The alarm starts ringing. It's already 2:00 AM. The shrill sound cuts through the silence of the room, and for a moment, I lie there, staring at the ceiling. I run my hand through my hair and slowly get up, knowing there's no time to waste. I head toward the closet, but first, I send Lexy a message: "We're leaving. Get ready."
I open the closet and pull out the clothes I had prepared in advance: a pair of tight black pants, a black turtleneck, and my leather jacket. Everything simple, discreet. Just right for a night race.
In the bathroom, I put on a bit of makeup, just enough so I don't look completely exhausted. When I look in the mirror, for a moment, I barely recognize myself. I tie my red hair into a high, tight ponytail. That red is from my mom. Sometimes it feels like whenever I see it, I see a piece of her too.
I glance at the clock. 2:20 AM.
The race starts at 3:00 AM.
I have time for one cigarette.
I step onto the balcony and light it. The small flame briefly illuminates the darkness of the night. I take a deep drag, and in that silence, my thoughts drift back to the past.
Sometimes it still feels unreal how I ended up here.
Four years ago.
Grandfather wanted to pass the family empire to someone from the bloodline. Everyone assumed it would be Dad. He was his only child. But Dad refused.
He said he didn't want that life.
To everyone's surprise, neither did my brother, Casian. Both of them thought that world was too dangerous, too dirty.
But I didn't see it that way.
I insisted. Too much, maybe. I pressured Grandfather for months until, finally, he agreed to let me into the business. In his world, women didn't run empires. Not officially, at least.
I was only 23 back then, the type of person who doesn't take "no" for an answer. Rebellious, impulsive… and yes, I had a few run-ins with the police.
Grandfather was my luck.
In front of everyone, he was cold, strict, calculating. But when it came to me… he became different. Softer. Protective. He saw something in me that no one else did yet.
Casian still doesn't know how much Grandfather helped me in secret.
He taught me the rules of the game.
How alliances work.
How to earn people's loyalty.
And, most importantly, how to maintain power without losing control.
After Grandmother, Elara Lunaris, died two years ago, Grandfather withdrew almost completely from the world. That's when he placed the organization in my hands.
Since then, I've been in charge.
Our organization deals with illegal races all over the world. These aren't just street races. They're big events, with lots of money, bets, influential people, and rules that few truly understand.
I traveled everywhere with Grandfather. USA, Asia… sometimes to places I didn't even know which continent I was on.
That's how I met Lexy.
Actually, Lexy was there long before all this.
We've known each other since we were babies. We grew up on the same street, got scolded by the same angry teachers, and pulled the same stupid pranks that made our parents think we'd end up in serious trouble.
Maybe they were right.
We were both rebels. The kind of kids who never followed rules just because someone said we had to. If we saw a fence, we wanted to know what was on the other side. If we were told to stay put… well, it was obvious we'd run.
But Lexy had something extra.
Her driving talent was… natural. The first time she got behind the wheel, she drove like she'd been doing it her whole life. Her reflexes were sharp, her instincts perfect. While others learned to control a car, Lexy seemed to feel it.
When Grandfather handed me the organization, I knew one thing for sure.
I didn't want to do this alone.
This world was too harsh, full of people waiting for the moment you'd fall. I needed someone I could trust without a second thought.
The only person who came to mind was Lexy.
Grandfather wasn't thrilled at first. He said friendship and business never mix well. That the world we were entering wasn't a place for blind loyalties.
But it wasn't just about loyalty.
Lexy was family.
I told Grandfather that if I had to run his empire, I would do it my way. And my way meant Lexy was by my side.
Eventually, he agreed.
So I brought her into the organization.
At first, people saw her as "the boss's friend." But it didn't take long for Lexy to show them who she really was.
On the track, she was unmatched.
Today, in our world, everyone knows her by one name.
Phantom Girl. The driver I send when the stakes are high.
The fastest pilot I have.
But to me… she's still the same girl I raced down our streets with as kids, seeing who could reach the end of the block first.
The difference is the stakes aren't a game anymore.
Sometimes I wonder if it would've been easier to stick to my normal life. The hospital. The years of study to become a surgeon.
I promised him I'd have a normal life.
But since Chase died… every time I enter an operating room, I feel suffocated. Because deep down, I know I couldn't save him.
And sometimes it feels like every time I choose this world… I lose a piece of myself.
I flick the cigarette and stomp it out.
My phone vibrates.
A message from Lexy.
"Ready."
Perfect.
Because I am too.
I slip my phone into my pocket and cast one last glance at the silent room. My parents are sleeping downstairs. Casian and Lucy are upstairs, room to room, with mine. If they knew where I went every night… they'd probably try to stop me.
I don't want to wake them.
I descend the stairs slowly, careful with each step that might creak. The house is completely silent. Only the ticking of the clock in the hallway breaks the quiet. I grab my cap from the hook and open the door carefully, holding the handle so it doesn't make a sound.
The night air hits me. Cold. Crisp.
I close the door just as quietly.
My car isn't here. I made sure of that. A few hours earlier, I had one of my people bring it straight to the race location.
The headlights of a car flash once at the end of the street.
Lexy.
I approach and open the passenger door on the right.
— You're two minutes late, she says without looking at me.
— Do you have a timer now? I raise an eyebrow.
— When I drive for you, yes.
A short smile escapes me before I can stop it.
— Let's go.
The engine starts almost silently, and the car glides down the street like a shadow. In minutes, we leave the city behind. Lights become scarce, and the empty asphalt stretches ahead.
The race spot is in an abandoned industrial area at the edge of the city. Perfect for what we do. Far enough not to disturb anyone, but close enough for the money to flow fast.
When we arrive, the place is already buzzing.
Engines revving. Loud music. Car lights reflecting off the wet asphalt.
People gather around the car, and the moment they see me step out, a path opens up. Not out of fear… but because they know who I am.
Nova Lunaris.
The Leader.
Lexy whistles softly behind me.
— You like dramatic entrances.
— I like controlling the situation.
Meanwhile, the crowd aligns itself. Bets start to flow. Everyone waits for my signal.
I raise my hand.
The music cuts off almost instantly. The crowd murmurs die down.
Simple rules, I say loudly so everyone can hear. The track is the same. Two laps. No sabotage. Anyone trying anything stupid… won't set foot on the Phantom Circuit again, understood?
The crowd murmurs approval.
Everything's going exactly as it should.
Until I hear an engine.
It's different from the others.
The sound is deeper. Controlled. A mechanical growl that makes people instinctively turn their heads.
All eyes shift to the entrance.
The unknown car stops slowly, and silence falls over the track. Everyone stares.
The car is stopped just two steps away from me and Lexy. The bastard wants to intimidate me on my own turf. Me?
The driver's door opens first. And I forget my thoughts when I see the two men stepping out.
The first man. Tall, commanding attention. Black hair, modern cut, slightly longer on top, falling naturally over his forehead as if every strand was intentional, yet casual. Under the headlights, his eyes are almost unreal — a cold, icy blue, the kind of gaze that seems to analyze before speaking. Even in the dark, I can see the clarity of his eyes.
He moves calmly. Too calmly for someone entering another's territory.
The second man gets out on the other side.
Slightly shorter, not by much, with light blond hair, slightly long, strands falling over his forehead and moving with every step. He looks almost indifferent, as if this place were just a boring stop on a long night.
But his eyes are completely different.
Black.
Not warm. Observant.
The blond glances over the crowd, then at me.
— So this is the famous track I've heard so much about.
I cross my arms.
— And you're the lost tourists?
His smile widens.
— I like her tone.
But the black-haired man doesn't smile.
He keeps looking at me, calm, like he's analyzing every reaction.
— You're Nova? he asks.
I raise an eyebrow slightly.
— Depends on who's asking.
The blond interjects.
— He's asking. I'm just having fun.
Lexy snorts.
— Perfect. Then you can have fun somewhere else.
The blond puts his hands in his pockets.
— What a warm welcome.
The black-haired man takes a step closer, ignoring the comments entirely.
— I heard the best compete here.
— And? I say.
— I want to see if it's true.
Lexy rolls her eyes and looks him up and down, with a sly smile:
— Wow… we're really lucky to get your visit, big shot.
The black-haired man blinks once, surprised by her sarcasm, and raises an eyebrow.
— And you actually know how to talk, not just drive, he says in a calm tone, with a subtle hiss of challenge.
Lexy gestures lightly with her hand, as if to tell him, "Easy there, kid, you're way too excited."
— I didn't come to make trouble. I came for a race.
Lexy raises an eyebrow.
— Everyone here is here for a race, genius.
The blond glances at the lined-up cars. For a few seconds, silence.
Then he taps lightly on the hood of their car.
— So? Will you let us play or not?
I cross my arms.
— This isn't a game here.
The black-haired man smiles just slightly.
— Perfect.
Because neither are we.
*****************
Sorry for posting the chapter after such a long time. I made a small change in chapter two: instead of Nova's grandfather being dead, it is now her grandmother who passed away. I'll try to post the chapters more regularly from now on.
I apologize once again, and if you notice anything that needs correcting, please let me know. I appreciate every comment. Thank you very much.