Page 46 of Downforce

“Our lives,” she adds, looking between me and Lucky. “You’re a godsend to all three of us. I mean that.” The sincerity glowing in her eyes gave it away before her words did.

I wrap my arm around her shoulders and pull her in for a sideways hug before pressing a kiss to the top of Lucky’s head. At the same time, I beat back the intrusive thoughts that try to tell me I failed to reserve the right tickets for Travis, Lucky, and Alyssia’s return flights and I need to run upstairs and double check before the race starts.

“You said you received the confirmation for the return flight, right?” I ask Alyssia.

The way her brows lift, reminds me that I’ve already confirmed this with her. Before she even left Monaco for Japan.

Alyssia knows how to respond when I start asking too many questions.

“Our guy’s starting.” She juts her head to the screen, gracefully ignoring my question and redirecting our attention.

A hush gathers over the crowd the moment the drivers are lined up. Travis is starting from the third place position. Max is directly behind him.

“And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the start of your Suzuka Grand Prix,” the announcer’s voice sounds over the crowd.

Breaths are held, fists clenched, ohs and ahs sound as the drivers at the front duel it out for first place. It’s tight and there are at least three lead changes within the first lap of the race.

“This is going to be an interesting one,” someone behind Alyssia and I say.

Knowing there are cameras and journalists roaming about, I work hard to compose my features and observe the race from a technical standpoint. Travis is doing well, having just passed one driver to edge his way up from fifth place to third. With about twenty more laps to go, if he can hold out, he’ll earn himself a podium spot.

My heart constricts when I see Max’s car easing up behind him.

“This could get interesting,” the English commentator starts. “Two teammates battling it out for third place. What do you think will— Oh no!”

The screen cuts out and immediately goes to another part of the track where other drivers are racing in order to cease filming of the crash that just happened.

Beside me, Alyssia stiffens. I sense the fear radiating off of her.

“They crashed into one another,” she says just above a whisper while the entire Amato garage and paddock is in a flurry.

Travis and Max just crashed into one another. It’s not until seconds later, once it’s been confirmed that both drivers are okay, that the screen replays the accident in full.

“Here, we can see it looks like Max was trying to slip through the hole Travis created on the inside, and he just couldn’t do it.”

The commentator’s words replay the events of the accident while I watch broken metal and parts break away and fly into the air. A pit in my stomach is the answer to the question of whether or not either car is drivable after that crash.

I’ve been around long enough to know how severe an accident is just from the sound alone.

This one ended the race for both Max and Travis. The absolute last thing any team wants to happen in a race.

“That motherfucker!” I flinch as my brother’s rageful voice fills the garage. “I had the position. What the hell were you doing?”

“Hey,” Drake’s voice interrupts what I suspect was going to be Max’s comeback.

Before I know what’s happening, someone’s stomping off angrily. The Amato staff are seemingly in shock at the explosion between the two. Shock mixed with extreme disappointment.

All the while, the large screen plays the accident over and over, from different angles. I watch as Max’s car comes up behind Travis’ who aggressively defends his position, but Max doesn’t let up.

He was as, if not more, aggressive in his pursuit of that third place position since the start of the race which he’d lost after a pit stop. If he would’ve backed off, the crash wouldn’t have happened, I reason, growing more upset on my brother’s behalf.

“I’m going to try to talk to him. To calm him down for a little while,” Alyssia says.

I nod. “Good idea.” She’s probably the only one who can reason with Travis right now.

I decide to make myself scarce, in part to hide my disappointment. Though I should be a good sport and stay to watch the remainder of the race, I head back upstairs. I’ll search out my brother later, since I know after Alyssia he’ll have to talk with his team principal.

“Oh,” I let out my surprise upon seeing Max alone in the upstairs room.