Hi to all readers, I hope you have enjoyed the story so far in it's first 13 chapters! I am still working hard on this (an all my others haha) so always stay tuned and up-to-date. As you can tell I do try my very best to update with new chapters as often as I can, in-between work and other activities!

best regards; louie_fly

Chapter 14

Half an hour later Ashley drove her car into the open parking lot out the front of Hot-To-Throttle's garage the place was closed up after the team was there late last night.

'I've heard about this place.' Jake said.

'Well of course it used to belong to my dad before he died. He ran it very successfully back in Australia and I worked with my uncles to get it all set up here after my parents died,' Ashley said. She locked the car and made her way to the front of the garage bent down to un-lock the padlock on both sides and easily pulled up the barrier revealing the large spacious garage, it was clear of any cluster with only a few cars there and it was the same ones she'd mentioned to them earlier.

'These are the two cars,' she answered Jake and Mia followed her into the garage to find a Nissan 35OZ in midnight black and next to it a Honda S2000 in navy blue. Both cars didn't have any vinyl on them and not fully kitted out just yet though still looked ready to hit the streets.

'Are we taking these out?' Mia asked.

'Yes and I'm going to put the two of you to the test,' Ashley replied she walked over to the wall where a three-prong key holder was and picked up two sets of keys.

'Here you go,' she said and tossed the keys over to them.

'Get in and meet me outside and don't take too long,' she replied, with that comment she walked out of the garage and left them alone for a few minutes.

'Jake, I don't like this the minute she sees us out there she's going to know we're not as good as her.' Mia said.

'Stop stressing about it I know exactly what I am doing,' he said.

'But—' she started to say Jake shot her an annoyed look.

'Just get in and get on with it.' He replied and with that he walked off to the 35OZ unlocked in and quickly got in.

'Very nice,' he said a wide grin spread across his face as he took in the interior of the car with its black dashboard and leather rally seats. Mia watched him for a moment then glanced won at the set of keys in her own hands still deliberating in her head if she should go through with it.

'Come on!' Ashley yelled from outside of the garage.

'Ok, ok I'm coming, Mia answered she jogged over to the Honda S2000 and jumped in, slid the key into the ignition and revved up the engine. Ashley beeped on her car's horn now frustrated at them not coning when she wanted them to move. Jake edged his car out of the garage first then Mia followed. When they came out of the garage Ashley wound down the window of the car's driver side.

'Follow me and this time don't be slow we have work to do especially if you want to be up to scratch with the races and how it done here,' she said.

'We got your back trust us.' Jake said she shook her head.

'Yeah, right.' She mumbled. Once she put her car into reverse the three cars drove out of the parking lot.

'I wonder where we are going,' Jake remarked aloud. Ashley took them a short distance down the road from the main garage, turned left into a narrow side-street and continued down this way for a further 150 meters and made a second left turn and stopped short.

'What the hell is this?' Jake mused not impressed he watched while Ashley go out of her car walked to the metal gate that was blocking their way; she unlocked it pushed the gate outwards then walked back to her car. She motioned to the other two to follow got back in and drove down the old dirt road for only 20-30meters before the road dropped down a slope another 50meters.

'Holy crap,' Jake said his mouth nearly dropped open when he saw what was ahead of them.

'Is that…oh my goodness,' Mia said she too also in awe at the sight. The three cars slowly descended down the slope towards the track and easily navigated through the open gate onto the track and stopped. Jake was quick to jump out of his car.

'Shit man this is yours too?' he asked Ashley stepped out from her car she smiled and nodded.

'Take a very good look around.' She remarked he did just that he could barely believe his eyes. The main track was solid concrete all around with no barriers to separate the viewing spots to the track and it went in a full circle, though on a bit of a closer inspection Jake made out cut-offs from the main track leading to some other area he didn't know where yet.

'So what do you do out here?' Mia asked walking over to them.

'We train out here sometimes and run through plans for the night. We also test out the new cars here, and from time to time if we get the opportunity, which isn't very much especially of late we can throw a few parties too.' Ashley explained.

'This is…is fecking great I've not seen anything like it, not even the street racers in LA and Miami would even dream of making such a place.' Jake replied Ashley raised her eyebrows she knew very well all street racers could easily rack up the money to create their own luxury pads with very little effort.

'I don't think you give enough credit to us racers,' she answered.

'That is not what I meant at all,' he said ready to protest but Ashley quickly brushed it off.

'All right, well now we have no more time to waste. You've seen the place so we need to get down to some serious business.' She said.

'So what do you want us to do?' Jake asked.

'I want to see just how good you two are out there so it's going to be the two of you against me,' she explained he burst out laughing.

'Are you kidding? We'd have you beaten in no time that is hardly a challenge I'd want to accept.' He answered Mia shoved him in the ribs he growled and glared back at her.

'I give you a couple of cars to test run and you think for even one second I'm kidding?' Ashley demanded she crossed her arms over her chest.

'It's logic,' he said nodding at him and Mia.

'Two against one that is a no brainer on who will win.' He added.

'You have no idea.' She said a sly smile crossed her lips now.

'Just try me on.' She added turned on her heels walked back to her car and got in and sped off down the track around the bend and zipped past them.

'She is serious,' he said Mia rolled her eyes.

'You're such an idiot.' She remarked.

'What?'

'What did I do?' he asked he whipped around to face her.

'You have spent all this time researching about her and know a lot through all the research and you think we can beat her in this race?' she said.

'I know a lot more then you'll understand and no matter how good one racer is they won't stand a chance on their own especially when it is two against one,' he reasoned.

'Then let's find out if you are right or if she's right,' she replied. Ashley slowed down her car as she was about to pass them for a third consecutive time the driver's side window was already down she leaned out.

'Let's go.' She said Mia didn't disagree with that she jumped into her car did up her seatbelt and hit on the accelerator. Jake mumbled under his breath he watched as Mia took off down the track with Ashley right after her and the two cars duelled it out for a short while.

'I'll show them who is boss,' he said a plan coming to mind he swung the keys around his fingers for a few more minutes as he watched on then when the two cars hit the stretch and sped by he slid into his car slammed on the gas and took off immediately after them. Ashley already getting in front of Mia by this stage shot a look through her rear view mirror and saw Jake coming up on them hard and fast she grinned.

'That's it come on little man get nice and close,' she said.

'Now we will have some fun,' she added.

'I can't believe it!' Jake snapped he flopped down on the king single bed in the hotel room while Mia too sat on the second king single bed near by.

'What did you expect? She's the best racers, Jake she's got loads more experience in the scene we looked like amateurs out there today,' she answered.

'Yeah well I still wasn't expecting to lose like that,' he said sitting.

'Still,' he added.

'It has given us a great insight into her personality and I have absolutely no doubt she is capable of doing a lot more damage.'

He stood up from the bed rummaged through the side pocket of his bag pulled out a short notepad.

'You know what we have to do tonight,' he said not looking up as he scribbled down notes Mia burrowed her eyebrows together.

'No,' She said.

'We are going to the race meets tonight and dish all the dirt we can. Well, actually I'll be doing that you on the other hand need to stay close to the team.' He said.

'You think a whole bunch of strangers whom have been racing a long time are just going to give you the information you need?' she asked Jake cracked a smile.

'No, of course not I'm not naive to think so, but I have every confidence and more so going by what we know of her and the way she acts.' he said. Mia kicked off her shoes and lay down on her bed let out a soft sigh Jake glanced sideways at her.

'What's wrong with you?' he asked.

'Nothing.' She answered.

'Oh don't give me that you look bothered maybe even depressed,' he said she quickly sat up.

'I'm not depressed.' She snapped Jake held up his hands in defeat.

'Ok, ok no need to get defensive I was only saying you look it not you were depressed.' He answered; Mia sighed again she rubbed her face and absently took her phone from her jeans pocket.

'You know I didn't want any of this in the first place,' she began.

'What do you mean?' he asked from the tone in her voice he guessed there was some deeply hidden pain she hadn't had the chance to reveal yet.

'Nothing forget I said anything.' She replied.

'No, no if there is something bothering you then it's best you let it ou, come on Mia, just talk to me we are friends first and not just co-workers,' Jake said she leant away from him her brows crossed together.

'You must be joking,' she remarked.

'I'm not joking I never joke as a matter of fact,' he replied.

'I've know you what four months and all we've done in that time is work nothing more.' She answered.

'Yeah and I am all you have right now too don't forget,' he remarked she turned her head away feeling the anger and hurt she had long tried to hide rise up to the surface again. Jake knew he had hit a nerve with her.

'Look I'm sorry I shouldn't have said it,' he said.

'It's ok.' She answered.

'Let's just focus on tonight,' Jake remarked hopeful in changing the subject Mia nodded her head she too wanted to escape from their current conversation she shouldn't have said anything in the first place.

'So which racers are you going to target first?' she asked.

'I'm going to hunt down her rival that Jonathan whatever his last name is, he strikes me as the main man she is after and has the biggest rival against,' he remarked.

'However he too is a hard one to track only turns up when he wants to and from what I've heard he has a lot of enemies.' Jake added.

'And you think he is just going to talk?' she asked.

'I'm sure a little bit of persuasion will go a long way to helping me get him to confess,' he answered.

'I don't know Jake I mean to me you don't have a lot to go on.' Mia said.

'Don't underestimate me,' he said.

'Now there is one other thing we need to sort out,' he added as he browsed through his file of notes again.

'We need a car.'

'What for?'

'To race.' He answered simply she was bewildered.

'I'm not racing this lot we don't even know the rules they play by,' she answered he laughed.

'Are you chickening out now? This is not the time to get nervous Mia there is work to be done. We did not do what we did today with Baker to just let it all go,' Jake replied.

'Yes, yes I know that but she showed us up remember and she won't be the only one.' Mia said.

'That was a one-off these guys have not seen how we do it in LA and we'll show them I can promise you.' He remarked.

Now you get onto her and ask about a car if we can take one of the two we tried today,' he said she sighed lightly shook her head but took her phone out again picked out Ashley's number and dialled. It took a few minutes while the phone continued to ring.

'Hi Ashley it's Mia. I'm good thanks yeah we are fine. Listen I was just wondering about Jake and I possibly doing a bit of racing tonight but we don't have a car,' she said Jake eagerly listened in.

'Oh really that is great thank you so much. Yes, yes we will take care of them don't you worry.' She said and gave Jake the thumbs up sign he quietly cheered.

'All right then thanks heaps we will see you later,' she replied and hung up the phone.

'So what did she say?' Jake asked eager to know the result.

'Well the two cars we had today she is giving them to us for the duration of our stay,' Mia said.

'Awesome!' Jake cried happily.

Dublin Airport

Just a few hours after Jake and Mia arrived in Dublin another visitor touched down in the country, though he was unaware of anyone else he knew being in the same place. Brian exited the plane slung his bag over his shoulder and walked through the airport's arrival hall; the small sprinkling of people only glanced his way briefly before continuing on their own way. Brian soon left the arrival hall he checked around there was only a couple of cabs waiting at the stand the two drivers were out of their cars and chatting while waiting for potential customers Brian shifted the weight of his bag from one shoulder to the other and approached the two men they quickly stopped their conversations.

'Hello sir how can we be of service to you?' one driver asked.

'Yes can you tell me where I can find out where all the street racers will be tonight,' Brian said. Both drivers swapped looks leaned in and whispered to one another for a few seconds.

'Is there any reason as to why you want to know where to find them?; the second driver asked Brian shrugged his shoulders.

'I have heard a lot about the way racing goes out here, even met one of the drivers when she was over in America. So I thought I would come out and see what it is all about. From all accounts it is a bit different to the way we race back home,' He answered.

'All right then you go and find it at your own risk. I can take you to where they will be but it as far as I will go,' the first driver said.

'That is fine with me,' Brian answered they walked to the front cab and got in the cab began to pull away from the curb and made it's way to the main road to join the traffic.

'Tell me why do you seem so apprehensive of the street racers here?' Brian asked.

'They are not a group to be messed with I can tell you first hand.' The driver replied.

'In what way?' Brian asked becoming even more interested.

'When I was out on a late shift one night I saw the way they kept dodging through the traffic even when there wasn't a lot on the roads that night. Just the way they raced through the streets while the cops chased them it was unbelievable,' the driver said.

'Do you know any of the drivers?'

'I have heard about a few of them, one of the best drivers is some guy Jonathan I think is his name. Although a lot of talk does revolve around an Ashley Baker.' The driver added Brian inched a smile he leant back in his seat.

'Do you know her?' the driver asked seeing the look on his face.

'I met her while she was in Miami not so long ago.' He answered.

Ashley and the rest of her team started to get organized for the night ahead she was nervous thinking about it after their last major race that resulted in Mark getting seriously injured. Even though they had done a fair bit of racing since then she still was quite apprehensive. Mark had still refused to her idea of keeping him at home he was going to go with them tonight regardless of what she thought of it. In the end she had to give in to his demands but he wasn't going to drive he was going in her car with her.

'Mark are you going to come? I don't have time to muck around,' she said growing impatient they were due to meet the rest of the team at the garage in ten minutes.

'Hold your horses I am not moving quite as fast as I used to,' he answered with a grimace he yelled back and slowly eased down the steps to the basement garage. Ashley was waiting at the bottom of the stairs arms folded across her chest and she tapped her foot.

'What?' he asked irritated by the look she gave him Ashley simply shook her head he continued to walk down the stairs. When he got to the bottom she helped to make the trip to the car much faster and tonight she had decided to take out her Subaru WRX Sti.

'Ah so you are going for the tough girl look,' he said she gently poked him in the ribs he winced.

'Don't tease me but yes I am. Too often everyone has this idea that I can only race with the Skyline and Evo, but they've got absolutely no idea I'm even better with the other cars,' she remarked he laughed.

'Yeah well you don't need to remind us we knew that one a long time ago,' he replied. Once he was seated in the front passenger's seat comfortably with the seatbelt on Ashley moved over to the driver's side and got in. A quick start of the engine they reversed out of the garage and headed down the driveway and onto the road.

'Do you have plan set out for tonight?' Mark asked.

'In regards to what?' she asked.

'Well with that guy Jake and Mia hanging around,' he said.

'No they can go about their own business they are not really associated with us anyway I've got no time to worry about them. They won't be my main priority for the night. I want to find out what Dom and JB are up to though they've been really quiet lately and it is starting to bug me.' She said.

'What do you think they are up to?' he asked.

'Taking a guess I'd say they have teamed up together to try and take me down but at the same time they each have their own agenda beyond that plan. From what I can gather I reckon Dom wants to try and make a name for himself and his friends. Kian's search enabled him to find out about Dom's little past when he was in LA a few years ago and I think they might be trying to start up their business again. Jonathan well he is always out to get me and take over whatever I've got so it's nothing new, but he probably sees Dom's plan as a way to get a piece of the action too.' She explained.

'There is still the mystery of what happened to Stanton and some of the other smaller teams too,' Mark added Ashley nodded her head.

'Yeah exactly so we have much work to do tonight and not just race,' she said. Mark remained quiet there was something else he wanted to say to Ashley and ask her opinion but he worried she might just over react.

'Mark?' Ashley asked.

'What?' he asked he snapped out of his thoughts realizing she'd spoken to him.

'You look like you've got something on your mind.' She replied.

'Not really,' he said.

'Are you sure?'

'Yeah.'

He thought about it again perhaps it would be a far better idea to tell her rather than sit and wonder what she might think of it.

'Actually there was something I wanted to ask you just to get your thoughts on it,' he said.

'Ok well I'm listening.' She remarked. Mark paused for a few minutes and thought over about what he was going to say he didn't want to get Ashley upset and jumping to conclusions.

'So are you going to tell me then?' she asked he snapped out of his thoughts.

'Sorry I was just thinking,' he remarked. For a few second she was able to take her eyes off the road and glanced sideways at him.

'All right enough playing around just tell me what is going on I know something is bothering you so why don't you just tell me and get it over and done,' she remarked.

'Well that's the thing. I—I don't know if I can,' he said.

'What? Are you kidding or something? Don't be ridiculous Mark, I mean we've been friends for a long time we aren't strangers,' she replied he laughed.

'Yeah I know that obviously I just don't want you to make any assumptions over what I am going to say.' He said. Ashley pulled the car to a stop along the roadside she turned to face him.

'Ok so there is no one around no distractions now just come out with it.' She remarked he sighed running his hands over his face.

'I wanted to ask what you thought if I asked Mia out,' he said. There he had finally said it but he dared not look at Ashley worried about her reaction. Ashley's expression didn't change though on the inside she was shocked by his query.

'Is that all?' she asked.

'Yeah that's it.' He said.

'Ok.' She replied she sat back in her seat all different thoughts went through her head as to why he wanted to ask the girl out; Mia didn't strike Ashley as the type he would like in the first place. She didn't say anything else and just started the engine.

'You don't like the idea,' he said she shook her head.

'I haven't said anything and there is no need for me to, you can do whatever you like and its not my business,' she answered.

'Come on Ash you can admit if it bothers you.' Mark said.

'No it doesn't bother me. She seems like a nice girl I guess, though I have my own suspicions of her but it's my own concern. You on the other hand it is entirely up to you.' She said Mark smiled softly but he was still worried about how she really felt about his idea.

Ashley and Mark soon arrived at the team's garage and the rest of their teammates were already waiting for them.

'It is about time guys we've been waiting for ages.' Shane said he had his arms folded across his chest.

'What's wrong with you?' Ashley asked a frown on her face he shook his head.

'Nothing,' he replied she left it at that and noticed Kian was stood a bit further away from the rest of the group; by his car the drivers' side door was open and he fiddled with the steering wheel.

'Right everyone let's head on out.' Ashley replied, Nicky, Shane and Nicole got into their cars started the engines and drove out into the main car park area.

'Kian?' Ashley asked she walked up to him.

'Hey,' he said.

'So what happened when you went out?' she asked he shrugged his shoulders.

'I just had a look around to see what I could find. I went around to the garage where Stanton used to lie the place was a total wreck. There was like nothing left but rumble so it wasn't just their house and cars that were destroyed,' he said.

'The weird thing is, I don't think JB or even that other guy Dom are involved.' He added Ashley burrowed her eyebrows.

'How can you be sure?' she asked.

'I can't but it is just the feeling I get. I know it isn't much to go on, it's just even with the rivalry you have with JB he wouldn't go as far as to wreck another team. And if he was to target someone we'd be the first on his hit list,' Kian explained.

'You have a point but I wouldn't put anything past him especially with his history.' She replied.

'Have you also considered those guys from Belfast?' Kian asked.

'James and Rowan have never been a match for us, and if anything they owe us for all the times we bailed them out of trouble,' she answered.

'Well then I'm not really sure,' he remarked.

'Don't worry Kian we will find out what is going on but in time this isn't something we'll break news on straight away. Besides whoever it is out there we don't want them to know what we're up to.' She said.

'Yeah I guess so,' he said, dejected he wasn't able to find out more information that could be helpful to them.

'Just forget about it for now Ki and let's go we have quite a big night ahead of us,' she added that at least brought a smile to his face and he rubbed his hands together.

'I am looking forward to the night believe me. It is going to be good and boy are we going to have some fun with the locals,' he answered she grinned and nodded her head.

'We sure will come on then the others are waiting.' She said. Just as the two of them turned around to get ready but were abruptly interrupted with the arrival of Mai and Jake.

'Hon you are here.' Ashley said.

'We thought we'd missed you,' Jake remarked she shrugged her shoulders.

'Well then I guess you made it just on time. We don't have a lot of time to waste there is a big night ahead.' She added and motioned for them to follow her, though she paused for a few seconds and turned to Kian.

'Tell the others to leave without me first and I'll catch up later.' She remarked he nodded his head, shot a warning look towards Jake and Mia then walked out.

'Here are the keys to the cars.' Ashley replied she tossed the keys over to them.

'Like I told you over the phone you can hang onto them until you're finished here. I expect these cars to be returned to me in the same condition when they left. Any damages you will need to pay for with your own money,' she said.

'Wait a minute,' Jake said she folded her arms.

'What's the matter? You weren't expecting that were you?' she asked.

'Since we are already part of the team-'

'Ah that is where you are wrong in your thinking.' She said interrupting him.

'You were the one to make the assumption we had welcome you into the group. Well I'm afraid I have to bring you out of your little dream world, the two of you are not apart of this team and ever will be. I've discussed it at lengths with the others and we have come to this agreement. No one comes out here and moves in on our life style with just a click of the fingers,' she answered.

'You are on your own.' She added, satisfied when she saw the disappointed look on Jake's face she left them alone for a few minutes Jake swore under is breath he clenched his hands together and gritted his teeth Mia gave him a nudge.

'Drop the act Jake and let's just get it over and done now,' she remarked he just nodded his head and walked around to his car Mia did the same while Ashley stood to the side by the door and waited for them to reverse.