Coralis International Speedway, under a cloudless sky.
Niamh and Preston sat side by side in the stands, the roar of the crowd swelling around them. Preston, practically vibrating with excitement, shoved a pair of binoculars into Niamh’s hands.
“It’s about to start! Look over there–see her? That’s the lead driver for the DY Autosport Team. She’s the rookie I told you about. Ever since she joined, DY has been unstoppable. She’s basically Coralis‘ own racing prodigy–kind of like your reputation back in Aldonia. Loads of people here know your name, or–well, Katarina Quinn’s name, anyway. There’s been nonstop talk about which one of you, the two ‘Speed Queens, would take the crown if you ever went head–to–head on the same track…”
Preston’s words tumbled out, his voice rising over the crowd’s anticipation. Only when he paused did he notice the serious look on Niamh’s face, which clearly wasn’t the reaction he’d been expecting.
“Oh, but don’t get me wrong–I’m rooting for you, through and through. I know that if you hit the track, it wouldn’t matter if it was Coralis or Aurentia, goddess or not, you’d leave everyone eating your dust.”
A flicker of a smile broke through Niamh’s stern expression at Preston’s
earnestness.
The race began.
Car number 11 shot out in front, almost immediately leaving the others behind.
It was a custom Ford, its glossy red paint almost blinding in the sunlight–like it was the sun itself blazing across the track.
“Holy hell, she’s fast!” Preston blurted out, unable to contain himself.
Niamh raised the binoculars, her attention fixed on the speeding car.
There was no denying it: number 11 was operating on a level far above the rest. Her cornering–especially the way she drifted through the turns–was nothing short of
masterful.
“So, Niamh, what do you think?” Preston asked, eager for her, verdic+
“She’s good,” Niamh replied, her tone measured.
“Really? I still think she’s nowhere near your league, Preston shot back, as if it was
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Chapter 421
the most obvious thing in the world.
Niamh glanced at him, surprised. “Are you really that blindly devoted to me?”
“Blindly? Not a chance!” Preston scoffed, rolling his eyes. “I’m just honest. It’s not because I know you–if anything, you make it harder to impress me…”
He still remembered the electric rush from watching Niamh take a hairpin bend at breakneck speed. Sure, the Coralis Speed Queen knew her stuff, but she didn’t give him the same heart–pounding thrill that Katarina had.
“Honestly, her technique is right up there with mine,” Niamh admitted, passing the binoculars back to Preston. “Take a closer look.”
Preston took them, clearly unconvinced. He barely had them up to his eyes before he blurted out another, “Holy shit!”
Niamh couldn’t help but laugh. “You ever think about using, I don’t know, real adjectives when you want to praise someone?”
“No, no, it’s not that-” Preston stammered, suddenly smacking Niamh on the shoulder in his excitement–hard enough to make her wince.
Rubbing her shoulder, Niamh shot him a look just as Preston’s face went pale, like he’d seen a ghost.
“It’s Jonathan! I just spotted Jonathan!”
Niamh’s eyes widened. Preston could only mean one Jonathan-
“Jonathan’s here?” she blurted out, startled.
“I’m pretty sure it’s him! Over there, in the VIP section–see for yourself.” Preston shoved the binoculars back into her hands.
Niamh hesitated, then lifted the binoculars to her eyes, focusing on the exclusive seats across the track.
There he was–Jonathan, unmistakable, standing out even among the wealthiest and most powerful in the VIP section. He looked as if he barely cared about the race at all, his focus somewhere far beyond the track.
Chapter 422
