Chapter 2

Six years of racing. I know losing is part of it. I know nobody wins forever.

But today's race had only two endings.

Either I win.

Or I die on the track.

"Walter, think about me. If you want to die, don't drag me with you. Grow up."

Olivia's voice had gone shrill.

I had no time for her. I couldn't afford to lose focus over her now.

If she really died, she'd have it coming.

Because she fed me the wrong route on purpose.

A traitor like that deserves no mercy.

Throttle welded to the floor, tearing straight ahead.

The instant I hit the corner, I finally completed the overtake.

Kenneth wasn't worried in the slightest. He knew what happened when you took a corner at this speed.

No one can take a corner at this speed.

Mission control fell dead silent.

Their faces were grim.

I was racing all wrong today.

First the wrong route, and now an overtake pulled off like this.

This kind of driving was dancing on a knife's edge.

The people up top picked me for this race because I was steady. As long as I drove steady, the odds of winning were high.

But today there was nothing steady about me, and I'd chosen this reckless, all-or-nothing line.

I had no choice. This was the only way to win.

Engine screaming, I held my eyes wide, every muscle locked tight.

Both hands clamped on the wheel. In a situation like this, one slip and it was over.

If I died, fine. But if I lost this race, I'd be a criminal for the ages.

You can do this. You will.

A voice roared inside me.

Tap the brake, hit the throttle, tap again, throttle again.

Small, precise inputs to steer the car's line forward.

"Beautiful!"

A cheer came through from mission control. I'd made the corner.

Made it alive!

"Insane!"

Around the track, the roar shook the air.

The moment I cleared the corner, my car shot out, and two full seconds passed before Kenneth's came flying out behind me.

I was still flooring it.

"Are you insane?" A dozen seconds later, some color returned to Olivia's face, and she glared at me and shouted.

"Kenneth's practically dying. Why are you taking this so seriously?"

"Would losing one time kill you?"

I didn't answer. I had one goal now. Win this race.

"If you win today, I'm pulling the medical team treating your father."