by Eden Connor
“What crawled up his ass and died?” Colt cocked his head. “Barnes might as well have handed you that ‘Cuda. Drag racin’s about three things, the car under you, a good start off the line, and smooth, fast shifting. You’ve got him beat before y’all even get to the strip.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” Marley stalked toward us. “Me and Jamie backed your play.” Her dark-ringed eyes flamed with anger. “You might’ve forced George to do something about Barnes with that highbrow message, but what’d you do? Peeled off to pursue your own grudge. So much for Make Mine Heroic.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Or was this about you all along?”
Chapter Thirty-Two
When the elevator doors slid open, I stepped into the tiny box, dredging up the courage to meet Caine’s eyes. “I don’t know if I can do this without crying.”
“You will, though. You always think you can’t do a thing, then you just go out and handle it.”
What kind of game was he playing? My stomach knotted when the door closed. Now, he’d yell or punch the wall, when I couldn’t run away. “Just get it over with, Caine. Tell me how stupid I am to race Barnes again.”
He scrubbed his hands across his face. “It’s your car, your bet, and your ass on the line. I don’t have to like it. All I have to do is fine-tune that Audi till it runs like a scalded dog.” I noted the tension around his eyes and the way he clenched and unclenched his fists.
The panel with the buttons was within reach. Either of us could reach out and touch it, but neither did. I waited for the other shoe to drop.
He scowled and rolled his neck. The snap and crackle of tension resounded like gunshots inside the close space. He didn’t focus on my face, but on a spot over my left shoulder. The knot in my gut drew tighter.
“We’ll talk, okay? Right now, let’s just get through this visit with Dad. I need your help to do that.” He moved his gaze to my face. “I don’t know what you’re lookin’ for out of this. I don’t know what you think we should be.” He snorted. “But, I shoulda known you wouldn’t give me time to get bored.”
Tenderness washed away the storm in his eyes. He wasn’t going to be a dick? He spread his hands. I flew into his arms, holding on for dear life. He pressed one big palm between my shoulder blades. With the other, he cupped my ass, pulling me closer. My heart... hearts shouldn’t do what mine did. It expanded, contracted, and sprouted wings, all at once. His gentle kiss to the top of my head nearly forced open the waterworks I fought to stem.
Mom darted into the corridor as soon as she caught sight of us. “How’d it go?”
“Someone lost their temper.” Caine massaged my neck. “She’s racin’ Barnes again come Sunday.” He managed a half grin. “Redheads. What’cha gonna do?”
“Shelby, no!” Mom wailed. “You’re graduating Sunday.”
“The race isn’t till midnight. I have to do this. I can’t just let the asshole keep talking shit about Dale.”
“But, I went to all the trouble to plan you a party.”
A party? When Dale was in a coma?
“Better cancel now and avoid the rush later.” I was in no mood for her bullshit. Not tonight. Mom’s mouth fell open, but Caine tugged me toward the double doors.
“We’re goin’ to see Dad.” He pulled up in front of the double doors and slapped a big button on the wall I hadn’t noticed. The doors wheezed open and we stepped through. The waiting room and corridor were cool, but the Intensive Care Unit rivaled any freezer in any restaurant where I’d ever worked. Shivering, I paused at the nurse’s station.
“We’d like to visit Dale Hannah, please.”
“Room three-oh-four. Ten minutes, no longer.” The nurse pointed toward the overhead signs with room numbers. Dale’s room was to the left.
I can’t cry. I won’t cry.
Caine pushed the door open. “You’re gonna be pissed at all you’re missin’, old man. Let me see... first, there’s the big family news. Your oldest son is officially datin’ your daughter. Who, by the way, is gonna make a fine front man for the new team. She took the job out for a practice lap today. I don’t think George is gonna sleep too good tonight.”
Liar. George will sleep just fine.
A thick tube disappeared past Dale’s colorless lips, held closed by two strips of clear tape. Another, smaller tube ran down one nostril. I gripped his hand, unsettled by the coolness of his skin.
“Hey, Daddy.” Had those silver threads at his temples been there the night we’d gone to dinner with Robert’s father? I didn’t think they had. Pressing the back of my hand to my lips, I cast Caine a desperate glance.
“Dad, you shoulda seen her.” Caine tugged a chair close to the hospital bed. “She’s everything you said she’d be, and then some. Lit old George up like a Christmas tree. But, here’s somethin’ I never saw comin’. She even got David eatin’ outta the palm of her hand. I swear, he’s thinkin’ on joinin’ the new team.”
I knew in my heart, my speech had come up short. Nothing I’d said had resonated with the crowd. All they cared about was racing—and the grudge match with Barnes.
“David?” I found looking at Caine much easier than looking at the tubes running down Dale’s throat and nose. “I thought he was a foregone conclusion?”
The machine at the head of the bed made a sighing noise that drowned out the slow beep, beep of the heart monitor. I followed the power cord to the wall plug. Dale’s life hung by that slim thread, thanks to a decision I’d made.
Now that my anger had receded, the folly of what I’d done jumped out at me. I’d challenged the owner of fucking NASCAR. Had agreeing to the bet let George off the hook? I hated to admit it, but Marley was probably right.
Caine snorted, slouching in his chair. “Hear that?” He made an exaggerated sigh, turning toward me. “Why would David leave Ridenhour? Not only is he Barnes’ car chief, he’s sittin’ in the catbird seat. The minute Dad walks out the door with half the crew, Richard will let Dave write his own check. More’n we could pay him, for sure.”
“Oh.” I should’ve seen that coming. I smoothed Dale’s hair again, trying to avoid looking the monitor that was spewing out minimal vital signs.
“Well, if you want him, Daddy, he’ll listen to our offer.” Please wake up and tell me what to do now.
“Hear that, old man? That’s the other big recruitment news. She got us anyone off the crew that we want, actually, but I’m takin’ full credit for gettin’ us Shelby.” Caine curled an arm around my waist. “Full time. You need her? After Sunday, she’ll be in town.”
I cleared my throat, unwilling to let Caine do all the heavy lifting. “Listen, we have a lot to do when you wake up. While you’re getting back on your feet, you and I will nail down how we want to build the House of Hannah. I know what I want for graduation, too. We’re repainting mine and Caine’s room. Maybe even a new bed. Carpet, drapes, the whole shebang.”
I teared up, but choked out the rest. “And, when Valentine’s Day rolls around again, we’re going to kick ass and take names. So, you need all the rest you can get. No bad dreams, okay? Just good ones, Daddy.” I leaned down to press my lips to Dale’s pale, stubbled cheek. Unable to fight the tears one more second, I whirled and dashed for the hall.
“What she said.” Caine got to his feet and followed me out the door. I couldn’t stop my tears. I fell against the wall. My sobs came in great, gasping breaths that wrenched my insides all the way to my hips.
Caine pulled me against him. While I gripped his shirt, he massaged my shoulders. I choked and sobbed and waited for him to shush me, or worse, lie to me and tell me everything would be okay. I bawled and blubbered and some part of me expected him to ask me to stem my tears for his comfort. He rubbed the tense knots in my neck and shoulders and said nothing.
At last, I swiped the backs of my hands across my eyes. “Take me to the bus.”
He extended a Kleenex I could only suppose he’d plucked from the box at Dale’s bedside. I blew my nose
and hiccupped. Tucking me against his side, he helped me to the elevator. Mom had gone, thank God.
The cheers from the fans along the fence barely penetrated my numbed brain. I stumbled up the bus stairs.
At the top, I blinked. And blinked a second time. Every drop of blood in my body drained to my toes. Has he come to confront me? My head swam while Richard Ridenhour moved down the center of the bus, adjusting the Hannah-Built cap covering his thick silver hair.
“I got one thing to say and then, I’ll get outta your way, Shelby. I been runnin’ Hannah-Built engines in my cars for over twenty years, long before Dale picked out a snazzy name for ‘em. This hat?” Rick jabbed a finger toward the brim. “It’s my honor to wear it.”
Richard bowed his head, then lifted it again. The tears in his eyes rocked me to the core. “George threw me under the bus tonight. I been on his ass for three years to do somethin’ about Kolby, somethin’ that didn’t leave my ass—all of our asses—hangin’ out in the wind. But the person who had the best reason to go for my throat, well, let’s just say, I’m goddamn glad you done the talkin’, honey, and not Colt.”
He extended a hand. After a moment, I shook it. He held on when I’d have let go. “Don’t be mad at Doris. She had no way of knowin’ you’d handle a press conference better’n you handle a gear shift. Dale’s gonna be real proud when he comes to.” He patted my shoulder. “You drop kick Barnes into the middle next week, come Sunday, you hear me?”
Sorrow drew the team owner’s face into deep lines. This was how honorable competitors acted. They raced hard, and then gave credit to the competition for making them step up their game.
“Thank you, Richard. I’ll do my best.”
“Thanks, Rick. Hat looks good on you.” Caine pumped the team owner’s hand. Richard disappeared down the bus steps. Caine pulled out his cell phone and scrolled through his messages. He tucked the phone away, only to remove the card Niles had given him. I tensed, waiting for an argument to begin.
“The video of the fight is key, if you want to keep the pressure on England.” Phillip dragged my attention from Caine. “Kolby’s lawyer will go after the IP address, and when he finds it, he’ll send a letter designed to intimidate whoever made it into taking it down. Until a judge rules that it’s too inflammatory—and that may happen at some point in the future —every hit it gets can only help your cause, so I’m offering my services—to your family—as well as to the owner of that video.”
“Yeah. Okay. Thanks.” Caine slid the pair of business cards Phillip gave him into his shirt pocket—behind the one from Niles. “I think I know who whipped his cell phone out.”
Just a peek of the German’s card made me tense. Jonny and I had to come clean.
“We’re gonna bounce.” Harry tugged me into an embrace. “But, you’re not sitting in this miserable place alone. I’ll be here in the morning as soon as Phillip leaves for the office.”
My throat tightened. “I’m leaving for Spartanburg in the morning. I’m going to take my exams tomorrow and Tuesday. I have to be here Wednesday when they bring Dale out of the coma.” I rubbed my forehead against his shoulder. “It’s not like I’m going to study. Might as well get them over with.”
The bus doors closed behind them. “You’re staying here tonight, right?” I pleaded with Caroline.
“As long as you need me.” She opened her arms.
I staggered forward, squeezing her tightly.
She gathered my hair into a pony tail. “I don’t think Barnes knows where that ‘Cuda is, but oh, my God, if he does, can we have sex on the hood?”
“Of course.” Which reminded me. “Where’s Colt?”
Jonny wouldn’t meet my eyes. When I glanced at Caroline to see if she knew, her eyes swam with tears.
“What’s wrong?”
Caine moved in behind me, gripping my shoulders in an attempt to steer me toward the rear of the bus. “Tomorrow, Shelby. Let it go.”
Jerking free, I seized Caroline’s hand. “What’s wrong?” I squeezed her fingers. “Tell me.”
Caine sighed. “Colt’s talkin’ to Marley and Jesse. Marley went out on a limb for you. And, well, she might be pissed that she didn’t get the memo to wear purple.”
Fuck me. Not her again. Caroline’s stricken expression cut me to the core when I was already bleeding out. Was Marley why Caroline had been in tears at the press conference? “I don’t give a red-hot damn about Marley Taggert,” I whispered. “We’re Hannah-Built.”
“Yeah. I hear you.” She held out my phone. “Caine and that weirdo friend of yours are right. You look tuckered out. Go on to bed.”
When she held out my phone, I gasped. “I forgot the iPad.”
“I’ll buy him another one.” Caine plucked my phone from Caroline’s hand. “You’re not going back out there. We have bigger problems.”
Jonny pointed to the kitchen counter. I sagged with relief when I spied the expensive tablet.
“That’s the awesome thing about having a spotter. They’re always watching your back.” Jonny’s upbeat tone didn’t jive with the looks he darted toward Caroline and Caine.
Damn that bitch. Who the hell is she to fling a fit over anything we do? I didn’t like to admit it, but without knowing what Dale had told Jesse, I could be making promises I couldn’t keep. Judging from the pain in Caroline’s eyes, she knew that.
“Tell me how you know the Director of Racing for Audi and I might let you have your phone.” Caine stuffed the device into his back pocket, then parked his ass in one of the captain’s chairs. He thought I had the energy to fight him for it? He squinted at the card he pulled from his shirt pocket. “Excuse me. Director of Racing for Audi and Porsche.”
Jonny led Caroline to the row of seats behind Caine. The chairs were arranged in two staggered rows of three for watching the widescreen, but Caine swiveled his chair to face Jonny and Caroline.
I plopped into the one on Caine’s left with a sigh. The chair rocked, and it tilted like a recliner, too. All I wanted was to crawl under some clean sheets and sleep for a week.
Instead, I had to talk about a day I’d rather forget.
“I met him through Ervin.” I explained what happened after I stopped for gas the day of Ernie’s funeral. “I wasn’t into racing that day. I just blew off the last heat and left. Jaeger thinks I’m a joke, a party girl. Then, later that evening, I ran into Jonny, who’d come to town to talk to Jaeger.”
“What the fuck?” Caine’s expression darkened. “You know this guy, too?”
Remember the cousin I told you went to Converse, Mihn Le?” Jonny tipped his chair back, like he knew this would take a minute.
Caine’s expression went blank, but I nodded. “You mentioned her at the party. Caine might’ve had been bouncing a tire and rim like it was a tennis ball at the time.” It felt like Christmas had happened a decade ago.
“So, she’s the worst driver on the planet. Six wrecks in three years, every one her fault. My uncle signed her up for that defensive driving class they offer at the Audi plant’s Visitor’s Center. He takes her over in his car. Hers is in the shop, thanks to another fender-bender. He hoped they’d have a car for her to drive, but they don’t do that, so he had to stick around.”
Jonny yawned so hard, I heard his jaw pop. “’Scuse me. Anyway, at the halfway point, they break for lunch in the executive dining room. He’s using the restroom when he overhears two guys talking about how Audi’s in hush-hush discussions with NASCAR. My uncle recalled one guy’s name because it sounded like liquor.”
Caine’s gaze remained riveted on Jonny, who plowed ahead. “I Googled the dude, found out it was Niles. Then, I conned a secretary into telling me where he was staying, which turned out to be the hotel where Shelby works. I went to talk to him about Hannah-Built. I know Dale told Toyota to stick their money where the sun don’t shine, but he’s not real impressed with Ford and he’s not a Chevy man, either. This guy was our best chance.”
“When did you g
o see him?” Caine demanded, but Caroline slung out a hand, slapping the back of her fingers against my arm.
“Oh! Remember I told you, Dale called me over to the garage Shelby? Well, that German guy showed up before we finished. Dale didn’t introduce me or nothin’, but when the man said his name, I thought the very same thing.” She giggled. “Sounded like Jägermeister.”
Caine thumped the edge of the card several times, scowling. “So, let me get this straight. Audi wants to put a team in NASCAR. Dad’s talked to the dude. You’ve talked to the dude. Shelby’s raced him. He sure gets around for someone in the middle of a negotiation that bein’ kept under wraps.”
He gave Jonny a hard look. I tucked my legs under me, figuring my ass chewing was coming next. “And if that ain’t coincidental enough, he just happens to show up here in time for Kolby to challenge her to another race? I mean, there I was, thinkin’ how odd it was that this random dude just happens to offer to be the neutral party, and yet, Barnes doesn’t even ask nothin’ of this guy before he agrees? Anybody else feel set up?”
“Fuck me sideways.” Jonny ran a hand through his hair. “Kolby didn’t ask his name, did he? So, Jaeger and Barnes know each other? If she loses that car—”
“Exactly. I’m just a country boy, but I know bullshit when I smell it.” Caine closed the footrest on his recliner with a snap. “Fucker can buy sixteen goddamn new R8’s with four million bucks and still have more pocket change left than I’ll earn this year. That’s assuming he knows where the ‘6k ‘Cuda is, and can even touch it for four million. He didn’t wait two years to get that R8, either. More like six weeks.”
“Oh, my God.” Caroline slapped a hand over her mouth.
Jonny took Caroline’s hand. “Tell me you sent in that patent application already.”
