Page 137 of Crash Course

Luca’s eyes meet mine.

My father might be ruthless and demanding, but if there’s one thing my father isn’t, it’s careless. He’d rather go scorched earth than leave loose ends.

Shay’s a loose end.

The thought sticks in my mind as he keeps talking. She knows about Dekker. That the car was purposely sabotaged. That my father ordered it.

Does Luca know she heard it? Even if he does, he wouldn’t do anything so reckless. He’s arrogant, not stupid.

Still, cold ripples down my spine as I think of what I’ve learned about my father recently—the way he pushed Dekker out of a job, manipulating an entire company and probably costing ARI the team championship. That covered up Shay’s parents’ deaths neatly for sixteen years because the thought of it messing with his life, with his plans, was inconceivable.

Once you see what someone’s capable of, you can’t unsee it.

I scan the crowd of fans, all of them eager for the contest that’s about to begin. The next two hours will determine whose number goes on the ARI car next year, who they’ll get signed photos of, who they’ll gossip about on social media.

I’ve already handed my phone off to an admin for safekeeping, but now, I demand it back. I hit Shay’s contact.

The line rings once. Twice.

“This is Shay…”

Voicemail.

I rack my brain to remember whose shift she was on. Then search a mobile version of the ARI employee records.

A moment later, the phone is ringing again.

“Hello?” Shay’s dad answers.

“It’s Jamie Ashford.” My words come out in a rush. “I’m looking for Shay.”

I can hear him bristle. “She’s not home.”

Relief edges in, but it’s short-lived. “I need to speak with her but she’s not answering her phone.”

“As I understand it, all you need to do today is win a race.”

I pace next to my car. They’re waving for me to get in, but I turn my back on them.

Shay’s dad takes a breath. “I know how important it is for you to be in the right mindset for this race, which is why I don’t say this lightly. You should’ve known better.” Guilt rises up, a familiar companion with sharp new teeth. “I can only imagine the upbringing you’ve had with Luca, but that’s why you should know. She might act tough, but she has a soft heart and you drove right over it.”

His words are a gut punch.

“I’m not going to argue. That’s not why I’m calling. I learned that my father was involved the night Shay’s parents died. He covered up the accident for an Ashford employee to save the company’s reputation, and I think he might be willing to do it again.”

Worry has my words blurring together, the paranoid ramblings of a desperate man.

I expect him to question my story or say he doesn’t believe me. Instead, there’s silence on the line for so long I think he’s hung up.

When he finally speaks…

It’s fucking chilling.

“Your father didn’t cover up one of his employees killing Shay’s parents. Luca was the driver.”

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Jameson