Danger (The Driven World)

I stare down at her. “Ten.”

And then I continue to ramble, “I started straight with cars, and then backtracked to quarter-midgets.” I laugh at the thought, getting a different type of childhood most drivers in the industry are used to.

She listens, her eyes studying my face.

“I was scared at first, but I knew I wasn’t going to let this world win. I knew I had something to prove. Kav’s the one who helped me get into racing. And I felt the control there. I knew I could control this vehicle that weighs more than me. It was this exhilarating feeling.”

“You like having control, don’t you?”

I smile, how little she knows. If only she knew that the control is all an act. That I’m trying my best to pretend I have control. But, in all honesty, it’s more like a parlor trick, like I’m pretending to control everything in my life, when I’m definitely not. “Mmm.”

She laughs a sweet laugh. One that could make a regular man fall in love. Not me, but a regular man. “I knew you did.”

I wish I could be that type of man for her. But, it’s not in me to give her the fantasy she wants.

No, I’m on one mission. Win the race and get the money. And now, after speaking with Rylee, I feel like I am one step closer toward my goal.

But, having Monterey bare her soul to me tonight, I know I can’t leave her like this. Now that I have her I have to at least try to be the man.

Even if it is all pretend.

Even if after the season is over, I’ll be gone and I’ll never see her again.

Chapter 22

Monterey

I drift off to sleep in a peaceful slumber. I can’t even remember falling asleep, but I remember waking up.

Because it’s loud.

It’s like a train has ripped through the hotel room, causing me to jump when I try to locate the sound.

“Danger?” I call out, not sure where he is.

He steps out from the living area. “Hey, I’m just watching the wreck, and the news coverage of it. I wanted to see it for myself.” He gives me a half-smile. “Coffee?”

I try to open my eyes wider, but the morning sun pouring in from the windows doesn’t allow it. So, I squint, trying to wake up properly. “Uh, ok. Give me a minute.” I stretch my body across the bed, and Danger growls.

“Ok, I can’t concentrate with you looking all sexy as fuck like that.” He steps closer to the bed, bending over to smack me on the ass.

I smile, remembering the way he held me last night after stripping me bare. I should feel weird, awkward, but I don’t. Instead I feel like I can trust this man with anything.

Like he broke a big chunk of my walls down last night, and I don’t mind. “I’ll be right there.”

I head into the bathroom, not really sure if I’ll be able to watch the crash again. It was bad enough the first time.

I get ready for the day, knowing we have the press conference in a few hours, and then we can pack and get ready to move onto the next city. I can’t even remember where we’re going, or if we’ll leave today.

With Danger’s team member in the hospital, we’ll need to wait until we get word on Mandarin’s surgery.

I told my father I would handle it all, so I push away the fog clouding my brain, and walk into the living area. “I need to find a driver for Mandarin. And see what the doctors think.”

Danger stares at me. “The doctor cleared me for driving, right?”

I nod, knowing very well Mandarin won’t be able to drive this season. “Yes, so I just need to look through our replacement roster. I’m thinking Parks.”

Danger growls, and stares back at the TV when the crash occurs. Twisted metal and car parts fly through the air as they’re covered in a plume of smoke. I turn away, unable to watch anymore of it. I wince at the sound of metal crunching into metal.

Danger doesn’t even blink. Just watches, rewinds and watches again.

I cross the room, sitting next to him on the little sofa. My hand makes its way like a magnet to his leg.

His hand immediately reaches down to rest on mine. It makes me smile, and a warmth floods my chest.

I turn toward the TV screen, knowing full well I won’t be able to watch the crash again.

But, I do watch it. My eyes are fixed to the screen. Like a bad train wreck, or ha ha, a car wreck, I can’t get the image of twisted metal out of my vision.

And then I see it, the thing I’m sure Danger is noticing every time he watches it. The moment he loses control of his car.