Danger (The Driven World)

I get behind the wheel and start the engine. “You’re out of control. You can’t control anything in your life.”

He turns to face me, his dark brown eyes searing into me. “That’s where you’re wrong. I have control over everything. You don’t think I could get behind the wheel of a race car and drive it above two-hundred miles per hour without losing it, if I didn’t practice control in all things.”

He has me there. “It’s not that hard to drive.”

He leans closer, the smell of him tickling my nose and making me come alive with fire. “You race?”

I raise my chin in the air, not wanting him to see me coming undone before him. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I can race. You don’t grow up with a father like mine and not know how to handle a car.”

He leans even closer, our noses almost touching. I can lick him if I wanted. And boy do I want to. “Prove it.” He nods toward the street.

“Fine, I will.” I rev up the engine, making sure I’m ready to go. I’m almost ready to punch the accelerator, but then realize I can’t very well fly out of the police station parking lot. I think that’s what Danger wants. I think he wants me to end up right where he was moments before I picked him up. In jail for racing illegally in the streets of LA. No, instead of pulling away from the curb like I'm a speed racer, I gently press the pedal like I’m driving Miss Daisy.

He laughs. “That’s what I thought.” He slinks down into the seat, getting comfortable and pulls his ball cap over his eyes.

I don’t care if he’s laughing at me. I won’t disobey the speed limit to prove a point.

Sure, maybe staring at him a little bit too long may be a bit dangerous. However, I’m a big girl who can control my sexual urges. And believe me, it will never happen between Danger and I, so I don’t even let my mind travel there… often. It’s not like he’s the type of guy I could bring home to my father.

“What were you thinking? Street racing?” The deep harsh look of my father’s angered eyes are directed solely on Danger.

Danger sits on the sofa in my father’s study at almost midnight with a small smirk on his face. “It was just a little fun.”

My father moves around the room in his motorized wheelchair, where I delivered Danger to him. “Danger, we have to keep our investment sound. We’ve only got ten more races left of the season, and I can’t have you illegally street racing all around town.”

Danger shuffles in his seat, hanging his head low. Keeping a leash on the infamous Danger Hudson is something my father has struggled with since he signed him to our team’s roster.

Personally, I’m not really sure why my father puts up with him at all. Sure, he’s a great driver, and one of the quickest and most skilled I’ve ever seen, but there are others who can drive well enough.

My father had pulled me aside before signing him, and told me with Danger on our team we’d be sure to win.

So, as the good daughter, I went along with my father’s ideas. I like to think of my father and I as partners in the racing business. We own the team together. We make most decisions together.

Well, he makes most, and I usually just agree with him.

But just for the record, I was never on board with Danger.

My father crosses the room, and ends up next to his best friend and lawyer, Bill. “Anyone want a drink? Bill? Monterey?” He smiles. “Danger, I’m not offering you any.”

I laugh a little under my breath, my eyes meeting Danger’s dark ones from across the room. I decline my father’s offer for a drink.

“I have an idea,” my father states as he swirls the amber liquid of his drink around in his glass. “It’s a risky one.”

I’m all ears. “What is it?” I’m half-hoping my father will tell me we’re cutting Danger from the team. I almost wish for it.

“Well, we know controlling the media on Danger is impossible. Everywhere he goes he’s like a media nightmare come to life. I think they follow him because they know there’s a good story coming.”

Danger smiles.

“Well, maybe you should ground him to his room.” I cross my arms and Danger’s smile fades instantly.

“We need to showcase him in a better light,” Bill adds.

“That’s what I’m thinking.” My father turns to face me. “Monterey, what if we say the two of you are engaged. You two are madly in love. The media loves a good redemption story. Bad boy tamed by the daughter of a racing tycoon. It’s perfect.”

I think I stopped listening after the word engaged. My eyes widen. “I...uhh.” My mouth snaps shut and no more words come out.