Born To Run: A Counterpoints Novella Page 12

  Fine, Noah was the winner that day, he easily agreed.

  “I wasn’t over two years ago when I was sent away, but I was tired of fighting. But today, I was ready to fight today. I wanted to say goodbye the right way. My way, I wanted to be up here one more time. And wave at you guys and say thank you,” Noah bowed and waved at the fans, that were cheering and screaming his name again. “I guess what I am trying to say is that I don’t give a fuck about the system and its games of power,” the crowd shouted and cheered but Noah kept talking “I never cared, I just did my thing, did my best, never compromising, never accepting something without being completely satisfied. And I wasn’t satisfied with the way I was treated years ago, by the system, by those who have connections. I don’t have any connections. And it feels absolutely fucking amazing, anyway.”

  Noah paused and licked his lip a little. “I say when it’s over. I was deprived of that right, to retire when I felt was right. I wasn’t ready then, but I am now. I am an instructor for young drivers in Taylor’s Academy. I want my trainees to fight for what they believe in and never settle for what others decide for them. The system can be changed, look where I am now? Up here.” He kept his eyes on the camera, his face serious. “Don’t let anything or anyone stop you, Vera. Have a good evening everyone.”

  Vera, he just barely mumbled my name, but I heard it loud and clear, it struck me like a lightening.

  Then, Noah turned to his fans again, took his trophy and bottle of champagne, and made his way down the stairs, an MB engineer right beside him, guiding him through the boxes.

  The cameras didn’t follow them in, but I knew where they were going and what was going to happen to Noah.

  He was going to see the race commission and they were going to give him an earful, maybe a fine. The truth was nobody had ever done something like that, I was pretty sure there weren’t any rules or regulations about a driver secretly replacing another one. Noah had been the first.

  Only a crazy, asshole like him could pull that off, I bit my lip again as my dad eyed me in silence.

  “Did I just hear him say your name?” he asked and I nodded.

  “He’s going to get in trouble,” I murmured, my eyes never leaving the screen.

  The journalists were now all in front of the MB boxes, trying to understand and get footage of what was happening.

  Christopher walked by fast, straight into the meeting room where Noah had been escorted, not stopping by to give his opinion on the matter.

  “I don’t think he cares,” my dad said and I smiled, eyeing him to the side.

  “No, he doesn’t,” I said.

  My dad stood up, walked to stand beside me and placed a hand over my shoulder, searching my face.

  “I think he cares about you.”

  I just nodded and held back a tear.

  I can’t believe he did it, I checked the screen for news, but the door of the meeting room was still closed. No decision had been made yet.

  As I waited there, in front of the TV, a strange feeling crept inside of me.

  Noah had gone through all that, for what? For who? For his pride, for his glory, yes but deep down I knew he’d done all that for me, as well. He’d wanted to send out a message and his words had reached me, loud and clear. Racing was his life, just as much as it was mine. We were the showmen. The track was our stage and nobody could take that away from us. The decision was ours, the future was in our hands.

  Nothing is impossible.

  “I guess he does, dad,” I mumbled, more to myself than to him.

  We were silent for a few minutes, staring at the screen.

  “Are you okay?” my dad asked after a while and I looked up at him.

  “I am. I think I know what to do now,” I said. “I need your car.”

  Chapter 12

  Noah

  They could have dumped all their crap on me, I wouldn’t have cared.

  I just sat in the meeting room, watching them shuffle papers and eyeing me perplexed, disappointed, surprised.

  Whatever.

  My face stayed the same, like nothing could truly affect me. Because nothing really could. I wasn’t all that bothered by the consequences, some things just needed to be done. And this was just one of those things.

  After all, they had treated me like a nobody, like I wasn’t an all time champion, and just trashed me, when rich, little Fredrik had come along.

  I thought about him then, wondering if he was okay and had recovered from being locked in his toilet for two hours.

  He needed to be taught a lesson, too, I thought to myself, suppressing a smile. He thought he could buy his way into the sport, taking my place. Was he going to sue me? Probably. Did I care? Absolutely not.

  Bring it on.

  Some things just didn’t have a price.

  The race marshals told me they were at loss for words. They didn’t know how to deal with the situation and wanted to hear from me, my thoughts.

  I told them I had explained myself on that podium. I wasn’t given a chance to retire, so I took that chance. Period.

  Mr. Johnson and Christopher sat beside me and tried to get the race marshals to understand my state of mind, the reasoning behind my actions.

  I let them talk, without saying much else, but I appreciated their support.

  I was fined – twenty thousand pounds for reckless driving, invading the track- and all my privileges as retired race driver, were revoked. I was invited to keep away from boxes and VIP areas.

  There were no rules against what I had done. That was all they could do, Fredrik would think about the rest, they said. But he didn’t. He just never looked at me in the eye after that, never said a word about me with the journalists.

  I must have terrified the kid. I wish I could say I was sorry but I wasn’t. It pleased me like only a couple of other things did.

  “You are completely insane, man. I think you are my new hero,” Christopher couldn’t stop laughing, once we were out of the meeting room. “I’ll be watching my back, next time I take a wee before the race.”

  We laughed like two complete idiots and then he patted my back and went about his interviews. Whereas, I put my smug self, back into my Pagani Zonda and drove back to the Academy. I tore the VIP pass they had put on my car and chucked it on my way out of the gate.

  It didn’t mean shit to me, to lose my privileges. Those were just little treats, granted to shut me up. Well I wasn’t quiet anymore. My truth was out now. They could stick their little treats where they saw fit.

  I just drove back home that night, through the countryside and turned into my driveaway an hour after the meeting, the sea loud and wild like me. No matter how much I tried to think about something else, I couldn’t wipe that smirk off my face. It had felt amazing, to be back on track and finish the race third.

  Retired driver my ass, I chuckled to myself.

  Right in front of my house, I spotted a red sedan parked at the end of the driveway. I stepped out of the car and walked quickly to my front porch, cursing a little under my breath.

  Those damn journalists were so quick and just had no boundaries. Surely, they were on to me already, wanting my story, my point of view. That was something I hadn’t missed, their breathing on my shoulders.

  Sitting on the floor in the dark, in front of my door was a woman with long brown hair. She stood immediately and straightened her shirt down, as she stepped forward under the moonlight.

  Vera, I took in a deep breath and studied her closely- how stunning she looked, the way she was staring at me.

  Wild, burning like fire. I knew that look.

  Vera reached out for my arm and gently moved closer, her chest brushing against mine, as she breathed in deep before speaking. Like we needed words, I knew what she was feeling, because I was feeling it, too.

  “You are absolutely, fucking crazy,” she looked up at me, tilting her head back with the slightest smile on her lips.

  “Thank you,” I smiled. “I needed to get
a message out there. I hope it was clear,” I mumbled looking into her bright eyes.

  “Loud and clear,” Vera said and stood on her toes.

  We were only inches from one another, I could smell the sea breeze in her hair. I wondered how long she had sat there waiting for me. My hand reached for her arm and I noticed it was cold.

  “I came here to tell you, that you were right.”

  “I am always right, we sorted that out the first day you came to the Academy,” I told her and she smiled wide.

  Vera kept talking, while I rubbed her arms to warm her up.

  “I am not ready to give up, I don’t want to stop racing. It just all got too hard and frustrating. I lost the energy to talk back at people, to push my way through them,” she said and I couldn’t help agreeing with her.

  “I know. I had lost that, too. But that’s how things work for us, for people like us. I wish I could tell you it gets better but I won’t lie to you. But it’s so worth it, I can assure you that. It is worth every effort.”

  Vera took in my words and then nodded.

  “I fucked it up, didn’t I? My chance…” her voice trembled a little, I immediately cupped her cheek and shook my head.

  “We’ll work something out. We’ll make something up, if necessary. But I want you to toughen up. Show them how good you are, let them fear you. Because that’s why they want you to break, they want you to surrender. Because you are fucking scary out there, in a car.”

  A beautiful smile lit up her face.

  “I want you beside me. I don’t want you to back away, I don’t care if it’s the right thing to do, I don’t care about rules. I want you to be my distraction, because I was going a little crazy without you.”

  I smiled at her and raised an eyebrow.

  “We don’t follow the rules, you and I. We make new ones, we push boundaries. You CAN’T follow the rules, not even if you wanted to, Vera. You know why? Because you are absolutely fucking special,” I brushed her chin with the tip of my fingers and kissed her, long and slow, biting the softness of her mouth, claiming her.

  She was Vera Evans, she was my special girl and for once, I wasn’t planning on being an asshole. Not to her, not again.

  “Now, can I drive your Pagani Zonda?” she pushed me back a little, giggling as I straightened my face after our kiss.

  “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” I told her and, before she could say anything back with that pouty face of hers, I pulled her in my arms and took her inside.

  Epilogue

  Noah

  Normally I never took the headphones and mic, never listened in her radio communications.

  It was one of those things that destabilized me. I was always as cool as ice, but to my surprise hearing Vera’s voice during the race, made me nervous like nothing else could.

  I told myself it was the pressure of having trained her, the desire to see her succeed, but in reality, it was just because it was Vera. I never felt that pressure when it came to other trainees. It was her.

  The first woman in First Category Racing, I thought sitting in the box- her box- my eyes glued to the screen, trying to ignore the frenzy all around us.

  She was coming back in to change tires and she was second in the race. The pitstop had to be super fast.

  That’s when I couldn’t take it anymore.

  Fuck it, I took my headphones and placed them over my head, my chest heavy as I heard her voice sound in my ears.

  “Coming in,” Vera said and the car was in front of me a few seconds later.

  Up, down, go, the car skidded forward, the smell of burned tires filled the box and I checked her time on the screen.

  Phenomenal, absolutely phenomenal. Vera had been so fast so far during the race, that she drove on the track again and was still one of the first drivers.

  I watched her time improve, as the fresh set of tires worked their magic. Turn after turn, Vera was gaining precious advantage against her rivals.

  It was like the first time I had seen her race, back in the Academy, almost three years ago. She was still amazing to watch, fearless, so tenacious.

  They were talking about her in the boxes, everyone was- the journalists, the team mangers, other drivers. It had taken me and Christopher a while to get her there, but Vera had made it. She was in First Category Racing, fighting for the title in Taylor & Laurent Racing Team.

  Our team, I spotted the team manager, Christopher Taylor, sitting at his control station, making sure everyone was doing their job correctly.

  He had stopped racing exactly a year before and that’s when our dream, of having our very own racing team, came true.

  “If you can’t change the system, we work around it,” I had told Vera, when no team would trust her to drive in First Category.

  The hell with the rules, the traditions and short-sightedness. We made our own rules, our own traditions. And Vera was starting to race like a pro, like a legend.

  Not just that, she’d had the pleasure of receiving business offers from those who hadn’t given her a chance at the beginning.

  “I appreciate it but no, thank you, Taylor and Laurent is my home,” Vera had kindly declined any proposal. “It’s not about money. It’s about prestige and honouring those who have honoured me. I want to win everything and I want to do it with Taylor and Laurent,” she had told everyone during a press conference.

  “Fantastic job, Vera,” I heard her track engineer speak then, my eyes still on the screen as she crossed the finish line. “Amazing drive, girl.”

  “Thank you so much for giving me this amazing car,” her voice was a little shaky and she burst out in laughter.

  She laughed and laughed, releasing all the tension, as she drove past the crowds on the stands and laughed again to the cheers.

  Second, she had finished second. Only one year in the sport and she was second in the championship. It was still mid-season, but no doubt this was her year. Vera’s year to become the champion of First Category Racing.

  I didn’t walk all the way under the podium, I just stood to the side of the railings, with my sunglasses on, leaning against a wall. Christopher had to be there, as team manager, but I was just her instructor, I didn’t like the attention of the media.

  It wasn’t about me. It was about her.

  Even though I kept away, Vera knew exactly where to find me in the crowd. She spotted me from up there and waved. I waved back, smiling a little to the side.

  I waited patiently, until she stepped down, until the journalists had stopped asking questions.

  Vera walked back to the boxes, while slowly unzipping her tracksuit down her breasts and all the way to her hips, never looking away from me.

  “That’s sexy,” I smirked and she laughed a little, tilting her head to the side.

  “Planning on locking me in the toilet?” Vera licked her lips, her blue eyes staring expectantly at me.

  “Maybe, I might just,” I said and placed a hand behind her back.

  We were out of the spotlight, around the corner and away from the cameras. I felt free to touch her in whichever way I wanted. Not that it was a secret we were together, but I liked to keep things cool and detached in front of people.

  “Have I told you how hot you look when you race like that?” I asked and she smiled again.

  “Several times, but it never gets old,” she was quick to reply. “So, what do you think? How did I do?”

  I set my eyes on her lower lip. I wanted to bite it, but first I said:

  “You did great, left everyone speechless. You showed them, how incredible my girl, my special girl is,” and I went for her lip.

  Fuck the rules, who cared if anyone was watching. She was my girl.

  The End

  Acknowledgements

  Now the Counterpoints series is really complete ?? we’ve redeemed Noah, too. Alfred on the other hand cannot be redeemed. Douche all the way.

  I am so terrified each time I write my thank yous. I’m scared I’ll forget
someone, please don’t be offended I’m a little messy.

  Thank you to the lovely ladies I’ve met in the book world, my lovely readers group.

  Thank you to my PA Marley, my friends Johnna and Gem, for being amazing and patient with me. Always.

  Monja, I have no words. You are really wonderful.

  Thank you to my fellow authors Holly Webb, Kiera Jayne, Kelly Lowe, Toya Richardson, T.K. Leigh, Leaonna Luxx, Andrea Bills for helping me share the word and supporting me. I support you guys too.

  Thank you to all the bloggers, so many of you I can’t write you all in here but Carolann, Tre, Amy, Lorraine, Amy…. The list is really endless. Your support is invaluable.

  Thanks to my family as always, for being there to help and make me laugh when something brings me down. Go ahead, keep making fun of me ?? I’m ready to make fun of you guys too, eheheh.

  Last but not least, thank you to everyone that has read the Counterpoints series and has messaged me to ask: What about Noah???? That question wouldn’t let me sleep at night. I never thought I’d write a story about him, I thought most people would hate him but no, there’s just something about him…right? ??

  Thank you for reading and please leave a review when you are done. Even one sentence. It means the world to authors.

  Take care, see you soon.

  Ciao

  Laura

  If you want to do some ‘intense research’ :P this is where you can find me.

  I love to interact with people, so message me or join my readers group for games and ARCs opportunities.

  Author Page ☛ https://www.facebook.com/laurarossiauthor

  Author Group ☛ https://www.facebook.com/groups/1652427688131420/

  Instagram ☛ https://www.instagram.com/laurarossiauthor

  Author Amazon ☛ https://www.amazon.com/…/B01M7O…/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

  Goodreads ☛ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2381552.Laura_Rossi

  Website ☛ https://laurarossiauthor.wordpress.com/