If I hit this button and didn’t keep control of this car as we transitioned from the grass to the road, it could be very, very bad.
Fuck it.
I hit the button and gripped the wheel with both hands.
The Mustang rocketed forward. Everything outside the windshield became nothing but a blur. The road was right in front of us now, and I held my breath as the Mustang slid into the street, sliding sideways just a little. I let it go a tad, not trying to fight it too hard, and then strong-armed it back into a straight line.
Once I was sure all four tires had a grip, I punched the gas once again and shot over the crudely drawn white line across the narrow street.
The people and cars lined up at the finish line all started jumping and moving around, but I continued forward, letting the car wind down and my heartbeat to return to normal.
“Oh my God!” Joey said, pushing at her hair. “That was so much better than track racing!”
“My off-roading didn’t freak you out?” I asked, slowing the car even further and pulling off to the side so I could make a U-turn and go claim my cash.
“No, but I thought for sure you were gonna wrap us around a tree.”
“Ye of little faith,” I muttered.
Lorhaven was already near the line and pacing at the front end of his car when I pulled up.
“Stay here,” I told Joey and got out.
People started cheering and yelling. A few of the other drivers offered me their hand, and I could have sworn I saw some awe in Arrow’s eyes, but I’d never call him out. He’d get in trouble with his boss.
“What the fuck was that!” Lorhaven roared, stalking up to me.
The others surrounding me parted ways.
“That was me winning,” I drawled.
“This was a road race,” he said. “Not a fucking dirt track.”
“Oh, was that in the rule book?” I asked, glancing around. Lorhaven flushed. “Oh. Right. There isn’t one. You said get from point A to point B first. I did. If I had to take an alternative route, it’s because that big-ass Corvette of yours wouldn’t share the road.”
“Aww shit,” a few people called from the crowd.
The man holding the pot was close by, and I signaled to him. “Yo, man, I’m here to collect.”
“Like hell,” Lorhaven growled. “You cheated.”
“Why’s that?” I asked, deadly. “Because I didn’t cheat using your particular rules?”
Everyone went silent.
You weren’t supposed to challenge Lorhaven on his own turf in his own race. But that’s why I was invited, wasn’t it? Maybe some people were tired of him getting away with all his bullshit.
I reached for the fat stack of cash, but Lorhaven lunged forward and shoved me back. My body tensed and something in me snapped.
Apparently, the race didn’t help blow away some of the tension inside me; it only made it worse.
“Careful,” Lorhaven intoned. “Your bodyguard isn’t here to protect you tonight.”
The mention of Trent did it.
I surged forward in a running leap, fist extended, and plowed it into his face. We both went down, and I went to hit him again, but he rolled and pinned me beneath him. He leaned back, drawing back his fist to hammer it down, and I twisted, rolling beneath him, causing him to lose his balance. I shoved him back and jumped up at the same time he did.
“Stop!” a familiar voice yelled, and Joey rushed between us, her hair flying everywhere.
“Get back in the car,” I growled, rolling my neck.
Lorhaven’s chest heaved as he dabbed at his lip.
“Hey, that’s Joey G.,” someone called out. “She’s a pro racer. That’s Gamble’s daughter!”
Lorhaven forgot all about his lip and stared at Joey. “You brought a goddam pro to an indie race!” he roared.
Time to go.
I turned and plucked the money out of the organizer’s hands and started for the Mustang. “C’mon!” I yelled to Joey.
Halfway to the car, Lorhaven called out, “Cheater. She the one who taught you how to do all those fancy moves?”
I stopped and turned back.
I was not a cheater.
“That driving tonight was all mine. But if it makes your loss easier to take, then sure. You got beat by not only me, but a girl. One who happens to be a pro.”
Lorhaven’s nostrils flared.
I slammed into the Mustang and revved the engine.
“What the hell was that!” Joey demanded the second I tore down the street.
“Lorhaven’s kind of bitter about the pros,” I replied.
“A little?” she pressed.
“Okay, maybe a lot. And since I just beat him for the second time, his street cred is even more shot to hell. Add that to you being here to witness, and well…”