Seven Ways to Break a Racer's Heart

Disclaimer: Bah, check the first, second, or third chapter.

Summary: Check the chapters listed above for that also.

A/N: Yah, I was gone for a while. Uber sorry!! I'm not going to explain, just give you the chapter, okay? If you want an explaination, check my profile. : ) I'm back, anyways!

Chapter Fourteen: Bomb-in-a-Phone ((MANIAC REMIX))

Faint music consisting of loud guitars and screaming male voices could barely be heard over the roar of several engines. In the small space of the upper levels of the car garage, the sound reverberated across the empty space and seemingly magnified the sound a hundred times. Markie Wylde sat in a newly refurnished Flathead Fury to accommodate his new arm. Pork Chop's new rig hadn't been able to fit under the 9 foot clearance, so it sat, rumbling, in the alleyway below along with it's owner.

Tork appeared out of the door labeled LEVEL 5E in golden-yellow letters. Monkey was right behind him. The approached Wylde's car and Tork leaned in, saying something to the tattooed man. The door of a new SUV slammed as Monkey hopped in.

"Monkey," Taro said, jogging up to the driver's side of the red vehicle as the tinted window withdrew into the door. "Can't you just call Pork Chop?"

"Eh, I want to go talk to the big man in person, you know?" Monkey grinned. The window came back up with a subtle mechanical whine as the SUV followed the exit signs to the ground floor.

Tork clapped the Asian on the shoulder, making him jump. "We're leaving," he grunted.

Wylde was waiting impatiently in Flathead Fury as the other two men climbed into their respective cars. The music stopped abruptly as the cars followed Monkey's new car down off the fifth level.

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"Kara!" Mark greeted, jumping onto his leader. "I thought you might be dead! Where's Alex?" he spewed quickly.

"Mark, knock it off. He's fine." Kara rolled her eyes and pushed the springy brunette back onto the couch.

Mark gave a crooked grin. "Just as confident as ever, Kar," he quipped, getting back to his feet and doing the classic "fist-bump" with the three guys that had followed her.

"Kendred..." Adrianna fidgeted in her seat.

"Hello, A," Kendred smiled. "I never thought I'd see you again."

For a second Kara thought she witnessed Adrianna scowl, but it was quickly replaced by a small smile. The whole thing was just awkward. Thank God for Mark.

"Well, people, we'd better do something before Aaron finds us here." he proposed.

"I say head back to Tezla's," Joe grunted, crossing his arms.

"And I say, no," said Kara stiffly. "I'm not dragging my uncle into this, or the Teku."

"Why not? Knowing Aaron, he's probably already got his hit list in order." Mark walked to the door. "And we'll be safer out there than right here. At least it would be our territory and not his. Nobody really knows we're alive, and we'll have just as much resistance as we had when we first entered the business."

Kara frowned. "Are you challenging my authority?"

"Yes, I am." Mark turned to face her with a blank look. Funny Mark was gone and was replaced by his more confident, solemn counterpart.

"Whoa, guys," Dill stepped between the two, sensing that if it didn't stop, the weaker of the two might get thrown out of the gang and, even worse, thrown out of the twelfth story window. "Let's let somebody decide who's not in the picture, okay?"

All the eyes on the room were on the blonde as he reached in his pocket and took out his cell phone. "You know my brother, Kara. He'll give you the truth." The James Bond-obsessed 22-year-old pressed the phone into Kara's hand.

Kara, without hesitation, flipped open the phone and, without taking her eyes off Mark, dialed Derek's number and put him on speakerphone.

After a couple rings, a male voice cut through. "Hello?"

"Derek," Dill said, coming to standing next to his leader. None of the racers in the room seemed to notice that the sun was setting and it felt like the hope of the small group was disappearing with the light.

"Dill? What's wrong? Don't tell me I have to come out there."

"No, it's okay, we're all fine. I just need some advice..."

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Several minutes later, the Metal Maniac's rumbling engines could be heard on the street as they erupted from the parking garage. Rolling Thunder skidded to a stop beside Pork Chop's brand new, Nitrox 3 1/2-carrying big rig.

"Pork Chop, my man, time to head out!" Monkey crowed up to the open window above.

There was no answer.

"Pork Chop! Move your butt!" Wylde shouted.

Still no answer.

"Pork Chop?" Tork got out of his car and walked to the driver's side of the giant rig, the slam of the door echoing down the alleyway. Without a moment's hesitation, Tork pulled open the door. To his surprise, Pork Chop was sitting in the driver's seat with his eyes shut.

"Pork Chop, wake up, we gotta go." Monkey grinned, appearing beside his leader. He planted his foot on the step and propped himself at Pork Chop's level. With one smooth motion, he gently whacked the muscular red-head across the temple. The big man's head lolled to the side, revealing blood caked around a nasty hole.

Tork shouted and caught Monkey as he fell off the side of the rig. Then he slammed the door shut. It wasn't a very good start to their first weekend free of the Tezla's.

Okay, yeah, short, yes it was. I have some crutial turning points coming up. This story will probably be ending less than five chapters from now. Depends on what the story needs. I'm thinking a third story... but maybe not. If I do, it's probably going to be a crossover with the Fast and the Furious.

Thanks to all my reviewers! I love you all! ((I would do personalized ones, but Kara is going to punch me through the computer if I don't get going. Or she'll punch Kendred. XD We'll see...))