“You ready?”

I nod. “Oh, I was ready yesterday.”

He backs the car out, and she’s literally shaking with the power that’s stacked under the hood. When we’re out onto the street, Tazen lays his foot down and we fly forward. I scream happily and press my hands to my knees as we zip past the cars driving at a normal pace. Tazen takes us out of the city and down a long highway. The car shows its true speed when we’re on the open road, she grumbles and soars, like every good car should.

Like at home, Tazen starts leading me to the back streets. I realize he’s taking me to a racetrack when he pulls into a large space loaded with people. This must be where he used to race. It’s heaps bigger than the one at home, and it’s impressive. Lights, people, cars and all the good things a decent racetrack should have. Obviously this isn’t legal racing, but I don’t care. I don’t live here and I’m up for an adventure.

Tazen takes the car down a side road and we pass a few other cars that are lining up to go in. We reach the gates and a man comes out, walking towards us. Tazen lowers the window and the moment the man sees him, a smile lights his face. “Tazen fucking Watts. No way!”

“What’s up, Doug,” Tazen says, putting his hand out and shaking Doug’s hand.

“Fuck all, bro. What brings you back to this side of the world?”

“Visiting my garage. You gonna let me race tonight?”

My heart rate accelerates. Race? Tazen’s going to race? Oh god.

“Yeah, fuck yeah. Always got a spot for you. Line up, fourth bay.”

Tazen nods and shakes his hand again, then we drive down to where all the cars are lining up. I turn to him when we stop. “You’re going to race!”

He grins. “No, baby. You’re going to race.”

I stare with wide eyes. “P-p-p-pardon?”

“You heard me. You said you’ve always wanted to get behind a wheel of one of these, now is your chance.”

“No,” I say quickly. “I’m not driving this. I don’t know how to drive this. I’ll crash it and … no.”

Tazen reaches over, curling his fingers around the back of my neck. “You won’t crash it and you’re going to do some warm-up laps. You can’t go wrong with this, angel. You lose, it doesn’t matter. You win, great.”

“I’m not driving this car.”

His grin turns wicked. “Oh yeah, you are.”

“I can’t.”

“You can.”

He gets out and walks around to my side. “Slide over, we’re taking her for a few rounds.”

“Tazen, no,” I stammer.

He reaches in, lifts me and throws me across the seat. “You’ll never get another chance like this, Quinn. You’ve got it in you, you’ve been around cars all your life. You know how to handle them. Now, start it up.”

He slides into the passenger side and tosses me the keys. I catch them but I can barely breathe through the nerves. “I don’t know…”

“No more hesitation. Start her up.”

I turn and slide the key in, then I kick off my heels and start her up. The engine rumbles to life and my nerves hum in excitement. Oh God, he’s really letting me do this. He’s letting me race his car. Suddenly, I’m a bundle of excited energy. I listen as Tazen goes through everything about the car. I nod and then turn to face the front.

“It’s your time to shine. Away you go.”

He sits back in the chair and I edge the car forward. I can feel the power beneath me, and my heart starts fluttering harder. I slowly pick up speed as I pull onto the racetrack. There are only two other cars doing warm-up laps, so it’s basically all mine. I hit the first two corners quite slowly, scared to let it go and give this car what I know it wants.

Speed.

“Come on, put your foot on it,” Tazen encourages.

I take a deep breath. Then I press the gas pedal to the floor. The engine sparks to life and the car lunges forward. With a happy squeal, I press down further. The loud rumbling fills my ears as the car starts getting faster and faster.

“You know how to take a corner, Quinn,” Tazen yells over the sound. “Slight brake in, but always accelerate out.”

I do as he says, and take my first corner beautifully.

“Fuck yeah, baby!” he shouts.

My adrenaline builds and I pick up speed, taking the corners like a pro. Tazen is laughing beside me and my chest is full of excitement. I’m pumped up and happier than I’ve been in such a long time. When we reach the start, we go around again. This time I get faster. I’m concentrating hard now, trying to memorize the corners as best I can.

When we complete the second round, I pull up and turn to Tazen. “Oh my god!” I scream. “That was amazing.”

“It’s about to get better. The race is starting.”

Suddenly, I feel sick. Tazen must notice because he leans over and makes me look at him. “You’re a natural, baby, give it all you’ve got.”

Then he gets out of the car.

Wait, he’s not coming with me?

He walks around to my side and I lower the window. He’s about to lean in when we hear a familiar voice. “What the hell are they doing here?”

Tazen turns and I look past him to see Sheyenne storming over. Great. Just great. I push the car door open and get out. We don’t have long before the race starts. Sheyenne gives me a once-over, and then stops in front of Tazen with her hands firmly planted on her hips. “You’re going to let this,” she waves a hand at me, “amateur drive one of your cars, but you won’t give me a damned new one!”

Tazen steps up in her face. “That girl right there has more respect and talent in her pinkie finger than you do in your whole body, Sheyenne. I’d give her a thousand cars before I’d ever give you one again.”

Her eyes flare with anger. “You will be giving me one, Tazen. I’ll make sure of it.”

She has the nerve to threaten him. She has no scruples.

“We’ll see about that,” he growls.

She opens her mouth to say something else but the beginning of the race is announced. She glares at me and hisses, “I’ll have the time of my life smashing your little girlfriend here off the track.”

Anger bubbles inside me. I really don’t like this woman. “I’d love to see what you’ve got,” I say.

She laughs, flicking her hair back. “Oh, you’ll see what I’ve got. I have a new car, and it’s amazing. Nothing like that piece of shit you’re driving.”

She did not just insult Tazen’s car.

“Funny,” I say, my voice smooth. “It’s these pieces of shit that you’ve been begging for since Tazen flicked you off his shoe.”

Her chest puffs out. “You better watch yourself out there, bitch.”

I smirk at her and she turns, storming off. Tazen turns to me, his eyes suddenly worried. “I don’t trust her, Quinn.”

I take his hand, squeezing. “You have to let me do this now, Tazen.”

He sighs. “Fuck, yeah, I know I do.”

I lean forward, pressing a kiss to his cheek. “I’ve got this.”

God, I hope I’ve got this.