Page 36 of Torqued

“Checking up?” It takes me a minute for it to click. “Mother Fucker’s trying to wreck him?”

She looks surprised. “Yeah, you might want to steal your nerves.”

“It’s gonna get ugly.” I murmur as Margo nods. Never did it dawn on me that Lane would bring this here. Yes, I knew he was trying to get to Rush and using me to do it, but this is insane.

They come around the far corner, racing neck and neck. Rush pushes Lane to drive harder and smarter because that’s how Rush is. As the cars round the next turn, Lane comes down on Rush, sending him fishtailing.

Rush pulls the car back, holding it above the line. He’s hard into the throttle when he and Lane bump again. They’re racing hard, but reckless, and neither of them is using their heads.

“You gonna let him keep doing that shit?” Margo’s voice rings through the headset.

“No.” Rush growls as the white flag waves when they pass under it in third and fourth place respectfully. How Rush will cross the checkered is another story.

“Then take care of it.” I cut my eyes at Margo, worried about what she’s telling him to do. Rush goes into the next corner running high and driving Lane up to the wall.

My heart hammers against my chest like pistons in a motor, as Rush shifts gears and the motor roars. I think I might have a heart attack from the blood thrumming through my body, sending it into overdrive.

As they come to the finish line, Lane bumps Rush, and the car gets squiggly making Rush scramble to keep from losing it. He wrestles the wheel and righting the vehicle in the nick of time. Rush shifts the gears once again and crosses in fourth with Lane in front of him. What should have been a great ending is now marred.

11

Rush

I climb from the car on pit road, waiting to give an interview. Fourth place is great, but finishing behind Lane makes me rage. He’s willing to risk it all, just to watch me crash and burn.

Racing is hard enough without having to face hot-headed people like Lane. I don’t understand his disregard for all of the other drivers out here, and we both know, anything can happen in a split second.

The crew runs over to me as I search for Lane in the spot next to me. His people have surrounded him, I suspect, because of me. It hits me that Margo isn’t here yet, and neither is Spencer.

I scan the pits, finally finding them by the box. Margo’s staring at me while Spencer is talking with her. Colton comes into view, walking in my direction and essentially ending my view.

“Rush, good race.” Colton takes my hand, shaking it.

“Thank you, but we both know it should’ve been better.”

He glances over to Spencer and Margo. “They’ve called her and Aries into the trailer, you know your next.”

“Why would they call them? Lane’s the one that showed his ass.” I glare at Lane, shooting daggers at him. If he causes Spencer any trouble, I swear I’ll beat his ass.

“You’re kidding, right?” Colton’s tone is dark, drawing my attention back to him.

“I don’t understand.”

“You’re getting fined, and after several public outbursts from each of you, they may levy fines on them too.” Colton rubs the back of his neck, watching an official lead Spencer away.

I round on him, clenching my fists. “Are you fucking kidding me? I get the issue with us, but I only gave as good as I got.”

“Maybe next time, listen to Spencer.”

Fuck. Spencer’s going to kill me, or at least beat me. Which she should do one of them, to be honest. Spencer has done nothing short of begging me to walk away from Lane, but I refuse to do it.

Colton stays by me until after the interview. The car goes with the officials, and I head over to the office.

Lane leans against the wall, trying to act like Joe Cool, but we both know he’s shitting his pants. His daddy will probably get him out of this, I just know it. The longer I wait here, the more it stokes my rage. I could knock his ass out around the back of this place, and no one would be the wiser.

There’s a sound from the entrance of the building, and I turn to watch as Spencer exits the office. Her mouth sits in a thin line and is a stark contrast to her arched brow. She’s mad as hell.

“Meet me in the hauler. Do not go to the garage; come straight to the hauler. Do you understand me?” Spencer’s words are sharp, gutting me, knowing that I’ve hurt her.