The pit box was silent. Everyone was standing, staring at Don, as if he had just announced it. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room.
“We’re sending flowers and we’ll send a card around for people to write their condolences,” he said, his fingers fidgeting. “I’m sure the funeral will coincide with the race in France next month—”
“I’m going now,” Nix said, already unzipping his leathers as he walked to his locker. “I’m getting the next flight.Livieis coming with me.”
“What?”Crissaid, his eyes bloodshot. “You’re not leaving. You’re racing early tomorrow and you’ll lose a whole race worth of points. The championship—”
“I don’t care about the championship!” he roared, slamming his locker shut and whirling around to face his leader. “I need to say goodbye.”
“You’ll lose a whole race’s worth of points!”
“You think I care?”
“We can’t have no one ride forCiclati,” he said, desperate eyes flickering between his two riders. “The points—”
“I’ll stay,”Lucasaid with a nod. “I’ve already said my goodbyes. I… I’ll ride.”
Abbe stood up beside him. “Are you sure you’ll be okay to do that when—”
“I’ll ride in honour of him,”Lucasaid, grabbing his helmet off the side. He nodded to the bike, where a mechanic immediately started to pull off the wheel warmers. “Now, if you don’t mind.”
Lucaand Nix might have been night and day, but they still shared the same sunrise and sunset. The bike was where they needed to be. It was their comfort.
Nix was in my locker, passing me my bag. No one seemed to question how he knew my code.
“Livieis not going with you,”Crisshouted in French. “She’s not your pet!”
The fury in Nix’s face was enough for anyone to step back, butCris’ bulky frame stayed rooted to the spot.
“No, she’s my—” He glanced at me, just about stopping himself before releasing a sigh at my alarmed look, eyes wide. “She’s myfriend. Just about the only person who holds me accountable. And, with how I’m feeling, I need someone to hold me accountable.”
“Don’t threaten—”
“It’s not a threat,” Nix shot back and slammed my lockershut, my bag still in his other hand. “If you know what’s good for your riders, you’ll let her come with me.”
“We’re about to have a media storm, she needs to be here with the team.”
Abbe nodded. “We need her here, Nix.”
I stepped to Nix’s side, assessing his breathing and his stiff expression. He wasn’t bluffing. “How about asking me?” I asked, turning toCrisand Abbe. “Because I don’t think Nix should be alone. You called me in to manage how the public view him, and right now… people are going to be watching his every move.”
“You’ll have Cally and the family—”
Criswas cut off by a dark laugh from Nix.
“Oh, you think that will be a comfort? The family of the man I killed as my only company?”
“Your manager can fly out, too, and—”
“I’m going,” I declared. “Even just for the flight. Until his manager gets there. It’s — what? — a four-hour journey? I’ll go, stay the night and be back tomorrow. There won’t be an announcement for days, you know this.Callyand the boys need time to grieve and we leave it up to them to decide when they release a statement.”
Nix didn’t look at me as he started to unpack the clothes from his rucksack that he’d change into.
“Livia,”Crissaid. “You are not to leave Portugal until after the race.”
Damn it, I wishedLucawas still here. He would know what to say.
“What will you do?” Nix asked, pressing my bag to my chest for me to take as he stared down his boss. “Sack her? We both know she’s irreplaceable at this point. You want me to rideforCiclati? You keep her.”
