Wrecked By A Wounded Biker

Chapter 10 - Sparks

THE INVITATION had arrived three days earlier.

Sophie had almost declined it.

Unfortunately, the racing sponsor event was exactly the type of gathering she could no longer afford to ignore.

Ever since the anonymous files had surfaced, every lead seemed to point toward the same circle of investors, sponsors, racing executives, and wealthy enthusiasts who operated around the edges of the underground racing world. If she wanted answers, she needed access.

That was how she found herself standing inside one of the most expensive hotels in the city on a Friday evening, surrounded by polished marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and people whose watches probably cost more than her car.

Sophie's black dress was elegant enough for the occasion, though she already regretted coming.

The room felt artificial. Everyone smiled too much. Everyone spoke carefully.

Everyone seemed determined to pretend they weren't connected to an industry currently being investigated for race manipulation and cybercrime.

She accepted a glass of sparkling water from a passing server and scanned the room. Several familiar names from the reports Lucien's team had uncovered were present. That alone made the event worthwhile.

At least until she spotted Camille De Leon.

Sophie should have known she would be here. Camille belonged in environments like this.

She moved through the room effortlessly, wearing a crimson designer dress that drew attention from nearly every man she passed. Her confidence was effortless. Her smile was flawless.

And judging from the way her eyes immediately found Sophie across the ballroom, she had been waiting for this.

Wonderful.

Camille approached with the graceful confidence of someone who had never doubted her place in a room.

"Sophie."

"Camille."

The smile on Camille's face widened. "I was wondering if you'd show up."

Sophie sipped her drink. "I imagine disappointment would have ruined your evening."

"Not at all. I just enjoy seeing how quickly people adapt when they're thrown into unfamiliar worlds."

Sophie nearly laughed. The condescension was almost impressive.

"I'm doing fine,” she said.

"I'm sure you think so,” Camille replied, looking at me a biy sharply.

Several nearby investors had begun paying attention. Of course they had. Camille never created an audience accidentally.

Sophie recognized the setup immediately.

Unfortunately, walking away would only make her appear weak.

Camille tilted her head slightly. "Tell me something."

Sophie already disliked where this was going. "That usually depends on the question."

Camille's smile remained perfectly pleasant. "How much money have you spent cleaning up Matthew's mistakes?"

The room seemed to pause. Several conversations nearby noticeably quieted.

Sophie's grip tightened around her glass. There it was. The public attack. The humiliation Camille had undoubtedly rehearsed beforehand.

Sophie met her gaze evenly. "Less than you've spent buying attention."

Silence. Complete silence. Even the investors watching from nearby looked startled.

For one beautiful second, Camille's expression cracked. Not much. Just enough.

Sophie's satisfaction lasted exactly that long.

Then Camille recovered. "I suppose I deserved that."

"You definitely earned it."

A few people nearby suddenly found other places to be. Camille stepped closer. Her smile remained intact, but the warmth behind it disappeared.

"You know what I find fascinating about you, Sophie?"

Sophie sighed internally. "No, but I suspect you're about to tell me anyway."

"You genuinely believe you're different."

The statement caught her off guard.

Camille continued. "You think you're the woman who finally changes him."

The comment settled uncomfortably in Sophie's chest.

She refused to show it. "Changes who?"

"Matthew."

Camille glanced toward the ballroom. "Women have been trying to save Matthew Moore for years."

Sophie's expression hardened. "I don't need to save him."

"No?" Camille asked softly.

"Then why are you constantly cleaning up after him?"

The question irritated her because part of it felt unfairly close to the truth.

Before Sophie could respond, Camille continued. "The problem isn't that Matthew attracts trouble. The problem is that trouble excites him."

Sophie's jaw tightened. "You don't know what you're talking about."

A small laugh escaped Camille. "I know Matthew better than you think."

There was history buried beneath the statement. Sophie hated how much she noticed it.

Camille lowered her voice. "Men like Matthew always come back to this world eventually."

"What world?"

"The one where risk feels better than safety."

For the first time, uncertainty slipped through Sophie's confidence. Only briefly. But it happened.

Camille saw it. That was what made her dangerous. She knew exactly where to press.

"You can give him stability. You can give him support. You can even give him love if you're foolish enough." Her smile returned. "But eventually he'll choose adrenaline over all of it."

The words lingered long after Camille walked away.

Sophie hated that they did.

MATTHEW ARRIVED at Sophie's apartment less than an hour later. The moment she opened the door, she knew someone had told him.

His expression was dark, his shoulders were tense, and his jaw looked capable of breaking concrete.

"Who told you?" Sophie asked.

"That's your first question?"

"It seemed efficient."

Matthew stepped inside. "Sophie."

His voice carried a warning.

She closed the door. "I'm fine."

"I know you're fine."

I raised an eyebrow. "Then what exactly is the problem?"

Matthew stared at her. "The problem is Camille."

There it was. The anger. Not directed at her. At Camille. At the situation. And, at himself. Possibly all three.

He ran a hand through his hair. "I should've gone with you."

"That would've solved absolutely nothing."

"It would've stopped her."

Sophie laughed. "No, Matthew. It would've created a public argument."

"Good."

"That is not the correct answer."

Matthew began pacing. The movement reminded her of a frustrated animal trapped inside a cage.

"I am so tired of her pulling this kind of nonsense,” he said.

"And I'm tired of you treating every problem like a fight."

He stopped. His eyes narrowed. "She humiliated you."

"No. She tried."

"Sophie."

"I handled it."

Matthew exhaled sharply. The silence stretched between them.

Finally he spoke. "What did she say?"

Sophie hesitated. Not because she couldn't repeat it. Because she wasn't sure she wanted to.

Matthew immediately noticed. His expression darkened further. "What did she say?"

The second time sounded far less patient.

Sophie sighed. "She said people keep trying to save you."

Matthew rolled his eyes. "Original."

"She also said you'll always choose risk over everything else."

His jaw tightened. Something about that statement clearly struck a nerve. Neither spoke for several seconds.

Then Sophie added quietly, "She said men like you always come back to her world eventually."

The room became very still. Matthew looked away first. That alone bothered her.

Because for a moment, he hadn't looked angry. He'd looked uncomfortable.

Sophie folded her arms. "Is she wrong?"

His head snapped toward her. "What?"

"About that part."

Matthew stared at her. Disbelief crossed his face. Then frustration. Then something else. Something she couldn't immediately identify.

"You actually listened to her,” he said.

"No."

The answer came too quickly.

Matthew noticed. "Sophie."

"I said no."

He laughed once. The sound carried no humor. "You know what the worst part is?"

"What?"

"The fact that she managed to get inside your head."

The statement irritated her because it was true. She hated when he was right.

Matthew stepped closer. His voice lowered. "Look at me."

She did.

"I don't care about Camille."

"Matthew—"

"No."

His gaze remained fixed on hers. "I don't care about her money. I don't care about her family. I don't care about any version of my life she thinks she's offering."

The intensity in his voice surprised her. For a moment neither looked away. Then he said something she wasn't expecting.

"I hate when people come after you because of me."

The anger vanished from the room. Just like that. Sophie blinked.

Matthew looked away briefly before continuing. "I hate seeing your name dragged into this mess."

His voice was quieter now. More honest.

"Every article. Every rumor. Every stupid comment online. It happens because somebody wants to hurt me."

Sophie's chest tightened unexpectedly.

Matthew laughed bitterly. "And apparently the easiest way to do that is through you."

The vulnerability beneath the statement caught her completely off guard. Matthew rarely admitted weakness. Almost never. Yet standing here now, he looked genuinely frustrated by something he couldn't control.

Not his reputation. Not the investigation.

Her.

The realization settled heavily inside her. "Matthew..."

He shook his head. "I'm serious."

For once, there was no sarcasm. No deflection. No jokes. Just honesty.

"I can handle people talking about me." His gaze returned to hers. "But I hate when they come after you."

The room suddenly felt much smaller. Neither moved, neither spoke. The tension shifted. Anger became something else, something warmer, and something far more dangerous.

Sophie's pulse quickened. Matthew noticed. His breathing changed too.

For several seconds they simply stood there. Looking at each other. Neither willing to step back or step forward.

Finally Sophie broke first. "You're impossible."

A smile tugged briefly at the corner of his mouth. "So I've heard."

She shook her head. "No. You really are."

Matthew took another step closer. The distance between them disappeared.

Her heartbeat immediately accelerated. "This is still your fault."

His smile widened slightly. "Probably."

"You got arrested."

"Technically true."

"You race motorcycles like you're trying to shorten your lifespan."

Matthew laughed softly. "You make me sound irresponsible."

"You are irresponsible."

"Fair."

Sophie should have walked away. Instead she remained exactly where she was. Close enough to feel the heat coming from him. Close enough to notice every shift in his expression.

Matthew's gaze dropped briefly to her mouth. The movement lasted less than a second. It was enough. The atmosphere changed instantly. Neither pretended otherwise.

When his hand brushed her waist, Sophie forgot what she had been about to say. Matthew seemed equally distracted.

And the kiss happened naturally. One moment they were arguing. The next his mouth was against hers. The impact stole every coherent thought she had.

Sophie grabbed the front of his shirt and Matthew's hand tightened at her waist as the kiss deepened. Neither seemed interested in stopping.

By the time they finally broke apart for air, both were breathing harder.

Matthew rested his forehead briefly against hers. "This is a bad idea."

"Probably."

His laugh vibrated between them. Then he kissed her again. The second kiss felt even worse. Or better. Sophie honestly couldn't tell anymore.

A loud notification suddenly exploded from her laptop. Both froze. The interruption felt almost violent.

Matthew groaned. Sophie immediately turned toward the desk.

But her instincts took over within seconds she was staring at the screen. The warmth from moments earlier vanished.

Unauthorized login attempts. Dozens of them.

Her expression hardened immediately.

Matthew stepped beside her. "What happened?"

Sophie zoomed into the security logs. Her stomach dropped. Someone was actively trying to access her systems. Someone knew she was investigating.

And someone was becoming desperate enough to stop being careful.