Page 46 of Racing Dirty Trilogy Box Set

Izzy

I’m waiting in line until it’s my turn to qualify. My hands are shaking, and my heart feels like it will beat out of my chest. Someone’s already tampered with my car and I don’t know where they had a chance to unless they broke into Xavier’s garage and he didn’t tell me.

My mind wanders back to a few minutes ago.

We were having a good day, which has been very rare lately.

I honestly don’t know how Xavier has put up with my mood swings.

Then that bitch Lisa had to show up. I knocked her on her ass and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

I roll my neck on my shoulders, trying to ease the tension.

I can’t have any distractions out on the track.

I need to give it my whole attention or it can be a disaster for me.

I need to have faith that Nolan and Christian will watch Xavier’s back and not let him go off on his own.

The pit crew signals for me to pull up. I’m next, once the other two cars get off the track.

I close my eyes and redirect my focus from everything happening around me to my car.

The rumble of the motor vibrates through my body.

The intoxicating smells of the track overpower my senses and I open my eyes.

The pit worker signals to me that it’s my turn.

I shift into first and hit the gas. My car comes to life under my hands and growls in response. I pull out onto the track and tune everything out as I come into turns three and four. The familiar pull of the dirt under my tires relaxes me further as I shift from second to third.

I push on the gas and my car whines in protest. I shift again as I reach the straight away and the flagger drops the green flag.

I hit the gas harder, shifting smoothly in between.

My adrenaline is running through my veins as I come into turn one and two.

I release the gas, lightly brake, and turn my wheels hard to the left.

There’s a slight shake in the steering wheel, but I brush it off.

I press back onto the gas and pull out of the turn.

I spot Xavier on the sidelines. He has his eyes closed and he looks peaceful.

I reach the straightaway between turns two and three, I give my car more gas and shift again.

I enter turns three and four quickly and drift around the corners taking the inside.

There’s a slight shake again in the steering wheel.

The excitement from the crowd penetrates my mind as I drive by them.

Cheers erupt as I pass the only other car out here with me.

I soak it in for a moment and come into turns one and two again.

I quickly shift down, brake lightly, and crank the wheel hard to the left.

The tires protest under my command and another shake under my hands as I pull out of the drift.

Something isn’t right. I’m doing everything I can to keep my temper and car under control.

I pass by Xavier, noticing his stiff posture. His body is coiled with tension and his eyes focus on the crowd. Now I’m concerned something is wrong and it breaks my concentration as I enter turns three and four.

I oversteer the turn and lose control, taking the high side of the track.

The shaking is getting worse in the steering and my heart’s beating in my ears as I pull out of the turn and the flagger drops the checkered flag.

I’m pissed at myself for losing my concentration and those few precious seconds.

I’m pissed because there’s something else wrong with my race car.

I don’t stop in the winner’s circle instead, I drive right for the pits passing Xavier, Nolan, Christian, and some other cop dressed in a uniform.

I reach our trailer and unhook my safety harness with shaky fingers. I climb out of my car and rip my helmet off. I’m so fucking agitated, I can’t stop the vibrations thrumming through my body. I’m ready to kill someone.

Xavier, Nolan, Christian and another guy reach me as I crawl on the ground and check under the driver’s side tire of my car.

“Are you OK?" Xavier asks when he reaches me. I stand up and take a deep breath before I explode in a fury.

“No, I’m not,” I snap. So much for keeping control. “Something else is wrong with my car and you look just as pissed off as I feel. What the fuck is going on?" I try to calm myself down, but it’s not working. Xavier holds me to him, trying to calm me down, but that’s not working either.

“I thought I saw something in the crowd, but then it was gone. I tried to not show it, but I must have failed. What happened out there?" Xavier asks.

“My steering started shaking badly on the first and second turn. Then I lost my concentration and almost lost it in turns three and four. The shaking was worse on those turns.”I tell him. His eyes grow wide and Nolan is already jacking up the front end of my car.

“We’ll fix it,” Xavier tries to reassure me.

How in the hell can he be so calm? That just pisses me off further. This isn’t about my car, this is about everything that has happened in the last couple of months. All the stress, all the drama. Everything is now coming at me in full swing and I’m going to explode.

“This is not something that can be fixed, Xavier," I shout. “Someone is trying to fucking kill me, and you can’t keep me safe anymore. No one can keep me safe."

Once the words leave my lips, I regret saying them. Hurt crosses Xavier’s features, his eyes turn hard when they meet mine. He looks around the pits and spots Christian.

“Stay with her and don’t let her out of your sight,” he spits out at Christian.

“Where the fuck are you going?" I ask at his retreating back. He turns towards me, sadness in his eyes.

“I’m keeping you safe,” he says and turns back around.

“X, no. Don’t go anywhere by yourself.” I yell at him, but it’s too late. He’s already gone out of sight.

My heart’s hammering in my chest and my stomach is rolling over.

Tears stream down my cheeks and I’m helpless to stop them like I’m helpless to stop Xavier, helpless to stop these crazy psychos.

I yank my racing suit off and pull out my phone.

I dial his number and it goes to voicemail.

I try again, and it still goes to voicemail.

I hang up and look at Christian. He is watching me, his light brown eyes full of sympathy.

“Izzy calm down. There are eyes on Xavier and he doesn’t know it,” he tells me.

“What?" I ask.

“The people I brought are not just following you, they’re keeping an eye on him too." Relief floods my veins, but my anxiety is still high. I shouldn’t have lashed out at Xavier. I needed an outlet and he was right there.

“What did you find out?" I ask Nolan. He comes up from under the car, wiping his greasy hands on his jeans.

“Someone loosened your lug nuts on the driver side tire. I have them tightened back up and I checked the rest. You should be good to go.”

“Where are Mia and Ashley?" I ask Nolan and Christian. “They should have been here by now.” They both look at each other and Christian pulls his phone out from his back pocket.

“I don’t know,” Christian says.

My heart drops to my stomach. Christian dials Mia’s number but gets no answer. He hangs up and dials again, this time leaving a voicemail.

“Mia, it’s Christian. Where are you? Call me back asap.

" He hangs up his phone and glances at Nolan. Nolan shakes his head, and a silent communication passes between them. Rage flows through my veins. They’re hiding something and it’s pissing me off.

I stomp over to Nolan and get right in his face.

The edges of my vision are red, spots cloud my eyes. His eyes grow wide, watching me.

“Where the fuck are they?" I growl. My voice is low and deadly.

“I don’t know,” Nolan says.

“You’re fucking lying to me. Where. Are. They?" I demand. He doesn’t answer me but swallows hard.

“Izzy,” Christian says gently. I wipe around and pin him with a death glare. “Where are they," I scream. I’m so sick of everyone hiding shit from me.

“We don’t know," Nolan shouts back. “Fuck," he screams.

My phone rings in my hands. I look down and Mia’s name and picture flash on my screen. With trembling fingers, I answer my phone.

“Mia? Thank God. Where are you? Are you OK?"

There’s a cackle on the other end. The woman’s voice isn’t Mia's. I’ve heard this voice before and know exactly who it is.

Marie.

“Mia’s a little tied up right now. She’s fine but if you don’t come to me alone, she won’t be for very long. Neither will the other slutty blond with her. If you bring anyone else with you, they both won’t be pretty when they’re found."

Before I can get another word in, the phone disconnects. I drop my phone to the ground, unable to hold onto it any longer, fear pounds through my body.

“Who was that?" Christian asks, picking up my phone. I can’t answer. I’m too stunned to say anything.

“Izzy, who was that?" Christian demands.

I can’t speak, I can’t breathe, I can’t move. Fear paralyzes me. My two best friends are in danger because of me. Because of some psycho who hates me, who wants me dead.

I snap out of my trance and grab my phone.

Surprise crosses Christian’s face when I yank my phone out of his hands.

I run away from Nolan and Christian as fast as I can.

They try to catch me, but I’ve been a sprint runner for years and neither of them stands a chance.

I open the Uber app on my phone asking for a car to meet me as I outrun them.

My phone chirps in my hand as I reach the gates and run faster away from everyone.

I glance down and see a text from Mia’s phone.

A picture of Mia and Ashley downloads and my heart stops beating.

They’re both tied to a chair, their backs pressed together.

Mia is staring into the camera, fear in her eyes and her face coated with blood.

Ashley’s head is slumped forward, I can’t see her face.

Along with the picture is a set of directions where I need to go.