Redeemed (Dirty Air 4)

“So testy. I see why my daughter is drawn to you.”

My jaw clenches. “I want a real yes or no answer. Your offer is disappearing in three…tw—”

“I promise not to contact you, your family, or Chloe.” She gives me a number to wire her money to, and I finish the deal without hesitating.

Chloe told me she was done with that piece of trash, and I only helped her solve that problem faster.

32

Santiago

Chloe’s only moved into my place as of two weeks ago and the energy is already shifting between us. The routine we have fallen into is easygoing, with both of us modeling domestic bliss. Our days with each other include cooking together and movie nights, with restoring the car in between.

Whenever she leaves for work, I grow agitated. A discomfort builds inside of me in her absence and I become desperate to fill the time. Enough so, I spend the better part of my morning working out in the gym. But not even that is enough to satisfy the edge inside of me. I use it as an excuse to buy something stupid while Chloe is away at work.

It takes two days for my latest purchase to arrive. The shipping company sets up my new system in an empty room on the first floor of my house, far away from anyone else.

With hesitant steps, I walk toward the room, clutching onto the package Noah sent me after the Monza weekend. Taking a deep breath, I walk into the room. The F1 simulation system sits in front of massive monitors. My hands tremble as I walk up to the machine and rip off the brand-new plastic wrap.

The pedals mock me and remind me of the way I used to race. I ignore the urge to run out of the room, instead choosing to remove the standard steering wheel and replace it with Noah’s custom-made one. Pieces click into place as the new wheel dominates the front of the machine.

“If you don’t practice, you’ll never get back out there.” I hold on to the back of the leather chair and take a st

eady breath.

I press the power button, and the machine whirs to life. Tension sizzles beneath my skin at practicing with the new wheel.

This could be a disaster. A total and utter failure of epic proportions.

But it could also be the best thing to happen to you in years. Imagine getting back out there.

My dilemma is cut off by sneakers squeaking behind me.

I turn to find Chloe gaping at the machine.

She steps into the room. “Look at this setup! I can hear the nerds all over the world crying tears of joy.”

“This isn’t for nerds,” I mumble under my breath.

“Okay, sure. Whatever you say. But real talk: Can you play Mario Kart on it?”

My jaw drops open. “Mario Kart?”

She looks at the monitors with longing. “What I’d give to throw turtle shells and banana peels at other racers with this setup.”

The ridiculousness of her idea has me throwing my head back and laughing. “I honestly don’t know if this newer machine is compatible with it.”

“Then what is it for?”

“F1 racing.”

Her lips form an O. “Got it. Okay, well sorry to interrupt you. I’ll leave you to it then.” She walks backward before bumping into a wall.

“Wait.”

She halts.

“Do you want to test it out? If I can download Mario Kart, that is?”