Page 51 of Trip

The second I heard his truck pull out of the drive, I turned to my mom. “He’s lying. Why would he lie?”

“I don’t know, sweetheart, but if you think something is wrong, you best go check it out.”

“I think you’re right.”

Chapter Nineteen

Trip

“Still think you should have let Sarah and Banks put in the new engine.”

I shook my head. “We talked about this, King. Right now, that engine is perfect. No one knows about it. The second we put it in the car, it’s game over. Ansel doesn’t have the cash for another one. Speaking of which, just where in the hell did you get that engine?”

King grinned. “Called Steel and Stone. They had no problem getting me one.”

“You mean those fuckers stole it?”

“Borrowed,” King chuckled. “They borrowed it.”

Rolling my eyes, I reached for my helmet and put it on.

“Alright. I want you to take it easy out there,” King ordered, slapping the driver’s side door. “Just a few laps to see if we missed anything.”

Nodding, I gripped the steering wheel, lightly revving the engine, feeling the vibrations roll through my body. It had been almost ten years since I sat behind the wheel of a racecar.

“It’s like riding a bike, Trip.” King smiled.

“This ain’t no bike, brother.”

The low rumble of the engine grew louder as I eased my foot onto the pedal. With each press, the car’s roar became more powerful, thrilling my senses. I could feel the vibrations of the car’s acceleration as it lurched forward, ready for the track.

The sound of the engine was music to my ears, a symphony of power and speed. I adjusted my grip on the steering wheel, feeling the car’s energy pulsing through my body. As I took it easy, preparing for the track ahead, the anticipation and excitement built with each rev of the engine.

I took the car for a slow lap, getting a feel for the power and handling. The engine purred beneath me, responsive and eager. I could sense eyes on me as my brothers, Sarah, and Ansel watched for any sign of the problem. But so far, so good.

It was like I had never been away from the track.

The car and I were one, an extension of each other.

“How’s the engine?” King shouted into my headset as I rounded the track once more.

“So far, so good,” I replied, my hands tightly gripping the wheel. “Everything sounds perfect.”

“Alright then,” King clearly said. “Open her up. Let’s see what she can really do.”

I didn’t need to be told twice.

“Alright, baby. Let’s have some fun,” I whispered as my heart kicked into overdrive. My foot pressed the pedal, and the car leaped forward, hungry for the open track. The engine roared to life; a beast unleashed. I flew down the straight, the wind rushing past me, the car responding to my every command. I took the corners with precision, the tires screaming in protest, but the car held fast, a testament to superb craftsmanship. Then I felt the first vibration.

As I pushed the car harder, the vibration grew stronger. It wasn’t the smooth purr of a well-tuned engine, but a worrying shudder that vibrated through the steering wheel and up my arms. I pressed down on the throttle, hoping to kick out whatever was causing the problem, when my heart lurched as I realized something else was wrong.

“King, I have a problem.” I spoke urgently into my headset as I tried to step on the brakes, only for my foot to go straight to the floor. My voice was tight with concern as the whole car shook harder. “I’ve got no brakes!”

“Take your foot off the accelerator!” King shouted into my headset.

“I already did, but the car is increasing speed!”

My heart hammered in my chest as I desperately pumped the brakes, but the car showed no sign of slowing. The vibration intensified, shaking the entire vehicle. I could hear King’s panicked shouts in my headset, his voice drowned out by the roaring engine. The straightaway loomed ahead, and I knew I had to act fast. With a deep breath, I wrenched the steering wheel, and the car went careening off the track, but the second the car hit the gravel, it flipped, sending the car and me hurtling into the air. My heart hammered in my chest as the car tumbled, the world a blur of sky and gravel. Then, with a jarring thud, the car came to a stop, upside down. For a moment, there was silence, the roar of the engine replaced by the rushing of blood in my ears.

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