by Bec Botefuhr
Surprisingly, I manage to come second, just sliding from third place in the last few seconds. Relief floods me as I slow my car and slump my head against the steering wheel. I’ve made a place in the final decider but it was by a split second that I managed to get it. I wasn’t in the race today and it shows. Slade won, of course he won, he always does. I wanted to beat him, or at least come close behind him. I have failed myself and my father.
I slide out of the car and my dad is staring at me with a confused expression. As he walks over I brace myself for his kind ‘oh well, you tried hard’ words that will only make it worse. If I drove like that four years ago, he would have my ass, but I haven’t seen fire from my father for years. He stops in front of me and crosses his arms across his chest, in a gruff voice he says, “What the hell was that?”
My mouth drops open in shock.
“I…my hand…I was angry.”
“Do you want to win this, Dash?”
“Of course I do,” I splutter.
“Then get your head in the game. Do you think I didn’t get taunted and picked on before races? It can’t get to your head. You let it then and you made it pass by a split second. You could have lost and had to wait until next year to try again. Is that what you want?”
His face is stern, hard and I can’t help but smile. I leap on him and wrap my arms around his neck. “Thank you daddy, I’ve needed you more than you know.”
“So it seems,” he grumbles. “I’m going with John to convince some sponsors you aren’t a waste of time. You’re going to stay here and learn this track backwards and forwards, without question.”
I nod, sighing. “Ok dad.”
“I mean it Dash, we’re coming down tomorrow and if you don’t know every turn, stone, line, hole and anything else on that track, I’ll have your ass.”
He gives me one last look, then turns and walks off. I’m still staring at him when Slade approaches me from behind.
“Are you ok, Dashy?”
I spin around and glare at him. “Go away, Slade.”
“What happened out there?”
“What happened out there?” I screech. “What happened was your father and you driving me to lose my game.”
“Me?”
“Are you stupid?”
His brows raise and he shakes his head, looking a little hurt. “What the hell is your problem?”
“Kandee is my problem.”
His mouth opens a little and then he curses. “Kandee is an image.”
“An image?” I cry, hurt.
“Yes, you know my father can’t know about us. It keeps him off my back.”
His words hit me like a sledgehammer to the heart. “We’re hiding again?” I whisper.
“Dash, you know…”
“Go away Slade, now.”
“Dash, come on, you know what he’ll do…”
I shoot him an awful glare. “When are you going to stand up for yourself Slade? I’ve been in the racing industry alone for four years now without my father’s help and with his problems following me around but I’ve survived. You don’t need him to survive, you just want him because you’re too scared to branch out on your own.”
Slade’s eyes turn icy. “You know nothing Dasha, nothing at all. You’ll see the wrong side to Michael, no doubt soon after hitting him, and you’ll see what it is I hide from.”
“I don’t care about Michael, Slade, I care about you and that bimbo!”
“It’s an image!” he growls.
“And you had to shove your tongue down her throat? You couldn’t just hold her hand. How would you feel if it was me?”
He clenches his fists. “I have to make it look real Dash, my father knows what I was like with her, if he suspects….”
“You know what Slade, just leave me be. I don’t care!”
“Dash, fuck, just listen to me…”
“Go away!” I snap.
“Fine,” he grumbles.
He turns and storms off and I sigh. I sit by my car and watch as slowly the crowd thins out. My father and John wish me farewell before leaving and soon enough, I’m alone on the track, still sitting beside my car sulking. I’m angry at myself, at Slade and at Michael. I hate that I am forced to hide my relationship with Slade once more. Well, that’s if there’s one left after what I said. I put my head in my hands and sigh. My dad wants me to do laps, but I’m starting to wonder if I have it in me.
“You made a mistake today, Dasha Jewel.”
The voice fills my quiet world and I jerk my head up to see Michael striding towards me. I feel my eyes widen, shit, shit, shit. This is NOT good. I’m alone out here, and it’s getting dark. He wouldn’t hurt me, he wouldn’t risk me telling everyone. He wouldn’t. He’s just here to warn me. I swallow and look up at him when he stops. His nose is swollen and has a white bandage type thing over it.
“Go away Michael, you’ll regret being here.”
He grips my shirt and hurls me up, slamming me against my car. I cry out and shove my arms out to try and stop him, but he’s too strong.
“Who is going to stop me? You?”
“I know what you are,” I spit. “I know what you do to him and I’ll make you pay if you touch me!”
He snarls his next words. “You go ahead and try, he deserves everything he gets. He won’t let you tell anyone, or you would have by now.”
Dammit!
“Get away from me.”
“You hit me in front of everyone and you honestly think I’ll go away. You put your hands on the wrong man Dasha, and you’ll pay for it.”
“If you hurt me, it’ll end your son’s career.”
He laughs and my blood chills. He grips my face and his fingers pinch my skin. I yelp and squirm.
“I won’t have my son’s career brought down by a girl such as yourself. You won’t say a word about tonight Dasha Jewel because if you do, I’ll not only bring you down, but I’ll share Colby’s little secret with the world. Imagine how that’ll look in newspapers everywhere. Man kills his own wife.”
“Slade was part of it too, you’ll only be ruining his career along with mine,” I cry, squirming again.
“Yes, but when everyone finds out Colby was drunk, who do you think they’ll blame?”
“You’re a monster!”
He laughs again. “Yes I am, you should know that by now. Or maybe you didn’t, because you made a mistake hitting me and I don’t tolerate mistakes.”
He brings his hand back and crashes it into my stomach. I scream so loudly my throat hurts as I feel my ribs being rammed backwards into parts of my body they’re not meant to touch. He hits me again, lower in my stomach now. My knees buckle and I beg him to stop. His fist comes down over my stomach three more times, then once over my breast and pelvis. When I’m on the floor in a heap, he looks down at me panting and seething.
“You say a word about who did this Dasha Jewel, I’ll end you and your father. Then I’ll end my son too, if you care about him or what’s good for your family, you’ll say you got bashed by a stranger walking home.”
Then he turns and disappears into the night. I sob and gasp for air. Pain radiates through me and I can’t get to my feet. I’m in too much pain. It burns. It burns so bad. Tears tumble down my cheeks as I struggle to pull myself up enough to open my car door. My phone is in there. I scream as I move, the pain is so intense. I grip the handle of my car and pull. The door opens and I stumble backwards, yelling in pain as I land on my back. I cry and grip my stomach, desperate for it to stop.
I manage to get myself back to the door and I reach in to grasp my phone from the seat. With trembling fingers, I dial Slade. I can’t dial my father or Payton, both will call the police and it’s too risky. Slade’s the only person who’ll keep this quiet. Suddenly, I know exactly how he feels and my earlier words to him haunt me. I should have never been so cold. I press the phone to my ear and wait. He doesn’t answer. I try again and again but he won’t answer. I decide to just text him and hope
he sees it.
D - I’m in trouble. At the track. Come soon.
I drop the phone and slump against the car, letting darkness take me for a moment.
~*~*~*~
“Dash? Wake up!”
I feel my eyelids flutter open and a scream escape my lips as Slade shakes me awake. He doesn’t realize the pain that his shaking is causing me.
“Stop, please!” I scream.
“Dash, what are you doing on the floor? What’s wrong?”
I look up at him and tears tumble down my cheeks as the pain slowly begins creeping back in and taking over my body.
“Slade, I need…I need the hospital.”
His eyebrow knit together and then as if realizing what’s happened, he jerks my shirt up. When he sees the bruising on my stomach, ribs and hips he curses so loudly I flinch.
“He fucking hurt you, he fucking hurt you!” he roars.
“Please, Slade, I need help.”
He leans down, trembling with rage and lifts me into his arms.
“When?”
“B-b-before.”
“Jesus Dash, fuck, I never thought…I never thought he’d hurt a girl.”
“I’m so sorry Slade, for what I said before. I was so wrong.” I whisper, leaning my head against his chest.
“It doesn’t matter, we have to get you to the hospital.”
“We can’t tell them what happened, he said…”
“I know,” Slade whispers. “I know we can’t but I can assure you Dash, one day I’ll make him pay for this.”
I shudder at the ice in his voice and close my eyes again as he carries me across the track to his car. When he puts me in the front seat, I whimper and clench my eyes shut.
“I know how much it hurts baby, I’m going to get you some help.”
“All that time,” I whisper with my eyes still closed. “You were living with this pain and I never knew. All that time, you were suffering. I could have never imagined the pain…the heart ache…until now.”
Slade doesn’t say anything, he just stares at the road as he backs the car out and begins driving towards the hospital. Mid-way there, he reaches across and takes my hand, gently stroking my skin with his thumb.
“I’m so sorry Dash, for everything.”
“It’s not your fault,” I whisper. “It’s mine.”
“It’s never your fault, do you hear me?” he barks.
“I shouldn’t have hit him Slade, I knew better.”
“He’s dangerous Dash, so much more than you know.”
Oh, I think I had more of an idea just how dangerous Michael Devaroe was now and it scared the hell out of me because I didn’t know the lengths he would go to, to ensure I lose at the big race next month.
Chapter Thirty
“Lucas!” I cry, grinning and leaping at my friend.
It’s been three weeks since that awful night at the track and I have recovered well. I’m grateful that I had time to recover for the semi-finals because I would have never been able to race with the damage done to my ribs. Lucas has finally come back after his time away, and seeing his face makes my heart swell with happiness.
“Dash! I’ve missed you!”
He swings me around and I giggle. “Me too, I’m so glad you’re back!”
He puts me down and looks over me. “I’m sorry I didn’t call, I just needed…”
I frown and put my finger up. “Don’t, you don’t have to explain anything.”
He grins and nods. “How are you feeling? Big race is next week?”
“I’m nervous,” I admit.
“You’re gonna kill it!”
I beam. “How are you feeling?”
His face twitches just a touch, but he keeps his smile. “I’m good, I have realized I’d rather my friendship with you to last, then I would to lose it over something so petty. I am moving on, I’ve accepted you’re with Slade and I will get over it. I don’t want to lose you Dash.”
I nod, biting my lip. “I don’t want to lose you either Lucas, thank you for coming back…I was so worried you wouldn’t and…”
He cuts me off with a finger to my lips. “I would never just leave you without a goodbye.”
I grin and punch his arm lightly. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Do you need a ride to the track?”
He looks over my red and white racing shirt and I smile. “That would be great.”
He leads me to his car and we begin driving to the track. Slade is working so I am going to do a few practice rounds. Dad has been onto me to get my ass into gear and get these corners perfect. I smile when thinking about dad, he’s come so far. He goes out a little more each day, usually it’s only to the track but yesterday he ventured to the grocery shop. I’m proud of him for that, because I know the effort he has to put in.
“So, what did you do when you went away?” I ask Lucas, then lean down to play with his radio.
“Just went and visited my brother in Sydney. It was good, I got my head cleared.”
“Oh, well, that’s great Lucas.”
He smirks and looks at me from the corner of his eye. “Don’t sound so convinced…”
“I am! I’m happy for you.”
He laughs and we begin singing along to the song on the radio. I’m so glad this hasn’t ruined our friendship. I was so worried he’d come back and things would be weird but they’re not. We talked a little on the phone over the past two weeks and slowly things got easier for us. Our friendship is everything to both of us.
When we arrive at the track, it’s quiet. I head over to the garage with my key and get my car out. Lucas follows, chatting to me about his brother and his wife as we walk. I laugh and joke with him a little longer before he tells me he has to get to work. With a quick hug, he’s gone and I’m alone to practice some more. I get in my car and start her up, then I begin doing some warm up laps.
I do lap after lap once the warm up is over and I’m onto my serious practice. It’s not often I can get down to the tracks to practice alone, but John gets me access a couple of times a week. I pick up my speed as I glide around the bends. I’ve learned this track, I know it in my head and slowly the corners are getting easier but they’re still so frustrating and I still can’t get them at a good speed. When I stop my car, I’m angry. I am practicing but I can’t get these corners perfect and until I do, I won’t get a good place in the race.
I get out of the car and snarl a curse, kicking the tire. Dammit, seriously, dammit. I hear a chuckle behind me and I spin to see Slade leaning against a pole grinning at me. Stupid beautiful man and his stupid beautiful grin. He saunters over wearing a black shirt, tight black jeans and a backwards cap. Damn him for looking so fucking perfect all the time. His aqua eyes twinkle as he approaches and wraps his arms around me. I huff and grumble at him, which only makes him hold me tighter.
“You’re so fuckin’ cute when you’re mad Dashy.”
“Shut up, Slade!”
“What’s wrong baby?”
“It doesn’t matter, you will only love it!”
“Try me.”
“I can’t get the damn corners!”
He slides his lips over my forehead. “They’ve always been a problem for you, eh?”
“Yeah, and I know you don’t care because it’ll mean you probably take the championship, but I can’t get them and it’s frustrating the hell out of me.”
“Now Dashy, I need a decent competitor and you’re the only one who will give me a run for my money, I need a good challenge so let me help you.”
I frown up at him and he kisses my nose. “You want to help me?”
He grins. “Yeah, I do. Come on, get in the car.”
“What?”
He opens my car door, slides in and shoves the seat back. He spreads his legs and pats the seat.
“Come on.”
“That’s dangerous Slade!”
“We won’t go fast, come on.”
I grumble and slide in the car, nestlin
g myself half on his leg and half on the seat. He reaches his arms around and grips my hands, placing them on the steering wheel. He rests his hands over mine, curling his fingers over so we have a good grip on the wheel. He reaches down, starts the car and whispers, “Let me move your hands Dashy baby, you just do as I ask.”
I nod, swallowing and tingling at his closeness. His breath is on my ear and his voice gives me shudders where shudders shouldn’t be.
“Get us moving, keep her at sixty for now.”
I put my foot on the accelerator and Slade moves our hands to change the gears. I let him have complete control over my hands, trusting him wholeheartedly.
“Let me see how you take the corner, just do it as you normally would.”
He gives my hand some slack as I approach the corner. I instantly begin slowing and my hand wobbles a little. He doesn’t say anything as I round the corner. When we get out the other side, he clenches his hands again and takes back control.
“At the next corner, do as I say ok?”
I nod, swallowing. We approach the next corner, and I let Slade take the control.
“Don’t let those hands shake, always look at where you’re going out, not where you’re coming in. Watch the exit Dashy.”
I stare at where the corner ends and focus on that. When I go to lower my speed, Slade tells me not to. With trembling legs, I keep my foot down. When we begin going around the corner I tremble a little but he holds my hands steady.
“Watch that exit, the car will go with you.”
I watch the exit and my mouth drops open as the car slides smoothly around the corner. Just as we’re coming out of it, Slade tells me to speed up. I press my foot down harder and the car glides beautifully out of the corner.
“Oh god, all along, that’s what I was doing wrong?”
“Always look at the exit, it helps. Now pick up the speed and try the next one a little faster. We won’t go over a hundred, we’ll keep it safe.”