Danger (The Driven World)

I know Danger, I mean, Dylan, needs this. I watch as the rolling start begins, and my stomach clenches with nerves. Anyone who says they’re not scared for the lives of every driver out on the speedway is a liar. I’m terrified. They put their lives in danger to grab that checkered flag, and something about the whole sport seems archaic to me all of a sudden.

Sports are a civilized kind of war.

What if something happens to him?

Don’t even think about it, Monterey. I try not to worry myself with all the what ifs. If you allow yourself to be consumed with what ifs, you’ll never be happy. And I’m determined to be.

I deserve it.

Life is full of possibilities, and right now I need to think about the future. My father’s retiring, leaving me in charge of Grander Racing. It’s a huge deal.

I’ll be one of the only women CEO’s to own one of the biggest teams in Indy racing. And I have so many ideas to break this sport wide open. To bring our team to the new age. But that’s not important right now. The only thing I care about is Dylan.

Once the race is underway, I find myself enjoying it, talking to everyone and feeling recharged by the energy around me. My eyes are all on Dylan’s red race car. I watch as he takes each turn, hugging the corners in just the right way. My mind’s counting seconds in the pit stops. And my soul silently prays for his safety as I watch with rapt fascination.

Dylan came to the track today with a mission. The man came to win.

And he’s rocking it.

And as I watch Dylan sail over the finish line first I cheer, happy with all of our hard work. It paid off.

A bittersweet victory and my heart drops a little when I realize it’s all come to an end. No, I won’t let this be the end of us.

This is my time to fight for the future I’ve envisioned for me. For us.

The happiness he deserves.

His real victory.

The stands clear out as I congratulate the team, and say congratulations to my father. Reporters surround us, wanting to know about my father’s retirement he’s just announced before the race began. Questions are thrown my way and the cameras flash, but I try to push it all away as I spot Dylan off in the distance. He’s being interviewed by reporters, and congratulated by many, but I make my way over toward him anyway.

“I have somebody who wants to meet you,” I tell him once he’s done with his latest interview.”

“Monterey, I didn’t think you’d come.” His face transforms when he sees me, his eyes full of warmth.

Full of love.

“Of course, I’d be here. I’m the new team owner.”

Dylan rubs at the back of his neck as his eyes meet mine with a hint of happiness there. And hope. “Congratulations are in order for you too. I don’t think there’s anyone else in this world who could run the team as good as you could.”

“Thank you.” I step closer so he can hear me over the crowd. “Listen, there’s someone here that wants to meet you.”

Dylan’s lips pull up in that legendary smile he’s known for. “Sure, of course.” He puts on his mask, the one he wears for interviews and fans. I’m sure he thinks I’m going to introduce him to a suit, someone who might be coming on to the team now that I’m in charge.

He couldn’t be further from the truth.

I peer over my shoulder, looking back for the woman I’ve brought with me.

Her long jet-black hair clings to her shoulders. She almost blends into the crowd with her Daisy Dukes and Danger Hudson racing shirt. She didn’t show up to the track wearing it, but demanded on changing into it once she bought one from one of the vendors on the midway before the race started.

But she doesn’t blend into the crowd because she has the same haunting dark eyes as her brother. As the man who’s staring past me right now, and into those disbelieving eyes.

“Isabella,” he whispers moving closer toward her.

For a moment I feel like the time stops. As does Isabella as soon as she’s in front of her brother.

After a couple of minutes she opens her arms, tears flooding from her eyes as she meets her brother’s hug. I’m almost in tears as I watch the two of them embrace. It’s been many years since they’ve seen each other.

“What happened to you?” Danger asks her, pulling out of the hug. “I want to know everything.”

Chapter 41

Danger

I feel like I’m walking in the clouds.

Today I won a race. But that’s not the most remarkable success of my day.

It’s the fact she found my sister.

She did it for me.

It’s unbelievable, but for a girl like Monterey the word impossible doesn’t exist.