Redeemed (Dirty Air Series Book 4)

“Chloe, are you sure that you’re okay with being filmed for my vlog?” Maya looks over at Chloe with her camera clutched in her palm. Ever since I stepped on the empty racetrack, my skin has been clammy and my heart has been beating at a rapid pace.

Bandini employees work in the pit lane. The crew secures spare tires and checks on car parts after Noah’s earlier practice rounds. If I close my eyes, I can imagine the noises and smells of a race day. Besides the occasional crew member looking up at us, everyone keeps to themselves. I didn’t realize how much I missed the energetic buzz of the pit on a race weekend. It’s become a distant memory after all these years.

“Sure! How hard can a race be?” Chloe checks out the sleek Bandini sports car.

A race?!

“Against Maya? Don’t let her fool you. She knows her way around a car better than half the crew.” Noah wraps an arm around Maya’s waist.

I tuck my hand in the back pocket of her shorts and pull her flush against my side. “Since when did you plan a race?” I whisper in her ear.

“Since your sister texted me this morning asking if I would do a vlog with her. She is very persuasive and I had a hard time saying no.”

“How did you even get each other’s num—” I pinch the bridge of my nose and take a deep breath. “Forget it. It doesn’t matter. You can’t drive.”

“Why?” She shakes her head in a sassy way.

I’d find it endearing under any other circumstance. Now, her defiance annoys me.

“Maya, Chloe can’t drive. She doesn’t have a license,” I announce to the group.

“You suck,” Chloe mumbles under her breath.

I tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear and lean in to whisper, “My goal is for you to suck, but this is good enough for now.”

Her crimson cheeks are the only response I get.

“Oh. I didn’t realize you just learned to drive. We can do something else. How about an exclusive interview? I’m sure my fans would go crazy to learn more about you.” Maya’s eyes perk up.

Hell no. That plan is somehow even worse than this one.

“That sounds like a great idea.” Noah’s smile grows larger as he gauges my reaction.

Fucker. The last thing I want is Maya interviewing Chloe. It might put our game at risk, and I can’t have that. It’s purely selfish of me, but I want to keep faking it with Chloe. It gives her a reason to stay around me.

I step in. “What about a hot laps match? Noah versus me. I’m sure that kind of vlog would interest your fans a bit more than an interview with Chloe. No offense.” The words slip past my lips before I have a chance to consider the consequences.

Noah stares at me without blinking while Maya’s mouth drops open.

I mean I get it’s surprising but come on. There’s no way in hell I’m letting my sister interview Chloe, but I’m also not letting Chloe behind the wheel of a car worth a quarter of a million dollars.

Maya laughs nervously. “Oh no. Don’t worry about it. We can scratch the vlog and go eat an early dinner instead with Mom and Dad.”

I lift a brow. “Are you afraid I’ll beat your husband? I know he’s old and all but have a little faith in him.”

Chloe stares up at me with her lips parted. I’m tempted to kiss the look of surprise off her face, but I refrain. Just because I can’t drive an F1 car anymore doesn’t mean I can’t race against Noah like the old days in a normal sports car like this one. I’ve practiced with similar cars I own over the past couple of years.

“If you beat me, I’ve clearly lost my touch.” Noah holds out his palm for me to shake.

“May the best man win.” I grab onto his extended hand and squeeze.

“I need to go grab my spare camera and car mount! I’ll be right back!” Maya runs off, rambling to herself in Spanish.

“I’ll grab the keys from the office.” Noah walks off.

I walk up to the Bandini car and run my finger across the hood. It’s been years since I’ve ridden in this kind of sports car. One meant to break every speed limit and look good doing it.

My eyes shut as I imagine the purr of the engine, revving as I press down on the throttle. Uneasiness trickles up my spine at the thought of speeding down a track at neck-breaking speeds. My hand falters, slipping on the hood.

“You didn’t have to save me back there. I could’ve done an interview with your sister.” Chloe places her hand on top of mine. An energizing sensation replaces the coldness from my earlier thoughts.

“And risk you making up terrible stories about me to old fans? I can imagine the outrage already.”

“I’d only take it to a certain level.”

“And what level is that?” My voice drops as I prop my ass against the hood and spread my legs. I grab onto her hips and turn her toward me, securing her in front of me.

“Oh, I don’t know.” She looks up at the sky. “I’d only reveal a skeleton or two about you.”

“Please, by all means, share what you had in mind. I’m curious what dirty secrets you’ve picked up on during our few weeks together.”

“You’re a blanket hog.” She smiles in a way that snatches the oxygen straight from my lungs. Fuck. It’s like my body can’t keep it together around her.

“Am not.”

“Are to. I almost froze to death last night. You left me with the smallest corner that could barely keep my feet warm, let alone my body.”

I chuckle. “Well, that explains why you were cuddled up to me this morning.”

She shrugs. “I did try to warn you.”

I nod, failing to hide my smile.

She scrunches her nose in distaste. “Well, now that we’re here listing flaws—you snore. Loudly, I might add.”

I throw my head back and laugh. “Now I know you’re just saying that to get a rise out of me.”

“Is it working?” She places a palm against my shaking chest. The heat of her hand makes me shudder.

I want to test her touch in a different circumstance, preferably with no one else around.

“You’ll have to do a lot more than that to get me ruffled.”

“Oh, I have some ideas—”

“Ready?” Noah calls out.

Chloe winces as my hands squeeze her hips. “You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.” Her voice is nothing but a whisper in the wind.

I shake my head, hoping to wipe the worry from her eyes. “I was born for this.”

“I’m going to join Noah in his car. Chloe, if you want to stay in the pit area, we’ll be done quick!” Maya focuses on setting up the camera in my car.

“Wait, you’re going with him?” Chloe’s eyes bounce between Maya and Noah.

“Of course! It’s so much fun.” My sister beams.

“Oh.” Chloe looks up at me with bright eyes, making something in my chest tighten like a coil. “Can I go with you? If you don’t mind that is?”

“Sure.”

Except I’m very unsure about the whole thing once I take a seat in the car. The fresh leather smell does little to calm my racing heart, and my stomach churns at the purr of the engine starting up. Chloe tugs her helmet on before securing herself in a protective harness.

I stare at the steering wheel, my fist tightening around the leather to stop my hands from trembling. My breaths become shallower as thoughts plague my head.

What if I lose control?

What if I crash and hurt Chloe in the process? 

What if I— 

“What do you think of us placing a bet?” Chloe grabs onto my clenched hand and releases my fingers one by one from the wheel. She links our hands, holding mine hostage.

I focus on her touch rather than the panic building up inside of me, settling deep within my bones. “A bet?” I croak.

“A bet. I bet Noah beats you.”

“You’re betting against me?” The audacity of this woman. To think I invited her to a weekend of torture and free alcohol.

“Of course. Noah is the reigning champion and all.” She smiles tauntingly.

“What do you win if I lose to my brother-in-law?”

“Hmm. If I win, I get to give you a blowjob.”

The breath I take turns into a fit of coughs. “What?” Maybe it’s worth losing for that prize alone. But Noah would gloat for days, and I’m not sure any blowjob is worth that special kind of torment.

“Did you hear me okay or are you woozy from the blood relocating itself from your brain to your dick?”

What is it about this girl that has me constantly breaking out deep belly laughs?

She squeezes my hand. “So, is that a yes?”

“Sure, Chloe.”

“And what do you want? If you win that is?”

I want to wipe that smug grin off her face. “When I win, I get to go down on you whenever I want.”

“Whenever?” She wheezes.

“Whenever I want. Whichever way I want. What do you say? Let’s make a bet.”

“Deal.” She shakes our already clasped hands up and down.

I push aside my worries because I have a new goal. Beating Noah wasn’t enough. Beating Noah while securing a hookup with Chloe has my skin buzzing with a different kind of excitement. One I allow to feed my adrenaline rush.

This is just like driving your other cars. You’ve practiced these exact moves with your leg before. 

Noah and I drive up to the checkered line.

My sister lowers her window and waves from the passenger seat. She presses a button on a remote, and the red light from the camera on our dashboard flashes on and off. “The camera is filming. The first person past the finish line after ten laps wins.”

“Good luck,” Noah calls out.

“See you in my rearview mirror.” I rev the engine once, letting the rumbling soak into me. Energy crackles around me as my confidence grows.

And at the end of Maya’s countdown, I surge down the racetrack with Chloe screaming beside me. Tires squeal in protest as Noah and I rush side by side across the pavement. My heart threatens to pop out of my chest, and my hands tremble from the fresh rush of adrenaline.

“Oh my fucking God, this is the stupidest thing I’ve ever done!” Chloe cries out.

“Oh, Chloe. If this is the stupidest, you’re clearly not living.” I look over at her, smiling at her.

She’s always been beautiful. But her by my side while I battle my demons? It’s a look that can’t compare.

“Focus on the damn road!”

“I’m confused. Did you expect me to go slow?” I push against the accelerator, surging past Noah’s car and cutting him off. I press my foot on the brake and smoke billows from the tires.

“Oh, God. I’m sorry I don’t pray to you enough, but now is the best time. Please don’t let me die.” She presses her palms together.

I chuckle, switching gears to match the curves and straights of the track. “You’ll only die when my tongue is fucking you into oblivion. I promise.”

“We are on camera!” Chloe’s waves at my sister’s vlog gear.

“Don’t worry. My sister has someone who edits her videos.”

“How is that a good excuse?”

I laugh, ignoring her.

Noah zooms past my car at the next straight, pushing me to outsmart him. Back and forth, we fight for first place within the second lap of the race. Every muscle in my body tightens as I force the car to its limit.

I don’t have time to second-guess myself, let alone worry about crashing at high speeds.

“I hate you!” Chloe screams again as I turn sharply, the car’s tires locking in submission. We drift, leaving behind another plume of smoke.

Laughter explodes out of me. “Have fun with me.”

“I’ll have fun once you lose this damn race!” she shrieks.

“Is that a challenge?”

“It’s a fact.”

“Cute little Chloe taunting me.” I press on the accelerator, forcing Noah into second place as I pass him once again.

She looks away, failing at hiding her smile. Interesting. She is enjoying herself. The little criminal is a pretty good faker after all.

After a few laps, Chloe’s squeals shift from fear to enjoyment. Her reactions push me harder to drift at curbs and force the car to a new breaking point.

It hits me out of nowhere that I’m having fun. For the first time in the longest time, I’m enjoying myself while driving. It’s such a damn good time, I don’t avoid hitting almost one-hundred and seventy miles per hour. It’s the fastest I’ve gone since I was in an F1 car racing.

The real deal feels intoxicating. I forgot how much I was obsessed with the speed and adrenaline. It’s like a shot of excitement to the veins, with my heart pumping fast in my chest. Anything I’ve done since my accident to replace this feeling is only a cheap imitation. I love it. I miss it. And I absolutely want more of it.

Racing today didn’t diminish my need, it created a new one. I cross the finish line with the biggest grin plastered across my face.

“You won!” She lifts her arms in the air and laughs.

“Fuck yeah!” I smack my palm into the steering wheel, grinning as I stop the car.

She laughs as she removes her helmet. Her dark hair is a mess of waves and loose strands.

I tug on a piece. “You shouldn’t have doubted me.”

“I never did.”

“Then why make a bet in the first place?”

“Because how can you focus on being anxious if you’re too focused on winning something you want?”

My gaze darkens as I focus on her lips. “I won more than a race today.”

She winks. “And don’t you forget it.”

If I didn’t already know I liked this girl, today would’ve sealed the deal.