“You’re a smart ass.”
“I’m more than that.”
Whoever this is on the other end scoffs. There’s no point in asking for a name since I know he won’t come out and give it to me.
Coming from a family with as much wealth as mine, and working in the industry I’ve been in since I was a teenager, I’m not a stranger to extortion or bribery attempts.
It actually comes with the territory. And it’s also one of the reasons I choose to live where I live. There’s an added level of privacy and security given the type of people who live in Monaco.
It’s why I wanted Alyssia to stay in my apartment building. She would have additional security there.
“You’re not anything!” the voice insists.
I sigh. “If you’re so easily rattled, you’re in the wrong line of work,” I goad.
“Listen up,” he proceeds. “If you want to save your season and avoid messing up like you did last year, I suggest you do as I say.”
The comment about last year is what sets my teeth on edge. “What the hell did you just say?”
“Not so confident now.”
“Checking for clarity’s sake.”
“Abu Dhabi wasn’t simply a bad call.”
Memories of that race come flooding back. I’ve spent hours analyzing it from various angles. I’d beaten myself up for not making that final pitstop, but in the back of my mind, there is always a shred of doubt. Of questioning why a certain call was made.
I can’t help but think the call wasn’t something just done in the spur of the moment. That maybe someone had it out for me.
“What do you know?”
“Nothing you need to concern yourself with.”
“What the hell are you calling me for then?”
“It’s easy. If you want to keep Amato Racing in contention to race, you need to miss the podium next race.”
“I’ll never purposely lose a race.” It’s not in my DNA to lose and definitely not on purpose.
A gnarly chuckle passes through the phone line. “If you know what’s good for you, you will.”
In this industry, backstabbing, cheating, and even bribery aren’t new. With millions of dollars on the line, people turn into animals to get what they want. That night in Vegas comes back to mine.
The two teenage boys who had gotten involved in online gambling and were so caught up in it that they thought coming to my hotel was a good idea.
Alyssia and the baby.
All it takes is one thought of her and I’m dialing the number of the one man who taught me everything I know about personal safety and security. The man who my entire family trusts implicitly because he’s part of our family.
“Uncle Brutus, it’s Travis.”
“You do realize your face comes up on my phone, don’t you?”
I grunt at his sarcasm.
“I think I’ve got an issue.”
CHAPTER 21
