The mountain road entrance was crowded with expensive SUVs and people dressed in designer outdoor gear. Chase’s friends formed a tight circle around him as I approached with Sterling Huxley.

The stunning blonde draped over Chase’s arm looked me up and down. “Another girl trying to get Chase’s attention? God, your technique is pathetic.”

“This isn’t the fat kid camping area,” a guy added with disgust. “Leave before you embarrass yourself.”

A guy stepped forward. “Look, maybe this isn’t—”

“Sterling, let her stay,” Chase interrupted, pushing the brunette away slightly. “I’m curious what she thinks she can do.”

Chase turned to me. “I’ll still give you the twenty-second head start as promised. Though it won’t make much difference.”

“I don’t need your charity,” I replied evenly. “Let’s race fair and square.”

Chase laughed, his friends joining in. “Suit yourself. Your funeral.”

He looked me up and down with contempt. “Just getting your fat ass into that Explorer was probably a workout. Don’t cry when you lose.”

I kept my face neutral, but inwardly I was coldly amused. I’d outdriven military pursuit vehicles through mountain passes much more treacherous than this.

At the starting line, Sterling Huxley stood between our vehicles.

“The rules are simple,” he announced. “Follow the marked trail through the mountain range. Six checkpoints must be passed, and the first to reach the summit campsite wins.”

“Jade goes first,” Chase called out. “Give her the twenty-second head start. She’ll need it.”

The crowd laughed. My rental Explorer looked pathetic next to Chase’s vehicle with its massive off-road tires, custom suspension, and powerful engine.

“She’s going to flip that thing in the first gully,” someone muttered.

The Uber driver who’d dropped me earlier leaned against his car. “I’m putting twenty bucks on her,” he called out. “Just for her guts alone.”

I slid behind the wheel and took a deep breath. Sterling raised his arm, then dropped it. “Go!”

I punched the gas and the Explorer lurched forward. Twenty seconds wasn’t much considering Chase’s vehicle advantages, but I’d worked with worse odds.

The mountain path quickly turned treacherous. I kept the Explorer in a lower gear while navigating the difficult terrain.

In my rearview mirror, I saw Chase’s Wrangler burst from the starting line, closing the gap quickly. He caught up within minutes, his Jeep effortlessly powering over obstacles. He pulled alongside me, the blonde now in his passenger seat blowing me a mocking kiss as they passed.

Chase’s driving was good—confident and aggressive. But I’d driven getaway vehicles through active war zones. This was practically a Sunday drive.

Half a mile ahead lay the first major obstacle—a river crossing that recent rains had turned into a churning flow. Chase approached cautiously, choosing a narrow section where the water ran relatively clear.

Instead of following, I veered toward a deeper section. The blonde in Chase’s passenger seat pointed at me, laughing at what seemed like a terrible decision.

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