Race to Redemption (4 page)

Chapter Five

Chloe had her foot poised over the gas pedal as Seth relayed directions to her over the headset. They had left Brant cozy and safe in the hotel with Rueben to guard him. They didn’t need some nosy hotel staff putting two and two together and blowing the whole thing before they even got started. Chloe and Seth had snuck into the garage early to look over the car, and to get Chloe into Brant’s gear without being caught.

She took a few deep breaths as the flag man stepped up to his post. One lap to get up to speed, then ten laps at top speed, and then she was home free. All she had to do was get through the race in one piece in either first or second place and she’d have one of the prime starting positions.

Right, and while I’m at it, why don’t I win a beauty pageant and break into Fort Knox. Breathe, Chloe, just breathe. You’ve done this a hundred times. It’s the same as racing back home.

She glanced out the driver side window at car #34 and swallowed hard. Brant had originally been scheduled to race in the third heat but after his accident he’d been pulled from the roster all together. It had taken Rueben several hours on the phone with half a dozen officials just to get them back in the running but it meant Chloe was now driving in the last heat against the very driver Seth suspected was behind the sabotage.

“Okay Chloe,” said her brother’s voice. “Relax, get ready, here we go.”

The first lap was just like racing back at home and Chloe began to relax.
There are only five of us out here, no big deal. All I have to do is drive like I do on the track with Brant and Arthur and Freddie.

Once up to full speed Chloe had no time for thinking about home or anything else but the track in front of her and the words pouring out of her headset as Seth kept her up to date about the positions of the four other cars. She braced against the wheel, gritted her teeth, and threw herself into a corner at a dangerous speed, passing another driver who had braked for the turn. She whipped out of the corner like a stone from a sling shot and barrelled down the straight away. Seth yelled something that sounded like ‘be careful’ but she was already into the next turn.

The next words came through loud and clear. “You’re catching #34. Watch yourself out there.”

She zigged and zagged, darted and dashed, and kept her foot almost to the floor for the entire race. She jostled for position, back and forth, gaining ground only to lose it again as another car pulled ahead. She zipped around a dark blue car with an oil company logo plastered on the side and cut him off as she aimed for the next car in her path.

Once she had come up on the back end of another driver only to have him brake a little more suddenly than she was expecting. With her heart in her throat she cranked the wheel, taking the turn too tight for her speed. The car went sideways. Seth was screaming in her ear. The infield billboards filled Chloe’s vision and her heart nearly stopped.

She moved so fast she wasn’t sure what she did but brakes and gas pedals were pressed and the wheel was cranked and the next thing she knew she was going in a straight line in the right direction with only a slightly woozy feeling in her head to tell her she’d been stupid.

And Seth, of course, was more than willing to let her in on that little fact. “That was foolish, Chloe. If you get smashed out there we’re all in a lot of trouble with a lot of people. And Dad’s not the least of those. Watch it, okay?”

She was on the eighth lap and had her head too deep in the race to answer aloud but her thundering heart knew full well that he was one hundred percent right and she’d have to be more careful if she wanted to pull off this charade.

There were no more close calls, no more dizzying moments, no more angry words from her brother. There was nothing but the track in her windshield and the car roaring under her and around her. All drivers got tunnel vision when they were focused too hard on the race, that was why spotters were so important, it was just too hard for a driver to see everything all the time. Of course many drivers got so deep into the mindset that they even blocked the voice of their spotter.

Chloe ripped past the finish line as the checkered flag waved over her head. She braked, letting the car slow over the next half lap until she could safely take her hands off the wheel. Her whole body was shaking and she closed her eyes, breathing hard. She could hear Seth shouting in her ears but the words meant nothing to her.

I survived. I made it to the end in one piece. No one sabotaged the car, no one tried too hard to push me off the track. Maybe I can do this after all.

She opened her eyes, feeling steadier and more settled to find Seth was repeating her name over and over again.

“Yes, Seth, I’m here.”

“You won, you fool! You won! That was the fastest time in the heats. You’ll be starting in pole position for the big race in two days.”

She felt shock more than relief and suddenly the car felt too small. She climbed free of the car, remembering at the last moment that her helmet had to stay on. Nearby driver #34 was also climbing from his car and, to her horror, coming towards her.

Her heart started thundering and she started back pedalling towards the garage.

“Brant! Wait!” the other driver yelled and took off his helmet.

The world dropped out from under Chloe’s feet. Seth had called him Trey, Trey Williams, but Chloe knew something Seth didn’t. Trey’s middle name was Michael.

“Trey!” The man in the neat suit who had been talking with Trey after Brant’s accident came running over. He grabbed Trey by the arm and started shouting.

Chloe didn’t wait to see what the fight was about; she could get the gossip later. Right now she had to get the hell off the track.

* * * *

Once Chloe was safely, and comfortably, in her own clothes again she and Seth double checked that the car was stowed correctly in the garage and headed back to the hotel. There Seth relayed the great news to Brant while Chloe pulled Rueben aside.

“You know I was against Trey Williams today, right?”

He nodded. “Did he give you any grief?”

“None. But his manager had a few choice words for him after the race. I didn’t stick around to hear them so I thought maybe you could dig up the low down on it. Someone must have heard them and with Trey’s reputation I’m sure that someone would be willing to share.”

Rueben nodded. “Any reason why?”

“If they were arguing about Brant, or sabotage, it would be good to know about it.”

“I don’t think they’d be so stupid as to admit to wrecking another driver’s car at full volume on the track right after a race. But I will ask around and see what I can find.”

Chloe forced a smile. “Thanks Rueben. How was Brant today?”

“He’s a big baby, but the kid’s got talent. And from the sounds of it, so do you. You did a lot better than any of us were expecting. We might just pull this off.”

“Just be ready to make the switch after the big race, all right?”

* * * *

After a long hot shower Chloe stretched out on the bed to collect her thoughts. Seth and Brant had both been thrilled by her success but the discovery of her new friend, and lover's, identity was making it hard for her to be suitably excited. What would happen when he found out who she was? Would he dump her? Or use her to get rid of Brant somehow? Was she putting herself in danger, seeing him again? What if Brant or Seth found out she was seeing him? Brant would lock her away like he owned her. Seth would probably tell Brant. Could she keep it a secret from Trey? After all, he had lied about his identity, why couldn’t she lie about hers?

I am too tired and too stiff to think about any of this right now,
she thought and took a deep breath. As she relaxed her eyelids drooped and the next thing she knew she was running late for dinner. She grabbed clothes from her bag, dragged her brush through her hair, dabbed on some tinted lip gloss and called it good enough for dinner with her brothers.

With purse in hand she stepped into the restaurant in time to see Trey Williams walking up to her brothers' table. Ducking behind a couple at the bar she peeked at her brothers, waiting for the coast to clear.

Trey walked up to the Brant brothers, his hand extended. "Brant Bye. I wanted to congratulate you earlier but my manager had a few choice words for me and you disappeared so quickly after the race."

"He was pretty tired," Seth stepped in, grateful that Chloe had filled him in on the post-race happenings down on the track. "We came straight back to the hotel to rest up before dinner."

Trey nodded, tucking his unaccepted hand into the pocket of his leather jacket. "I'm surprised you raced at all today. I heard about the accident."

"It takes more than a faulty brake line to take a real driver out of the race. Remember that next time you want to mess with someone's car."

Seth kicked his brother under the table, careful not to hit the cast that was hidden from Trey's view. He forced a smile. "Not that you'd do that."

Brant glared at Seth then turned back to Trey. "Was there anything else?"

Trey glanced from one brother to the other, puzzlement creasing his face. "Did I do something to offend you? I only meant to offer my congratulations on a trial well run. I look forward to racing against you at the big run."

"Just watch yourself out there," Brant said. "I'm not afraid of you and I'll give you a run for your money."

Trey smiled. "Good. It's been a while since I've had any real competition out there."

As Trey sidled off Seth kicked Brant again. "Just what in Hell's name do you think you're doing?"

"Me? What about you? 'You'd never sabotage a car Mr. Williams, Sir.' Pah, why don't you go tell him how great you think he is?"

"Oh can it, Brant. I was covering your ass, nothing more. Were you trying to start a fight with him? Were you trying to tip him off? If he thinks he's been found out he'll try to silence you before you can go to the authorities."

Chloe walked up to the table, forcing a smile. "Sorry I'm so late. I fell asleep. I'm surprised you two didn't come in and drag me down here."

"I checked in on you," Seth said. "I thought you deserved the nap."

"Have you ordered?" She set down her purse and sat.

"Yeah, we have. You just missed our visitor." Brant reached for his water. "Trey Williams stop by to congratulate me on my win."

"It was just a heat trial," Chloe said. "Don't let it go to your head." But she was grinning from ear-to-ear.

The waitress came over with a menu but Chloe just ordered without looking and turned back to her brothers. "What else did he say?"

"He looked puzzled when Brant strongly hinted that he was behind the accident," Seth said.

"He's acting," Brant snarled. "I'm done talking about it, Trey makes me angry. Chloe, I watched the…" Seth's kick cut him short. "I watched the footage from the race and I want to go over it with you so you know what to keep an eye out for when you're spotting for me."

Chloe stole a sip of Seth’s wine and said, "Let's enjoy a celebratory dinner first, and then we'll get back to business."

Chapter Six

Brant kept her busy for two hours after dinner, going over the race footage and pointing out her every mistake in fine tooth comb detail. Finally she grumbled, "If I made so many damn mistakes how did I manage to win?"

"There were only five cars on the track, smart ass," Brant shot back. "The big race is going to be very different.”

“I can count, thank you very much. And I think I'm doing just fine out there. Big, bad, Trey Williams didn't even try to run me off the track today."

"That's because that kind of pushing is frowned upon during the heat trials. During the big race he'll have more opportunities to hit you and more cover when he does it. You need to be extra careful, and on top of your game. You'll need to go down and run practice laps in the morning before tomorrow's program starts."

"Get the time from Rueben," Chloe said. "I'm going to my friend's room for a few hours. We're watching a movie tonight and I'm almost late."

"What friend?" Brant asked.

"One with no connection to racing at all,
dad
. I just need to relax for a bit. I'll be up bright and early for the practice runs, I promise. See you later."

As the door closed behind her Seth said, "Don't you think you're being a little hard on her?"

"What if today was the best she could do? Those other racers were taking it easy out there; they'll kill her when she gets back on that track. Now they know she's got at least a little talent and they'll all try to rub her out before she can beat them."

"What if she does win?" Seth said. "How do we make the switch so you can claim the winner's goodies?"

"I don't know, Seth. But we have all day tomorrow to think of something."

* * * *

Chloe walked calmly to the elevator, just in case her brothers were watching her. She took the elevator up three floors and paused outside the door. With a deep breath she knocked. 'Mike' opened the door and smiled at her.

"Chloe, I wasn't sure you'd come. Your note said nine…"

"I'm not that late, am I?"

He laughed. "No, but after you just slipped away last night I wasn't sure if you were trying to brush me off."

"Why would I do that when I'm just getting to know you, Trey Williams?"

He frowned and sat on the bed. "You found out my name."

She nodded.

"You were at the race today?"

"Yeah, I was. You did really well. I know it’s just the placement heats and all, but still, second in your heat, third overall, it’s not a bad way to start."

"Wow, you actually know something about racing, other than ‘the cars go fast’.”

“I’ll take that as a personal compliment and not an insult directed.”

He forced a wry smile. “If only you’d met some of the women I dated who claimed to know something about racing.” He sighed. “You should have come and talked to me after the race."

"Sorry, my brothers were in a rush. I guess you drive a lot of races here in New York."

"I'm from Chicago and do most of my racing there but yeah, I race here a lot, too. I've gotten quite the reputation as a star, and a good-timing bad boy, so that's why I wanted to lie low last night. I didn't want to be swarmed by groupies."

"I'm not a groupie."

"I can see that. If I didn't know better, and I might not, I'd guess you were mad about something. Unless you have that bitchy resting face thing."

She stared at him, incredulous. "Do you even believe in that?"

"No. But I know a lot of girls who do. I never rule anything out."

"Well, rule that out."

"I guess that means you're upset then."

She nodded. "Oh, Trey, I don't know how to tell you this. I shouldn't be here."

His shoulders sagged. "You are brushing me off."

“NO! Gods no. Trey, I didn't think love at first date was possible but I don't think I'll ever find another guy as sweetly romantic as you. And you're a race car driver to boot, you don't understand just how important that is. It's just…."

"What? Chloe, if we're going to try to build a relationship then we have to trust each other."

“Like you trusted me enough to tell me your name sometime between kissing me and fucking me?”

The pain was plainly written across his face and it tore at her heart.

"I’m sorry, Trey. You’ve explained that and I do understand. I’m just confused and overwhelmed.”

“But you do want to be here?”

“Yeah, Trey, I do. We’ve got something, I don’t know how or why or even what exactly it is, but it feels good and it feels right and I want to find out more about it, and about you.”

“So trust me. I swear, whatever is bothering you, I’ll listen, without judging. I owe you at least that much.”

She took a deep breath and made a snap decision. “My last name is Bye. My eldest brother is Brant Bye. #75. I….he drove beside you in the trials today."

"Shit.” He ran his fingers through his hair in a motion that Chloe was finding familiar, reassuring, and adorable. “Your brother is Brant Bye. You know, that dude seriously hates me for some reason. And I’ve only met the guy once, and that was in the dining room this evening."

"Yeah, well he thinks he's got a pretty good reason.” Chloe muttered and took another deep breath. “He thinks you were behind his accident that first day."

"What? How could he think that?"

"You've got more than just a reputation as a star, Trey. You're the bad boy of racing. One-night stands with groupies, illegal street racing, wild parties…."

"What does that have to do with sabotage? And most of that is just rumour, I'll have you know."

"You haven't noticed that something always keeps the next up and coming racer off the track so you can win? Trey, there have been more bankruptcies and accidents right before one of your races than any other racer in many years, and always someone who could be a direct threat to your career."

Trey sat down hard on the bed. "Like your brother."

"Yes, like my brother. And if his placing first in the heat trials is any indication, he's at serious risk—if you're the one behind all this."

"What do you think?"

"What am I supposed to think!?” She paced to the door and he almost leapt up to stop her from leaving but she did a sharp one-eighty pivot on the ball of her foot and paced back. “I don't know what to think about any of this. I’ve known you for all of a day and I’m supposed to trust you over my brother? But it’s not my brother, really, it’s just rumour and hearsay. Just because Brant believes it doesn’t mean I have to. But there’s the fact that all those other racers really did run into problems and…"

"Chloe, forget rumour, forget your brother, do you think I did it?"

The question hung in the air for a long time and Chloe just stood staring at him feeling helpless and confused. Finally Trey got up and walked right up to Chloe. He didn’t touch her but the closeness of him was enough to melt her resolve and she began to tremble. “Tell me you didn’t do it, and I’ll believe you. I don’t know why, Trey, but I trust you.”

He laid a hand on her cheek, guiding her face upwards so he could look her in the eye. “Chloe, I have never tampered with another driver’s car. I did not touch your brother’s car.”

She nodded and swallowed hard. “All right, then it wasn’t you.”

He wrapped his arms around her and she sighed, relaxing instantly. “I guess this all explains why you had to slip away last night.”

“Yeah. My brother was pretty upset that I went AWOL yesterday. He was scared something had happened to me.”

“That sounds almost decent, nothing at all like the Brant I met tonight.”

“No, Seth was the one waiting up for me because Brant…” She swallowed hard.

“What about Brant?”

“Brant can be a real jerk, but I don’t like to talk bad about anybody so let’s just not talk about him at all.” She looked up at him with wide, pleading eyes and prayed that he’d buy her cover and drop the subject.

He smiled, suddenly all soft and romantic. “Not a problem. Do they know where you are tonight? Or will they be looking for you again?”

“I told them I was going to see a friend. I’m a big girl, that’s all they need to know.”

“Then I have you all to myself?” He ran his hands lightly down her sides.

“Yes, but only for a few hours.”

He started kissing her cheek and jaw but she squirmed away. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong, but it is my turn tonight.”

He cocked his head, looking adorable with the puzzled look on his face topped with slightly fluffy hair.

“I’m going to get to know every inch of you tonight, as soon as I’m finished in the bathroom. So go relax and I’ll be right there.”