Page 145 of Off the Grid

“The first option needs to be taken off the table.”

“We need to be reasonable—”

“I am. My work stands for itself.” Andrew glances up at me and his nod says he agrees with what I’m saying.

There’s an unspoken code between drivers. We don’t talk shit about one another. We may not like each other, we definitely have heated moments, but we keep our dirt clean to the public. Infighting looks bad for the sport. Talking ill of fellow drivers even more so. And if you do, you risk losing any secondary support from that driver’s fan base.

“It does,” Ari says, drawing me back into the conversation. “But there are twenty seats at the start of every season. It’s rare for teams to cut drivers mid-season . . . but it has happened.”

I’m not going back.

I deserve to be here.

I’ve earned the right to be here.

“Noted.” It’s all I can say.

“I’m fighting. Just know I’m fighting for you like always.”

“Thanks.”

“And don’t be surprised if you see me at an upcoming race.”

“You?” I bark out a laugh. “Mr. Busy and Important?”

“That should tell you where you land on my list of priorities, Riggs. High.”

“Thanks, mate.”

“We’re going to do everything we can to keep you here.”

I end the call and rest my head back, close my eyes, and sigh.

Two warnings.

Two fucking warnings.

What if I fuck something else and get a third? What if—

“Teams like you, man,” Andrew says and waits for me to meet his eyes before continuing. “There’s talk going around. Teams like your grit and skill. It’ll come around, Riggs. It’ll come around.”

“Thanks. I appreciate the vote of confidence.”

“You’ve earned it. Hands down. And I’m not the only one who sees it.”

Let’s hope so.

Let’s fucking hope so.

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CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

Camilla

Nerves rattle through me.

Nerves I never anticipated I’d feel when I was sitting at the last race in Singapore and the idea for tonight’s adventure came to me.