She took a long sip of her wine before responding. “I don’t really know. I haven’t had to deal with them too much. I’ve only spoken with a couple of reporters long enough to say, ‘no comment.’ ”
“It’s a wonder any of us can even get close to you. Our security is a hell of a lot different than yours. Brian and Liam have you monitored like Fort Knox,” Jordan said, laughing. “I can guarantee that there won’t be any nooses hanging in your garage.”
Gonzo frowned and elbowed Jordan hard in the ribs to shut him up.
Colby’s smile faded as she glanced around the table. “What? What’s he talking about?”
If looks could kill, Brian would have murdered Jordan with his stare down. He turned to Colby. “We’re just taking extra precaution with everything going on.”
“What’s going on?” she asked, genuinely confused.
Jordan’s big mouth killed their entire vibe, and now, Brian was forced to explain. “They found a noose in Bubba Wallace’s garage.”
Her face turned ashen. “Are you kidding?”
“I wish I were. But you don’t have to worry.”
Colby swallowed hard as she asked her dad, “H-has anything like that happened in our garage?”
Cyrus glanced at Brian before responding. “We won’t let anything happen to you.”
“That’s not the same as saying no,” Colby said.
“We have around the clock security monitoring all things Lockwood,” Brian assured her.
“As far as I know, there hasn’t been anything other than a few comments on social media. Your job is to focus on driving. Brian has hired folks to worry about the rest for us,” Cyrus said.
Colby was screaming on the inside. I’m not driving. She pressed her lips together to keep from blurting it out. It bothered her that it seemed like everyone was keeping important things from her.
The timing of his arrival couldn’t have been any worse. Liam strolled into the restaurant. As if the Gods weren’t already conspiring against her, the only open seat was the one right next to her.
“Hey, everybody. Sorry, I’m late.” Liam spoke as he sat down in-between Brian and Colby. “Hey,” he said quietly just for Colby’s ears.
Looking down at her plate, she murmured something resembling a greeting.
“Did you take care of that thing?” Brian asked Liam.
He hadn’t been able to tear his eyes away from Colby until he heard Brian speak. “Umm, yeah. It’s handled. Everything is good to go.”
Brian nodded as different conversations started to pick up again around the table.
“How are you feeling? Excited?” Liam asked Colby.
She picked up her drink and took another sip. “Why would I be excited? I’ll be watching the race like everyone else.”
“Can we go somewhere and talk?” Liam asked. “Just the two of us?”
Colby whispered, “We’re lying to all of my friends. They think we’re about to make history, and we’re not. There really is nothing to say, and even if I wanted to, where could we go? There are cameras everywhere.”
“I had the hotel clear your floor. Our security is monitoring it.” Liam picked up a glass of wine that someone had poured and took a drink.
“You can do that?” Colby asked, surprised. “Of course, you can.” She rolled her eyes. “You’re the master of controlling people’s lives.”
“That’s not what I’m trying to do,” Liam argued.
“You are not trying. You have succeeded. Please, let’s just leave well enough alone.”
An unfamiliar voice joined the chorus of others. “Well, if it isn’t Brian Lockwood and the talk of the town, Colby James.”
All eyes turned to the man speaking.
Slowly, Brian rose from his seat.
Standing in front of them was Anthony Luccesse, accompanied by Asher McKay and Lorene Greene.
“Hello, Colby,” Lorene said.
Colby’s eyes widened. She didn’t respond. She couldn’t. Instead, Colby held the stem of the wine glass in her hand so tight that it shattered.
Chapter 24
Cyrus lunged from his chair with the full intent of killing Lorene with his bare hands. Before he could get to him, Liam and both sets of security guards intervened.
What the hell? Liam had never seen Cyrus lose it. He maneuvered his body between Colby’s father and Lorene. For long moments, they were at a standstill. When Cyrus finally backed up a step, Liam turned slightly so that he was still positioned between Cyrus and Lorene but was also standing close to Brian just in case things went left again.
Anthony’s slow grin grew wider. He got the exact reaction he’d hoped for. Anthony put his hands up in defense. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Why all the hostility?”
No one said a word. From the angry looks around the room, everyone knew what was going on except for maybe Brian and Liam.
Anthony feigned innocence. “We just wanted to come over and wish you luck for the race.”
“We don’t need luck or your well wishes,” Brian said through clenched teeth. It took every ounce of control not to stab Anthony with his dinner knife. The only reason he didn’t was that there were too many witnesses.
Anthony released a small laugh. “Well, maybe not. I would say all of us being here together for the upcoming race does make things hella interesting, dontcha think?”
“Why the fuck are you with him?” Brian turned to Asher.
“I’m the hottest thing in NASCAR. Nothing wrong with having dinner with a team that appreciates my talent,” Asher boasted proudly.
Liam masked his anger with a calmness he didn’t feel. “Interesting. I thought Colby was the hottest thing in NASCAR, considering the number of reporters calling to discuss how she whooped your ass on the track a couple of weeks ago.”
“I thought Brian owned this team?” Asher snapped.
“Liam only said what I would have,” Brian responded. “I always knew you were a little shit, but now I know you’re dumb too.”
Liam glanced over at Colby, and what he saw stopped him cold. Her face was ashen, and her hand was bleeding. She seemed out of it and unaware that she was even hurt. Her face had hardened like stone. She was laser focused on Lorene. What the fuck did he do?
Asher recovered quickly from the stinging insults. “Anthony’s right. All of the hostility in this room will make for an interesting race and an even better story to tell when I win.”
“You must be out of your goddamned mind if you think you can associate with the Luccesses and drive for me,” Brian said.
Asher grinned and crossed his arms. “I had my lawyers look over my contract. According to our agreement, not only do you have to let me drive in this race, you have to make me lead driver.”
Liam and Brian knew that already. They had hoped that Asher wouldn’t discover it. The secret was out, and it was most likely due to the Luccesses and their shady lawyers.
The current of the unknown was infused with everything else that was happening, and Liam didn’t like it. He hated being the last to know anything, and the smug look on Anthony’s face confirmed it. Whatever he knew, Anthony was going to use to his full advantage. His obvious plan to get into their heads was hitting major pay dirt.
They needed to get it together and keep calm. If Liam’s plan worked, the days of the Luccesses family bothering the Lockwoods, or anybody else he cared about, were numbered.
Liam took another quick glance at Colby. Her fury was falling off her in waves. His need to protect her was overwhelming, and thus his desire to get her out of the restaurant. By the look on her face, that task was going to be easier said than done.
Before Liam could coax Colby into leaving, and with blood dripping down her hand, she began to rise slowly from the table.
Her eyes never wavered from Lorene’s. Her voice was low and menacing. “So, you’re driving?”
Lorene was unnerved by her stare but played it off. Instead, he tried to use Colby’s gender against her. Lorene undres
sed her with his eyes before answering her question. “My my my . . . little Colby James.”
All rational thought went out of the window. Liam’s instinct was to react, but Brian grabbed hold of his arm before he could. Lorene had no idea that Brian had just saved his life.
Anthony saw it all. It was something else he planned to use against them. He leaned over and whispered into Lorene’s ear.
Lorene nodded before speaking again. “Rodney’s little sister certainly has grown up into a sexy little thing.”
“You do not get to say his name,” she spat out through clenched teeth.
Her tone took everyone off guard, especially Lorene.
“Are. You. Driving? Simple question.” Colby’s eyes flashed with pure unadulterated rage.
Lorene nodded like a little puppy.
“She’s a spitfire.” Anthony leered at Colby but directed his words at Liam. “When you’re done, you can send her my way.”
All Brian could do was move out of the way or get caught up. Liam hauled off and struck Anthony with a powerful blow against his lower lip and jaw. The crack was so loud it reverberated around the room. Anthony staggered backward until he fell on his ass, possibly losing a couple of teeth in the process.
Breathing hard like a bull, Liam stood over him. “You’re done fuckin’ with my family!” Liam didn’t care what anyone thought about him acting like a jealous and raging lunatic after knocking the hell out of Anthony Luccesse.
Brian pulled him back and whispered into his ear, “Not here. Later.”
Again, each side’s security stepped in to prevent an all-out brawl.
Anthony spit out blood. He used the back of his hand to wipe his mouth as his team helped him up. “You’re right, Golden boy,” he sneered. “We will finish this.” Anthony trained his eyes onto Brian and Liam. “In two days, we go to war.”
“It started a long time ago, and this time you’ve bitten off way more than you can handle,” Brian responded.
The joyous feeling from earlier was gone, completely shattered. It wasn’t until Lorene left with Anthony and Asher that Colby felt like she could breathe. She immediately went over to Liam. Her brows furrowed with concern. “Are you okay?”
“I should be asking you that. You’re bleeding.”
Colby looked down at her hand. She hadn’t noticed.
It felt like the most natural thing in the world when Liam grabbed a napkin off the table and reached for Colby. Gently, he pressed it into her palm. As he worked to stop the flow of blood, Liam dared her to try and pull away.
Colby knew better and held still.
After a few moments, Liam inspected her hand to see if she needed stitches. He was grateful that the cut wasn’t deep. “You need to get this looked at.”
Colby nodded. “I will. Thanks for wanting to protect me, but you didn’t have to do that.”
He responded firmly and unequivocally. “I did.”
As if remembering they weren’t alone, slowly, Colby began to pull her hand free. “You didn’t. But still, thanks.”
She needed to make sure her father was okay. When she moved over to him, Colby realized everyone at their table was watching Liam and her closely. By the shocked looks on their faces, it wasn’t hard to guess that they had figured out something was going on.
For now, Colby decided to ignore the questions in their eyes. She inhaled deeply, then walked over to her father. “Daddy, are you okay?”
Cyrus was just as surprised as everyone else, but not totally shocked. He did find it telling that Colby went to Liam before coming to his aid. At some point, he would have to have a chat with Liam about his daughter but now was not the time.
“I’m fine. I should be asking you that.” His words didn’t match his appearance. Cyrus looked physically and emotionally spent.
“What am I going to do about Asher?” Brian asked Liam as they watched Colby fuss over her father.
“He can’t drive if he doesn’t have a functioning car. Is that right?” Liam directed his question to Neal, their attorney, who had arrived earlier for dinner.
Neal nodded. “Technically, you’ve already honored the contract. Once you entered Asher into the race and listed him as the lead driver, you fulfilled your part of the agreement.”
Liam shook his head in thought. “So, it’s not our fault if Gonzo discovers Asher’s car isn’t working properly?”
“No. Although implied, there is nothing that specifically says you have to provide him with a working vehicle. Just a vehicle.”
Gonzo shook his head vigorously in agreement. “Oh, yeah.” He rubbed his hands together. “That car is fucked up.”
The entire team was pretty vocal about how bad Asher’s car was until Colby spoke. Her words silenced the group. “Let him drive.”
Colby had ice running through her veins. “And make me the number two.”
“C’mon, Colby. I don’t know if that’s such a good idea,” Chris said. “You’ll need your head on straight to just go up against Lorene. The man and his team are really good on this track.”
“I won’t ever consider a dirty driver a good one,” Gonzo said, then backed up his friend. “I’m not worried at all about Colby being able to go up against Lorene and his shitty team and Asher.”
Chris remained silent. He understood that this was a moment of truth and had been a long time coming.
Jordan chimed in. “I thought Lorene was sitting this one out due to some kind of injury.” He knew the history between Lorene and the James family, and it would be poetic justice if Colby drove against him. Jordan had no problem giving up his spot to her. “I’m a competitor, so I always think I can win every time. But Lorene’s won three of the last few races on this track. The truth is, he is going to be pretty tough to beat. His team, they don’t pull any punches.”
“I think I know that better than anybody,” Colby reminded him.
Jordan couldn’t argue that fact. “If you’re taking my spot, I have some tapes you need to watch.”
“I don’t need tape. I’ve studied Lorene since I was fifteen years old. What I need are blockers on that track.” Colby turned steely eyes onto Brian and held his gaze. “If you want to win this thing, just give me the opportunity.”
Nothing was going to keep her out of this race. She planned to be front and center by any means necessary. Singularly focused and ready to handle her business. Colby didn’t wait for a response. Instead, with her back rigid and her head held high, she walked out of the restaurant.
They all watched her leave.
Liam threw a small nod to Markos. Markos lifted his chin in acknowledgment and was immediately on the move. He, along with two bodyguards, followed Colby out.
Cyrus spoke up. “Not that my daughter needs my endorsement, but I don’t think there is another soul on this planet more motivated to win this thing.”
Brian deferred to Liam. “If everything is ready to go, I say let’s do it. But I’m going to let you make the call.”
“If I were a betting man—”
“You are a betting man,” Brian reminded him.
Liam ignored Brian and asked the question that everyone, but he and Brian, had the answer to. “Why is Colby so determined to get on that track with Lorene Greene?”
No one in the room felt they had a right to answer. Instead, they deferred to Cyrus.
The pained expression on his face filled Liam with dread.
Cyrus lifted turbulent eyes as he fought back tears and ran a tired hand down his face. His voice broke when he spoke. “He killed my son.”
Chapter 25
After Cyrus’ revelation, Liam wasted no time going after Colby.
Colby hadn’t come face-to-face with Lorene since that fateful day. She had played the event over and over inside of her head. However, her reaction wasn’t anything that she had ever dreamed.
Colby’s steps quickened as she made it to her room without a moment to spare before breaking down. Another second and the entire world w
ould have seen her unravel.
Quickly, she rushed inside, closed the door, and sagged against it. It was pointless to try to beat back her tears. Impossible, actually. Her chest was tight as if someone held her heart in the grips of their hands and squeezed. Her body shook as she purged years’ worth of anger and pain. Colby hadn’t felt this level of despair since Rodney’s funeral.
Her moans turned into heartbreaking wails. Rodney’s death had figured into her every decision since he was killed.
Colby glanced up toward the heavens and spoke on a broken sob. “I miss you so much.” A soft knock on her door interrupted her conversation with her brother.
“Oh, God. Please.” Colby’s head thrashed from side to side. “Please go away,” she said through a strangled cry.
Liam stood outside with his arms extended and both palms resting flat against the door. His chest ached for her. He’d heard her sobs before knocking. It was impossible not to be affected by such raw pain. “Please. Let me help.”
“You can’t. I just need to be alone.”
“That is the last thing you need. You don’t have to carry this by yourself.”
Colby didn’t respond.
“Let me just be with you,” Liam pleaded. He went silent, waiting for a response, hoping Colby would open the door.
She didn’t.
He was going to have to dig in. Colby had no reason to trust or believe that she could be vulnerable with him. He’d lied and betrayed her. Liam was going to have to earn her forgiveness and trust.
He sighed. “I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be right here.”
Markos had never seemed Liam like this. It was clear to him that his boss loved this woman. Markos signaled to his team to back up a little and gave Liam the space he needed for this private moment.
Liam turned and slid down onto the floor. He loosened his tie and took off his three-thousand-dollar custom designer suit-jacket, placing it on the floor next to him. He tented his legs, raising his knees and placing his elbows on each one, then laced his fingers together.
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