Frowning, I looked over to the screens. The StormSprint logo appeared before they showed a clip of Zolt’s bike veering off and him letting go, sliding onto the tarmac.
A crash, but nothing like the one where I had run. Crashing wasn’t rare, especially not during qualifying. They were all pushing to get the fastest lap in the time they wereallowed on the track — of course, they pushed the limits.
“Patrick sounds fuming,” he said. “So it’s probably best you get there to translate thoroughly.”
Dad smiled at me and nodded. “Enjoy. We still on for dinner tonight?”
As long as it wasn’t in the same restaurant as Imre, sure.
“Of course.” I kissed his cheek and dashed for the Veltar pit box. But as I turned the corner, I heard angry, unrestrained, Hungarian voices.
They expected no one to be able to understand them.
“You know what you are putting at risk here,” Benedek snarled. “Everything. You’ve got to stop doing this—you were setting the fastest lap. You were so close!”
“It’s this track!”
There it was. This French track was where Zolt’s fateful crash had been. This tarmac. These curves.
He’d promise he was fine. He’d told me he was excited to prove he was capable.
And he was. He’d nearly done it.
Nearly.
“It’s all in your head! I know you hit it, but, fucking hell. You were the MotoBike champion, Zolt. You’re ruining it all because your mind is elsewhere.”
“Don’t you dare blame her,” he snapped, and there was movement. At least a foot stepped forward. “This is on me.”
Shit.Benedek knew about us. The tears of happiness and relief that had fallen with Dad started to pinch at my eyes, but they were wound tight with guilt and panic.
I tried to count my breathing.
One…
“You’re right there. I can’t believe I let so much ride on you.”
Three…
“I can’t believe how much I trusted you.”
Five…
“You’ve pushed everyone else away because they’re worried they’ll see the real, miserable you.”
I rounded the corner, wagging an Everly-styled finger at him.“Benedek, fuck off.” I held Zolt’s arms, looking into his shocked face.“Are you okay? Did Patrick speak to you?”
Zolt’s confused frown took over his entire face. “When did you… Yeah, he shrugged it off. Things happen. It’s not like I’m injured or didn’t get out there at all. So far, I’m qualifying second.”
“Three years ago, that wouldn’t have been good enough for you,”Benedek sighed.“You were hungry for more. Driven. Now you’re distracted.”
He scanned me up and down with a curled lip.
Zolt looked between his brother and me and stepped between us to glare at him. “You’re sacked. You’re not my manager anymore. Go find some other mug.”
Benedek stilled, blinked, and then his top nostrils flared.“You’re going to ruin your career. Your family. All for her because she panders to your little emotions.”
“Funny—Zolt’s career survived you managing it. I’m sure he’ll be absolutely fine.”
