Chapter 4She Pulled The Plug On Me

10:24 PM.

I had ninety-six minutes to fix this and register, or I was disqualified.

I needed to prove Beau was stealing my life. I needed to see the man behind the curtain. But I knew the race wouldn't wait for "justice."

I sat in the driver's seat of the "beginner" car and turned the key.

I had to test one thing. I had to know if the "fire" was already in this car, too.

I slammed the pedal down. The car roared, flying out of the garage like a bullet.

Something was wrong.

I knew this machine. I knew every vibration. The car was pulling left—only a few millimeters, but at these speeds, that was a death sentence. It was dragging toward the driver's side.

I looked out the side mirror. Sparks were flying from the front left wheel, even though the tire pressure was perfect.

"Damn it!"

I didn't hesitate. I kicked the door open and threw myself out of the cockpit, rolling across the asphalt as the car drifted.

The moment my weight left the seat, a deafening explosion rocked the air. A wall of heat slammed into my back, tossing me another ten feet. I tumbled, skin tearing against the road, until I came to a halt.

I gasped for air, looking back through the smoke.

The car was a fireball.