Page 91 of Out of Control

I sit.

You’re out of control. A danger to everyone on the track.

And I wait.

A liability I’m not willing to take no matter how much potential you do or don’t have.

And I let the slip take the pressure off the car, and at the right time, I whip out and around the car in front of me and use the momentum to gain on Cruz.

“Stay on his wing,” Alec says but I don’t acknowledge him. “Bustos is coming up hot behind. Defend for Navarro.”

I choose not to.

I’m too fucking focused on the cars in front, too dialed in to my own pursuit.

Yes, I’m too fucking selfish. Especially now. Specifically today.

“Rossi.” A warning I don’t heed.

C’mon, baby. Fucking go.

I repeat those four words over and over and over as I drive the fuck out of my car.

I pass the traffic in front of me.

Then I come wheel to wheel with Cruz.

And I compete.

I don’t back down. I don’t take this number two driver bullshit. I don’t hear the noise in my headset. I refuse to be bullied this time around too.

I play the part people expect of me. The one that earns me fans. That has gotten me this far.

And I fucking compete.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t emit a huge goddamn roar when I edge past Cruz. When I come into the turn like a bat out of hell and pull solidly in front of him.

There’s yelling in my headset. A cautious tone from Alec—where he’s not sure if he should scold me or cheer me on to chase after the next place—a spot on the podium.

But he knows the world is listening to our exchanges. So do I.

“How fast is Laurent?” I ask of the next car in front of me like I didn’t just go against orders.

“You’re the fastest on the track right now,” he says.

My grin is strained from the Gs but there, nonetheless. Can’t blame the faster car for going ahead. Well, you can, but the public will rip you to shreds. He knows that. I know that.

So I just keep pushing.

“How far?”

“Zero point six, Rossi.”

“Ten-four. I’ll reel him in.”

And I do. Turn by turn. DRS activation after DRS activation. By tooth and nail, I fight my way to cross the line in third place and take a podium.

And take it I do. I enjoy every goddamn second standing on it, in Gravitas white with a strip of orange, while looking into the crowd.