking straight at me!" Marina exclaimed.

Suddenly, I looked away as a stunning blonde jumped into his arms and kissed him. I didn't have to see her face to know it was the same girl he'd been with at the nightclub.

I should have known he wasn't single. "Let's go join the guys; they're finally arriving," Marina said, sounding disappointed.

I didn't want to join them at all, but I had no choice. Marina had driven us here, and I didn't even have my license yet.

I glanced over before weaving through the crowd that had gathered around the Ducati and the tattooed boy with green eyes, and I noticed he was still watching me.

I turned away and sighed. I shouldn't even let myself believe for a second that he was really looking at me. After all, I'd been the one studying his tattoos so openly. Knowing guys like him, he probably only looked my way for his own amusement. The way he ran his tongue over his lips at the nightclub said enough. He struck me as the type who probably had a line of admirers, and honestly, I wasn't interested in that kind of thing.

My mother and Marina always said I'd end up an old maid with my sketchbooks, but at least my drawings would never break my heart.

Derek's POV:

As I rolled up to the finish line, I scanned the crowd until I finally spotted her. The girl with black hair and those piercing green eyes that seemed to see right through me.

I tried to hold her gaze, hoping to catch just a hint of a smile on her lips, even though she always looked so serious despite the fire in her eyes. But just then, that other girl showed up, and by the time I nudged her aside, the one I was searching for had already disappeared.

I looked around and caught her eyes one more time, but she turned away instantly.

It annoyed me that I didn't get to enjoy her beautiful gaze a little longer.

"You look upset for someone who just won!" Ayden called out as I got off the motorcycle.

"Did you doubt me? That was just a warm-up," I replied, grinning as I grabbed a beer from the locker.

"Those kids must be crying right now," Ayden said as he let out a laugh, glancing off into the distance.

"Well, it's my turn to have a little fun," Sophie said as she slipped off her black leather jacket.

"Good luck," I told him.

"You'd better be at the finish line when I get there!" She shot back coldly.

I watched her, surprised, as she got into her Mustang. "What's her problem?" I wondered aloud.

Sophie's POV:

I slid into the Mustang, waiting for today's opponent to show up.

Derek was serious; he really thought I hadn't noticed the way he kept staring at that girl just now.

He was always chasing after someone new, but this time he was going too far. That girl still looked like she was in high school. He couldn't keep playing these games with someone that young.

"Are you ready, doll?" my opponent shouted as he climbed into his car.

"You know what the doll has to say to you!" I said, flashing him a bold middle finger and then pressing it to my lips with a sly smile.

I shifted into first gear, waiting for the gunshot to set us off, hoping they'd all be right at the finish line when I returned.

Marina's POV:

We rejoined the boys, who, just as we expected, were sulking after being outsmarted.

"He's not the one we were supposed to race against! Nobody's crazy enough to go up against Speed Breaker!" the blond guy exclaimed, slamming his helmet to the ground.

"You shouldn't have agreed the moment you saw him at the starting line," I said.

Honestly, it would have made more sense to quit at the beginning than to go through with the race.

"We're going to have a drink with the others to get over our defeat," he said, putting on his most charming act by draping an arm over my shoulders.

Who could say no to free drinks?

I shot Alix a wink, hoping to get her to follow us; right away, I caught her rolling her eyes and pursing her lips, clearly giving in just to keep the peace.

One thing was for sure: it would be tough for me to get her to relax if she didn't have a drink. Last night at the party, she loosened up-at least until we met those guys. After that, she'd completely retreated into her shell.

We joined their friends further inside the building, and I noticed the tall brunette with those stunning eyes picking up two beers and stepping outside.

It was a shame we were already with someone else; otherwise, I would have gone to look for him.

"Marina."

I turned back to Alix.

"I need to go... You know where," she whispered in my ear.

We both stepped out of the building, and after asking a few girls, we finally found a spot where we could relieve ourselves.

"Are you planning to stay late?" Alix asked me.

"It depends. If things go well with the cute one tonight, maybe I'll stick around; otherwise, we won't be here much longer."

"I hope not. I really feel uncomfortable here," she said as she left the place where she'd been peeing.

"There you are, girls!"

The guys showed up just as we finished.

"Yeah, girl stuff," I said, holding onto Alix's arm, who was, once again, clearly embarrassed.

"Do you mind if I borrow your friend for a couple of minutes?" the cute one asked Alix.

Alix hesitated but, after seeing the look I gave her, she understood it was my chance to make a move.

"No worries," she replied, letting go of my arm.

"Thanks," I whispered to her as I took the boy's hand.

Alix's POV:

Here I was, stuck with the other one. But I couldn't act like a child and ruin Marina's evening.

"Do you want to go see the cars?" he asked.

Let's say it would at least keep us occupied, and with a bit of luck, I might see the man with the tattoos again.

To get back to the cars, we had to pass through a narrow alley. I followed him a few steps behind, feeling incredibly uncomfortable around boys. I never knew how to talk to them, let alone look at them.

In truth, the only men I had ever really looked in the eye were my father and that tattooed man.

I slipped back into my daydreams, picturing myself sketching his tattoos in my drawing notebook and trying to remember the exact shapes of the mandalas surrounding the Tibetan face.

That was when my nightmare began. In the shadow of the alley, the blond boy suddenly trapped me, pinning my arms down as his mouth forced itself onto mine.

"Don't act all shy! Everyone knows you're a tease like the others!" he said, twisting my hands behind my back with one hand.

With his other hand, he slid under my top while licking my neck and pressing his body against mine.

I wanted to scream, but I'm completely paralyzed. I also knew the noise from the music and the engines would drown out any scream I tried to make, so my voice died in my throat as he undid my shorts and buried his fingers inside me.

We had read so many stories lately about women who lost their lives after being assaulted that I didn't dare make a move.

"You can scream all you want; no one will hear you!" He slapped me as he stepped back slightly, fixing his clothes in a rough, careless way.

I closed my eyes, tears streaming down my face as I felt him force his way into me. I bit my lips until they bled.

I regretted not staying home instead of choosing those provocative clothes.

I blamed myself for not being stronger and for not refusing Marina.

I wished, in that moment, that I could simply just die.