Chapter 30_ Alonso Brown

As Kane and Arya stepped into their regular haunt, the bar, a hushed conversation transpired between them. "I'm telling you, It's a crazy idea," Arya murmured to Kane. "Piston will never agree to do this!"

"Trust me. I know high-testosterone alpha dickheads like him," Kane reassured her. "They would do anything to prove their superiority. He would take the bait. We just need to wait for him." As they settled in and ordered drinks, they noticed some familiar faces entering through the doors.

Chloe, a regular at the bar, waved excitedly at Kane and Arya as she spotted them. Arya motioned for her to join them, but Chloe responded by miming a bow and arrow. Arya couldn't help but laugh at her playfulness.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kane inquired, intrigued.

"That she will join us later. She's hunting for a date tonight," Arya explained with a mischievous grin.

Soon after, Alonso walked in, clad in an expensive T-shirt and ripped jeans with swept-back brown hair, a big smile on his face as he laid eyes on a familiar person. Arya didn't pay him much attention since she didn't know him, but Kane recognized his friend from a mile away and tensed up at his unexpected appearance. Before he could make a move, however, Alonso strolled up to him, slinging an arm around his shoulders and pressing down hard as he teased, "Found you, Kane Maranello."

"What are you doing here?" Kane asked, shifting uncomfortably, not escaping Alonso's notice. He glanced beside Kane and saw the reason for his friend's unease.

"And you must be Arya, right? The hot chick Kane couldn't get out of his head after the first encounter with her," Alonso quipped, grinning slyly. Arya raised a brow at his bold remark, visibly unimpressed.

"And you are?" she inquired, tilting her head to the side.

"I am Kane's associate, Alonso Brown. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Arya," Alonso replied with a widening smile, earning him a strange look from Arya. "I have heard much about you. You must be the reason Kane has distanced himself from us, hmm?" Alonso continued, turning to Kane. "You're missing out on some gorgeous women who just arrived. But don't fret, I saved the best for you."

Kane glared at Alonso while flashing an awkward smile at Arya. "Enough, Alonso. Why are you here? And how did you find me?"

"Come on, Kane. You know I have my ways. I heard your father has tightened his grip on you and frozen all your accounts. I expected you to come to me, but you didn't. At first, I was puzzled. But then I did some digging and realized that this dream girl of yours is the reason you haven't sought my help, isn't she?" Alonso remarked, causing Arya to cough and blush while Kane facepalmed and glared at his talkative friend.

"Shut up! I have a target to catch. We'll talk later," Kane pleaded with his eyes. Alonso raised his hands in surrender with a chuckle as Piston finally made an appearance at the bar.

Kane and Arya got up from their table and approached Piston side by side. "Piston, so good to see you. How's your jaw?" Kane joked with a grin.

"Go to hell, Maranello. How's your car?" Piston retorted, causing Kane to scoff.

"Sorry, I don't associate with spineless cowards. You were saying?" Kane fired back, making Piston furious as he stepped up in front of Kane.

"Watch your mouth, Richie Rich. I am King around here. You're playing a dangerous game," Piston warned, but Kane didn't back down. In fact, he didn't move at all. He simply stared at Piston dead in the eyes.

Arya shivered slightly, her thoughts running wild. She never imagined Kane to be so cold-blooded…

"I enjoy risky games, Uncle Fester. Do you?" Kane questioned, earning a disapproving frown from Piston.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Piston demanded, glaring at Kane.

Kane raised his voice, ensuring that everyone in the bar could hear him, as he declared, "Word on the street is that you'd rather face my car when it's parked and vulnerable than when I'm behind the wheel...is that true?"

Piston looked around and saw all eyes were on him. Feeling put on the spot, he puffed himself up and retorted, "What bullshit! Bring out your shitty car and I'll race you right now!"

Kane smiled slyly at Piston, nodding his head as he proposed, "Why don't we race tomorrow? At the Race of the Free?" The bar fell silent at his words, all attention now on Kane and Piston.

"The King has challenged Piston at the Race of the Free, can you believe it?" Someone whispered in amazement.

"What's he going to do now?" Another voice chimed in.

Piston's fist clenched and he glared at Kane, grinding out through gritted teeth, "I accept your challenge, but what's in it for me?"

As Alonso gazed at them, a deep furrow etched on his face, he mused, 'Why is he giving him a pass? The Kane I know would have crippled him for daring to mess with his car so why would he want to challenge that bastard to a game? Unless.....' His thoughts trailed off as he turned to look at Arya, then back at Kane, shaking his head to dispel the implications he was starting to form in his mind.

"If I emerge victorious in the race, you shall cease your harassment of Arya and leave her in peace! And should you triumph, I shall entrust my red sports car to you." Kane declared, fully aware that regardless of the outcome, he had nothing to lose. It was time to part ways with his car after it had been vandalized and desecrated by those miscreants. Despite fixing it, it held no value to him anymore. But Kane wasn't finished with Piston yet, he was just getting started.

"Tomorrow, I shall dominate the track and your sorry ass, Maranello. And when that moment arrives, you shall surrender your car to me!" Piston boasted, exuding confidence as he extended his hands for a handshake to seal the deal. Kane hesitated for a moment before grasping his opponent's hand and the entire bar erupted in cheers and excitement.