She blinked, and her eyes flashed. There was a sudden shift in both her body language and the look on her face.
Her tone changed.
“And you and Ms. Angelini are?”
He blinked. He hadn’t meant to suggest that. He was about to sayno, but Carolyn didn’t give him the chance.
“Be careful, dear, a poor performance off the track can produce performance anxiety on it.”
She turned and was gone.
Dario came up behind him. “You okay?”
He shrugged. “Yeah, sure.”
He sounded doubtful because that’s how he felt. But then he thought of the upcoming race next weekend.
I’m better than okay.
I’ll be up on that podium. I might even come in first, beating Clarke and Anker.
He could. He knew he could.
He would.
Damn it.
CHAPTER TWELVE
NICO AND ROCCO
ROUND 1: RACE 1: LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
Nico’s heart was racing. She’d started #16 on the grid out of twenty drivers after qualifying yesterday. She kept reminding herself it could be worse, she could be last.
She’d passed one driver to move up to #15.
She wasn’t looking to finish in the top ten and earn any points. That was next to impossible at this point unless someone crashed. Besides, given this was her first race, no one expected her to—not even herself.
There were just two things she was praying for—not to lose her position, and not to be lapped.
Thank goodness she didn’t have to worry about the annoying, arrogant, asshole, prick lapping her. Rocco had started from #13. He was just up ahead. Right now, there was only one car between them.
She wondered if he’d ever started a race that far back. In fairness to him, he’d been unlucky during qualifying when two drivers slammed into each other and went spinning off the track. He’d narrowly escaped major impact, but not without doing some damage to the car.
Race Engineer: Nico, just keep doing what you’re doing. You picked up pace on this lap. Just be careful on the turn up ahead. Don’t look to make any move. Shepperd is coming up behind and might try to pass. Hug the corner as tight as you can and force him to pass on the outside if he makes an attempt.
Nico: Copy.
The turn was just up ahead. She could feel Shepperd’s car creeping up on the inside. There was no space for him. Did he think she wouldn’t or couldn’t hug the turn? Was he thinking she would give way and he would crowd her out? She’d move over and give him an engraved invitation?
Think again, she thought as she took the turn, hugging the inside.
Race Engineer: Good, Nico, good. Okay, you can push on the straight ahead. You’ve gained a second on the car up ahead. Let’s look to pass him on the next lap. Push. Push. Push.
Nico: Copy.
Nico went all out. The car was just up ahead. She was gaining on him. If she could just pass him, that would put her at #14—right behind the annoying, arrogant, asshole, prick.
