“Personal life’s personal.” I forced a dry chuckle, shaking my head like this was exactly the circus I’d expected. Like the story had gotten away from me before I could control it. “Let’s stick to racing.”
A sharp murmur rolled through the pack, half-disappointed, half-thrilled. I’d given them something, but not enough.
“Can you at least confirm if this is recent?”
“Will this impact your schedule?”
“Griffin, was the team aware...?”
I rolled my shoulders, letting the grin on my face settle into something easy, relaxed, unbothered, even as my pulse hammered beneath the surface. “This some new style of interview? Thought I was here to talk about qualifying, not my home life.”
A few reporters laughed, the tension breaking just enough for me to push the focus back where I needed it. But the smarter ones weren’t fooled. They smelled blood and weren’t going to let it go easily.
“You’ve never mentioned having a family before.”
“There’s been no record of?—”
“There’s no record of a lot of things, and you lot don’t need to know everything,” I said, the easy smirk gone, my tone flat. “My private life has nothing to do with my racing. Let’s get back to the actual sport.”
The press hesitated for a beat, just long enough for them to realize I wasn’t giving them anything else. I held firm. I’d played nice, let them have their little moment of excitement. But from here on out? The line was drawn. My private life was not up for discussion.
“Next question.” My tone left no room for argument. “About the race.”
A few exchanged glances. Some looked like they wanted to push, but they weren’t stupid. Push too hard, and I’d walk.
A younger journalist cleared his throat and shifted forward. “Uh, right. Do you think the track evolution will help you tomorrow, given the lower grip in Sector Three tonight?”
Ifound Violet exactly where I expected. In the team suite, standing by the kitchenette, arms braced against the counter. Hazel was strapped to her chest.
Violet didn’t look up when I entered.
Didn’t say a word.
I stopped a few feet away, dragging a hand down my face. “Go on, then. Let’s hear it.”
“You’re an idiot,” she muttered, exasperated.
“Got that part already.”
“And reckless.”
“Not my worst quality.”
She spun, eyes blazing, arms locked across her chest, her whole body wound tight like she was physically holding herself back from throttling me.
“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”
I shrugged, because what else was there to do? “Took control of the situation. Made sure it didn’t become a scandal.”
Violet let out a short, disbelieving laugh. “You just told the world you have a newborn. You think they’re going to let that go?”
I shrugged. “They don’t have a choice.”
“You really believe that?”
“If I don’t engage, there’s nothing for them to chase.”
“They’re going to dig, Griffin.” She stepped forward, barely a breath away, her eyes blazing. “And when they don’t find anything? They’ll keep digging until they do.”
