Before The End

Eleven

Zack and Jason arrived at the race track later than usual. It was close to midnight now and the final races were about to start. Zack had been agitated since Màrtin walked into the house earlier that day. He still remembered their conversation. He was still itching to punch that weasel in the face.

“I know you like McKenzie. And you’re probably wishing I had a bullet in my head right now.” He had said once they stepped outside.

“That would be too quick a death.” Zack mumbled. But he knew Màrtin had heard him.

“Look Zack. All I want is for us to call a truce. You’re still important to her and I don’t want her having to stress because we’re at each others throats. I don’t hate you, I actually like you. But if you come after me or even try to take Kenzie away from me I will retaliate.”

“Are you threatening me Cortes? You don’t know who you’re talking to.”

“And neither do you. I know you Zack. You work for me and my family. We own you and your brothers. If I was threatening you you would know. This is just a reminder.”

“You’re not gonna have her forever you know.”

“I know.” Màrtin shrugged. “By the way you have a drop tonight with Jason, no race track.”

“Is that an order?” Zack scoffed.

“Don’t do that. That attitude will cost you one day. I’m just passing on orders from Joaquin.” He said.

“Cortes. Just don’t hurt her.” Zack sighed.

“I really do like her Zack. Hurting her is the last thing I want. I actually mean that.” He said before walking back into the house.

Zack followed him in and watched as he smiled at Macky. His Macky. He watched as her smile widened just a bit when he called her El. The last time Zack had called her Eloa he had received a flying shoe to the head. But they were younger then. The hurt was still there. Now she embarrassed the name as it came from that asshole. Okay so he wasn’t an asshole he was actually a good kid. Still Zack didn’t like him.

“Why are we even here this late?” Jason sighed.

“There’s still one more race. I was hoping I could blow off some steam.” Zack shrugged. And Cortes told me not come here.

“So that police chase we just escaped wasn’t enough adrenaline for you?” Jason scoffed.

“One more and we’re out of here.” Zack smiled.

“Fine. Go line up its starting.”

..........

“What are Zack and my brother doing here?” Kenzie whispered to Màrtin watching the pair come out of Zack’s car.

“I don’t know. Do you want to stay and watch or?” Màrtin asked hoping she would pick option two.

“Maybe another time. It’s getting late and we should probably go back.” She said looking away from the pair.

“True.” He said leading her to his car.

“Or...”

“Or. I like or.” Màrtin smiled.

“You can teach me all this racing stuff. I love cars and if I’m going to have a huge collection I might as well know how to race with them.”

“I knew I liked you.” He chuckled.

They left for Màrtins house and spent the rest of the night trying very car in his parents’ garage. He told her they’d race on a larger track later that day. And with that he took her home. Walking into the house McKenzie wasn’t surprised to see everyone gathered in the kitchen.

“You spent the night.” Was the first thing to leave Symmone's mouth earning her a glare from Kenzie.

“Hello to you too Sy.” Kenzie chuckled. Harry approached her and scanned her face and neck. “What are you doing?”

“Scanning for hickeys.” He shrugged.

“He probably left them in none visible areas. Take off your shirt Kenzie.” Logan said before being hit by both Zack and Jason.

“Nothing happened. I don’t have any hickeys or anything on me.”

“Then why dear sister are you walking into the house at eight in the morning.” Jason asked glaring.

“We went out. Then at like midnight we went to his place.... don’t give me that look Sy. Anyway, you guys know I love cars well he took me to his garage and we drove around in a bunch of his dad’s cars. I lost track of time that’s all.”

“Is cars code for something?” Logan asked Noah who shrugged.

“Where did you guys go?” Harry asked.

“Somewhere.”

“Why don’t you want to tell us?” Zack asked.

“Maybe because it’s none of your business.”

“It involves you so it is.” He argued.

“What did you and Jason do last night?” she asked causing the guys except Harry to pause.

“How do you know he was with me? Or that we even left?” Jason asked slowly.

“Because the two of you are a matching set. And his car looks like it had an eventful night. No races?” Kenzie asked Zack directly.

“I don’t race.” He answered smoothly.

“Why do I feel like they all know something we don’t?” Sy asked Harry.

“Because they probably do.” He answered.

“Guys could you leave Zack, Kenzie and me alone for a second?” Jason said.

Everyone else slowly left the room and Kenzie approached the coffee maker before slowly turning to face her brother.

“Where did you go last night?”Jason asked.

“On a date with Màrtin.”

“Don’t be a smartass Kenzie. Just answer the question.” He grumbled.

“We went for dinner and a movie then went to his place and checked out his dad’s car collection.” She lied smoothly. “Why do you look like I just discovered a big secret of yours? All I did was ask if you had a race last night.”

“Why did you ask that?” Zack asked.

“Because Zachary I’m your personal mechanic. I’m the person Jason brings your cars too and the tires and engine tell me all I need to know. Including those upgrades you asked for. I’m not an i***t I just don’t say anything.”

“Then why say something now.” Zack yelled getting up.

“Because you started interrogating me. I hate being interrogated.”

“What did you want us to do? Watch you walk in here at eight in the morning and just ignore that?”

“I need you to trust me enough to know I’m not stupid and besides what I did or didn’t do on my date with Màrtin is none of your business.”

“We f*****g care about you Macky it is our business. And it’s not that we don’t trust you. We don’t trust Màrtin.”

“No Zack, you don’t trust Màrtin. Everyone else does. It’s too early for this and I’m tired. Can I go?”

“No.” Zack hissed.

“You can go Kenzie. Zack sit down.” Jason said.

McKenzie left the two and stopped by the door to hear the rest of their conversation. A glass breaking against the wall made her jump but she stayed silent.

“Zack calm down.” Jason sighed.

“He told her something. Or hinted at something.” Zack said.

“Or she figured it out.”

“I’m not saying your sister isn’t smart enough to figure it out on her own. I know Macky is smart and I know she had an idea of what was going on but she wouldn’t say it if she see or hear anything last night.” Zack argued.

“Màrtin wouldn’t tell her anything or put her in any danger.”

“Right because Màrtin's a saint.”

“No because he isn’t stupid. He’s a Cortes. Adopted or blood that family isn’t stupid or reckless. She doesn’t know anything. Only that we obviously race and we’ll keep it that way.”

“She’s going to find out at some point.”

“No she won’t. I’ll make sure of it. I’ll talk to Màrtin and tell him to keep her out of it.”

McKenzie backed away from kitchen and went into her room still replaying what she just heard. Jason was hiding something. And she was going to find out what it was.