Engines roared across the underground dockyard, their echoes bouncing off rusted containers and oil-stained concrete. The smell of gasoline and saltwater hung thick in the air. Every head turned as Lucius Kane stepped forward, his leather coat whipping in the wind. His gaze locked onto Jay like a predator sizing up prey.
"You think you can take the Kings' crown?" Lucius' voice was a low growl. "Then you race for blood."
Jay clenched his fists, his knuckles whitening. The words weren't just a challenge—they were an execution order. He knew Lucius wasn't just another racer. This man was the reason his brother vanished five years ago.
"What's the wager?" Jay's voice was steady, but his pulse was a drum in his ears.
Lucius smirked, revealing a flash of gold tooth. "If I win, you disappear from Blacklist Rush forever. If you win… you get this." He tossed a flash drive onto the hood of Jay's car. "Everything you've been looking for."
Maya stepped forward, grabbing Jay's arm. "Don't. This isn't just about racing—he'll do anything to make you crash."
"I know," Jay said, his eyes still locked on Lucius. "That's why I'm going to beat him."
The Race SetupTwo hypercars rolled into position under the floodlights—Jay's midnight-blue Aventador SVJ and Lucius' blood-red Koenigsegg Jesko. Both machines growled like caged beasts.
The crowd pressed in, chanting, waving stacks of cash. The smell of burning rubber and adrenaline was intoxicating.
A tattooed flag girl stepped to the center. "Two laps. Dockyard loop. No rules. First across the line wins." She dropped the flag.
The Bloodline RaceThe tires screamed, and both cars launched forward like missiles. Jay's Aventador hugged the tight corners, drifting inches from stacked shipping containers, sparks flying as the side mirror scraped steel. Lucius was right on him, pushing—literally—his rear bumper.
The Koenigsegg's monstrous acceleration pulled ahead on the straight, its twin-turbo V8 screaming at full fury. Jay's jaw clenched. He hit the nitrous. The Aventador shot forward, weaving through a narrow gap between two forklifts so tight the paint nearly peeled off.
Lucius laughed over the comm channel. "You drive like your brother… but slower."
That cut deep. Jay's grip tightened on the wheel, the city lights blurring into streaks. He would not lose—not to this man.
The Final CornerLast lap. Oil slick glistened under the dim floodlights. Lucius swerved to block Jay, but Jay remembered the trick his brother once taught him—fake the brake. He feinted left, making Lucius adjust his line. Then Jay snapped right, cutting inside, tires screaming in protest.
The finish line was just ahead. Jay's Aventador surged past by less than half a car length. The crowd erupted.
Lucius slammed his fist on the dash, fury in his eyes. Jay skidded to a stop, engine still roaring. He stepped out, grabbed the flash drive, and stared straight at Lucius.
"This isn't over," Lucius said coldly. "Blood always comes calling."
Jay didn't blink. "Then I'll be ready."