The night before the Blacklist Rush's most dangerous street race, the entire city seemed to hold its breath.
Downtown lights bled into the rain-slick streets, painting the asphalt in streaks of neon red and blue. Kelvin leaned against his black McLaren, engine idling like a caged beast, while his crew worked silently around him. Every bolt, every tire check—it all had to be perfect.
He wasn't just racing for pride this time.He was racing for survival.
On the opposite side of the lot, the Underground Kings gathered like shadows. Their leader, Viper, locked eyes with Kelvin and gave him a slow, mocking grin. The man had a reputation for ending careers—not just on the track, but off it.
"Tomorrow," Viper called out, his voice cutting through the hum of engines, "you'll learn why they call me King."
Kelvin's jaw tightened, but he didn't answer. Words didn't win races—skill and nerve did. Still, his hands curled into fists.
Later that night, in the dim glow of the garage, someone unexpected walked in—Maya.She had that look again, the one that mixed worry with something softer.
"You don't have to do this," she whispered."I do," Kelvin replied without hesitation."For your pride?" she pressed.He met her gaze, his voice low. "For everything."
There was a pause. She stepped closer, close enough for him to hear her heartbeat over the rain outside."Then win," she said, before turning and walking away, leaving her perfume and tension in the air.
As midnight struck, Kelvin climbed into his McLaren and took one last drive through the silent streets. Tomorrow would decide everything—his place in the Blacklist, his crew's future, and whether Viper's reign finally ended.
And deep down, Kelvin knew something else:Tomorrow night, someone wouldn't be coming back.
To be continued…