Page 30 of Overtake
“But someone has to say ‘enough’ to his bullshit, Reece. You shouldn’t have to and Wyn wasn’t there to do it.” Which is interesting. Where is the Pritchard prodigal?
Cin’s chewing her lip as she follows me to my room. “Does it have to be you?”
“No, Cin, but it just is.” I close the door and drop my bag. “I didn’t choose this fight. But I sure the fuck won’t let Wyn and Graham run over me.”
“Even if going to war costs you everything?” Her worry is written all over her face, and I love my cousin that much more.
I give her a huge hug. “It won’t.”
I hope.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The FIA investigation into the “incident”at The Blue Wall has concluded and they’ve apparently found Nico and Petra at fault.
Sort of.
“Qué mierda,”Nico mutters, rereading their official notice on Heinrich’s phone. It went to everyone in management on PNW Nitro and WolfBett Racing teams. Twelve hours of community service. With Petra. Starting at Austin’s premier karting facility.
His first thought? The championship, because this takes away from race prep. His second thought is that the FIA’s priorities are wrong. This before the race incident review? Bullshit. Makes no sense. His third thought iswith Petra.
“They can’t be serious. Community service?” Junior’s voice echoes in the garage, and Nico’s automatically more irritated because it means the FIA includes thatpedófiloamong WolfBett’s management.
But he keeps his eyes on Heinrich’s screen and doesn’t react to Junior. Even after all these years, the urge to break something—preferably thatcabrón’sface—rises whenever he hears the man’s voice.
“Could be worse.” Heinrich switches to German because Junior never bothered to learn anything other than English. “Could be stuck doing publicity with that asshole, instead.”
Nico snorts.
Marcus strides into the garage, Victoria close behind. “Nico. Wyn. Meeting. Now.”
Nico pushes away from the engineering station and follows their team principal across the paddock and into the conference room in the team’s business unit.
Wyn slouches into a chair. There’s a yellow-green hue around his eyes and nose today. It makes the black-and-blue bruising stand out. He’s trying for indifference but not quite hitting it. There’s something too raw in his expression, and Nico feels a twinge of regret for alienating his teammate. Though that’s Wyn’s damn fault for being a dick.
Junior sprawls beside Wyn, radiating entitled confidence, and Nico’s about to tell the fucker to get the hell out, but Marcus raps the table for attention.
“The FIA’s decision is final.” Their TP looks annoyed, probably irritated that this’ll take Nico away from race prep. “Twelve hours, split over the next three race weekends. Youth karting instruction and safety awareness.”
“Including drunk driving prevention talks.” Victoria’s tone is desert-dry. “How appropriate.”
“This is such bullshit.” Junior’s yapping and scrolling through his phone. “Everyone knows what really happened. Some people just can’t handle?—”
Graham Pritchard enters the room. Fake smile, expensive suit. He’s overdressed for the paddock. “Having a team meeting without me?”
Nico hates this fucker, too.
Graham closes the door. “Discussing our response to this inadequate decision, I assume.”
Junior tries to mirror Graham and fails. He’s always trying to impress the wrong people.
Wyn’s shoulders square and his chin lifts, but that rawness doesn’t leave his face. Instead, it gets harsher. He’s pissed off at his father and can’t hide it.
“The FIA’s ruling is final,” Marcus repeats. “We’re moving forward professionally.”
“Of course.” Graham sits. “Though I do question the precedent this sets. Community service for witnessing anaccident?” He shakes his head, and Nico’s bullshit meter is spiking an eleven. Which is normal where Graham Pritchard is concerned. “Makes one wonder about the message we’re sending to younger drivers.”
“The message is pretty clear.” Junior tries for reasonable but just sounds snide. The idiot’s as smooth as a gravel trap. “Some people can’t handle real racing. Right, Wyn?”
