“Hey, darlin’,” Dad greeted me, and I walked right into his arms with a genuine smile on my face for him. Not long after I discovered why my family split up, I realized we were still a unit—Mom, Dad, and me. We may not have lived together, but they were my parents, and they loved me. They would always have my back. Since then, his wives and girlfriends have come and gone, but he’s always been my dad.
Butterflies flitted about through my belly as I walked out onto the patio of my dad’s home. We were all called there, because Dad had some huge announcement. I bet he bought another racing team. It wouldn’t have surprised me in the least if expanding DHR was his next big goal. He already holds the record for most wins. What could’ve possibly been left?
We fanned out across the brick patio. The media was spread out on the lawn below us. Dad and Candy in the middle, Bobby and me flanking them on either side. Dad was dressed a lot like Bobby, in jeans and a T-shirt with his DHR jacket over it, but his wife looked like she could slide down a stripper pole at any moment, yet who was I to judge?
“I’m sure you’ve all wondered why I’ve called you here today,” Dad said. “Even my family is going to be surprised, because I’ve kept the news from them too.”
I let my winning smile spread across my face, because that was so my dad. He’s got such a huge personality and loves surprises; he always has. I remember one year he bought me a horse for Christmas. My mom laughed until she cried. Who knows what was about to come out of his mouth, but it would probably be just as over the top as the man himself.
“I’ve decided to retire.”
“What?” his wife gasped. I was about to say the same thing, but she beat me to the punch. The first thing I wondered was what would happen to the company without him? What would happen to Dark Horse? “You can’t be serious.”
“Serious as a heart attack, darlin’.”
I had to bite my tongue. My dad is the nicest guy in the world, but no one, and I mean no one, second guesses his decisions where Dark Horse Racing is concerned. Dad is the top dog, and he always will be—or at least I thought so. Now, I’m not so sure.
“When will you retire?” someone called out then.
“At the end of the season,” he replied.
“And what’s going to become of DHR?” someone else asked, and wasn’t that the million-dollar question?
“It’s going to continue to grow and thrive,” Dad answered. “Long after I’m gone, even when my grandchildren are running it.”
“So you’re leaving it to Adrienne?” someone asked, and I almost swallowed my tongue.
“It’s possible,” he said vaguely.
“What does that mean?”
“It means that both Adrienne and Bobby are skilled drivers,” Dad explained. “While Dark Horse will always belong to the Malone family, control of the company will always belong to the lead driver.”
“And who will that be when you’re gone?”
“Whoever tops this season.”
No. He didn’t do it. Dad isn’t doing what I think he is, I thought in that moment. He wouldn’t do that to me, to Bobby. No. Just no.
But he did. I snapped my head around and looked at Bobby, who was grinning his movie star smile at the crowd, and they were eating it up. Looking at my childhood friend, one thing was clear: Bobby wanted top billing of DHR, my family’s legacy, and he’d stop at nothing to get it.
My worst nightmare came true. My dad pitted my only friend against me over control of the family business. How could he? Of course, I couldn’t let my frustration show on my face. Instead, I turned and smiled to the press so they could take pictures of our happy family, even if it was all a lie.
“I know Adrienne and Bobby will do their best to bring DHR to the next generation of race junkies.” Dad laughed. “My girl is a chip off the old block.”
He pulled me into his side, and I let him. We smiled like he hadn’t just rocked the very ground we were standing on. It wasn’t like I expected to be handed DHR on a silver platter like a spoiled little girl, but I also didn’t think I was going to have to win itHunger Gamesdeathmatch style either.
“Well, that’s about it,” Dad said as he let me go, then turned to take his wife’s arm and walked back into the house. Bobby and I followed behind them. I wasn’t sure how I thought this would all play out, but I didn’t think he would assume it was already his either.
“No hard feelings.” Bobby shrugged.
“Yeah,” I whispered.
“I’ll always make sure there’s a place for you at DHR.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.” He smiled that stupid smile at me. “Like I said, no hard feelings, but I’m going to win.”
