at

oon sun, and I squinted past my sunglasses, already half-listening to the ping of updates on my encrypted racing b

s hu

ut nothing about this trip was supposed to be. My crew greeted me like I was a

access, and enough luxury vehicles to make a Formula 1 grid look like a used lot. They held it at a decommissioned airfield just out

as alrea

The engine purred like a lion in a cage. I ran my hand along the hood, lettin

erials that cost more than some people's homes. The helmet was blacked out, with onl

ed onto the tarmac,

antasies, some seasoned racers who had bet money they couldn't afford to lose. Cameras flashed, a

meone arrived. I believe it

air feel heavier. He stepped out like a ghost in steel. His helmet mirrored mine, faceless and

t. Not once. Not in three years. His name was synonymous with fear on the track. Not jus

to Vegas for a vacation.

voice echoed ove

n waiting for. The Queen of the Strip versus the Ph

med. Cameras wh

whole. My hands slid over the wheel like I was touching something sacred. The world o

ghts w

yel

en and I

s screaming against the pavement. Jules was there, always there like a shadow glued to my rea

e he hesitated by a millisecond. And toni

lames from the sidelines, the smell of burned rubber, and the deafe

ee, I took

orner, skimming the barricade by inches. My ca

owd ex

ple recording history with shaky hands. I kept my foot down. N

sed it

7 sec

drift before it stopped. My breath came in ragged bur

otherfucking undefeated legend

helmet. I raised one gloved hand to the crowd and walked away. Jules looked at

and disappeared

before I cou

o handshake. Typica

e else could do. An

marble floors, glass elevators, and cocktails that cost more than a pair of shoes. I sat at the corner table

g strong and didn'

confidence turned up too high. Rich, clearly. One had a dark smirk that didn't quite match his relaxed

sit?" one of

. "Vegas,

. I wasn't listening to the words. I just ne

ore than we

or names. They

gent. Just there. I didn't pull away. Instead, I grabbed his hand and led him to the dance floor. We danced, but I d

and there was a chopper waiting for us. He led me inside the chopper. The pilot didn't even bother looking at us. The man

s warm breath formed a trail along my neck. "I want to be

e I was a prize. "Wanna get married." He ask

?" I asked, an

an arrived with some documents, and we both signed.