Dangerous Race (29 page)

“I tried, Trace. I really tried. I did everything so that you’d walk away, but you wouldn’t.” The gun shook in his hand. “You made me do this. Do you understand? This is all
your
fault.” Sweat poured down his battered face. He’d gone a few rounds with someone already.

She’d have to give Matthew a raise.

Thinking about Matthew reminded her of what he’d said. “Be smart, Eddie. You have one bullet left. If you shoot me, you can’t get out of here. If you shoot the lock open, you can run. It’s a tough call. Is killing me worth it?”

Eddie’s eyes widened in panic.

Long seconds ticked by. Tracey spoke through her parched mouth. “What’s it going to be Eddie? Time’s running out. The lock or me?”

One side of Eddie’s face quivered as if he might be having a seizure. The gun wobbled more.

Tracey took a step toward him. “Put the gun down, Eddie. Everyone knows it was you. You’ve got nowhere to go. Give it up already—it’s over.”

“No!” he screamed. “It’s not over. You took everything from me. My car, my life. Even my father. My dogs love me more than my fucking father all because of you.
I
should’ve been driving all these years!
I
should have the endorsement deals! It’s
my
name on the company! Not yours. If you think it’s over then you’re wrong. Dead wrong.”

Slammed from the side, Tracey hit the pavement hard as a shot rang out. In an instant, she recognized Mac’s strength before he rolled off her. Blood stained their clothes. His? Hers? She didn’t feel any pa—

Blood quickly spread down the arm of Mac’s blue race suit. “Oh my God, Mac. He hit you!” Nomex fabric kept fire out, but not bullets. Mac’s eyes were closed. Oh God.

Eddie roared, his gun pointed at her head as he kept pulling the trigger on the empty weapon. Rage, confusion and fear passed over his face in a matter of seconds before he started running.

No way in hell would she let him get away. He’d hurt everyone she loved.

She reached forward, grabbed his pant leg and tripped him. “You chickenshit piece of crap. You’re not going anywhere!”

Something snapped in Eddie. His eyes went wide and wild. “Don’t call me that,” he screamed. He grabbed her and hauled her up by the collar. With both hands around her neck, he squeezed. “You should be dead,” he seethed. “The accident didn’t do it. The lake didn’t do it. The fucking pills I put in your soup didn’t do it.” His face distorted in fury, lunacy.

In a flash, Tracey remembered the day the car went in the lake. She’d been so exhausted, she’d passed out after only a few sips of soup then she’d woken up eight hours later feeling dehydrated and completely parched.

It seemed Eddie was tired of playing the odds.

The cold pillar showed no mercy at her back, just as Eddie’s fingers showed none around her throat. She tried to take a breath but his hands closed around her neck with deadly force. “Eddie,” she mouthed, because no sound came out. “Stop.” Her lungs burned. She threw her knee into his groin, but he blocked the blow. His lips turned up in a snarl and he slammed her head against the cement behind her. A bright flare flashed in her eyes before the edges got dark, her vision blurred. He’d killed Joe and he was about to kill her too.

She represented everything in his life that he hated and he wanted her dead.

Spots swam in front of her eyes as darkness closed in and her chest seized. Suddenly, the pressure disappeared and she fell to the ground, gasping for air.

Mac threw Eddie into the opposite wall and caught him when he bounced back. With one giant fist, he pounded Eddie’s face and the blond hit the ground without further ado. Using his foot, Mac shoved Eddie onto his back. He wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. He was out cold.

Police rounded the corner as Mac backed away and leaned against the pillar next to her. He sank to the ground, holding his bleeding arm.

Tracey crouched next to him, her hands on her burning throat. Her heart nearly burst with emotion. “You’re my hero,” she whispered.

Mac looked at her with so much love in his gray eyes that tears finally slid down her cheeks. “You’re mine,” he said softly.

Mac stifled a yawn as Tracey and he walked down the hotel hallway the way they’d done so many times before during the last couple of weeks. Only this time, things were different.
They
were different.

After twenty-four hours—and a night in the hospital—they were both glad to be set free.

Tracey squeezed his hand and lifted a brow. “Long night for you too?” Her voice still sounded raspy. Eddie had choked her so hard it had taken hours for the swelling to go down in her vocal chords. The shadows under her eyes told Mac she’d had about as much sleep as he had the night before. Zero.

Mac couldn’t remember a time he’d been more exhausted. A dull throb pounded in his arm, but he didn’t mind it. “Yeah, they don’t let you sleep much, do they?” he said of the hospital nursing staff.

“Not when you’ve got a concussion, no,” she agreed. Awkwardly, he fumbled for the card key in his back pocket, but with his left arm in a sling, he couldn’t reach. “I got it.” Tracey tucked her fingers in his jeans. She reached the card, but laid her hand on his ass and squeezed. “Nice.” Since Matthew, Mac and she had gone to the hospital in race suits, Ed had brought a change of clothes for all of them. He’d been distraught about his only son and hadn’t said much. “Have I told you your ass looks great in these jeans?”

Mac smiled. He loved the sparkle in her eyes. “No, but I’ll keep that in mind.”

She winked. “You do that.” Tracey opened the door and Mac followed her into his room. She’d been keeping up the snappy dialogue and sarcasm. Matthew’s gunshot wound hadn’t affected any vital organs, and Chelsea’s broken ribs and bruises would heal. Understandably, Tracey wanted to stay close to the hospital, but she was working her damnedest to act cool about the whole thing. None of them knew how this would affect Grayling Racing in the long term. How would Ed Senior handle his son’s actions? Would Tracey still drive for the team? Those questions had to be zipping around in her brain along with a hundred others. Clearly the most important thing was that the whole ordeal was finally over and everyone had survived.

“You,” he said, pointing to the bed, “lay down. I promised your nurse that you’d take it easy for a few days.”

“I wasn’t the one who got shot,” she replied, kicking off her shoes. But she knew damn well the bullet had passed clean through without doing major damage.

“No, but you do have a concussion.”

“Mild concussion,” she corrected. “I’m fine. Look who’s talking. You have one too, and you’re the one who lost consciousness. You lay down.”

Mac sighed. It was never-ending with this woman. And he loved her for it. “Fine. On three we both lay down.” He headed to the bed. “One, two, three.” Gingerly he leaned against the pillows and closed his eyes. The spread rustled and Tracey snuggled close, wrapping herself in his good arm. It felt so damn good to hold her. To know she was his.

“I could’ve been home by now,” she mumbled into his chest.

“Look on the bright side…with the race crowd gone, the hotel is almost cleared out. They’ve got nothing but space. We’ve got the place to ourselves. Consider it a much-needed vacation.” He trailed his hand along her arm in a slow caress. He should’ve been too tired to think about touching her in other places, but his mind was going there regardless.

“It’s not like I could go home anyway, with Chelsea and Matthew still in the hospital.” Tracey shuddered. “Poor Chelsea. I keep seeing her face. All those bruises. God, I hope Eddie goes away for the rest of his life.” She shook her head. “I still can’t believe it. All these years and it was Eddie. It’s crazy. Even as far back as your accident.”

Mac couldn’t believe it either. His accident hadn’t been his fault or a sign from God after all. He didn’t regret spending those last years with his dad, but he might not have stayed in England for so many years either.

Tracey leaned back and Mac opened his eyes to see her watching him. “When are you going home?” As in back to London. She never had been one to dodge the inevitable.

“I don’t know,” he told her honestly. “Not for a while. I called my brother, Quinn, last night from the hospital and told him to handle things for now. I’ll have to go back and make sure everything’s okay, but my plan…” He kissed her forehead. “My plan is to come back here. Well, not here, but to you. Indiana.”

“Wow.” She blinked and took a deep breath. “That’s a big step. Are you sure it’s what you want?”

Mac heard the doubt in her voice. Saw the vulnerability she rarely let show. “I’m sure. I’ve never wanted anything more.”

She smiled and nodded. “I have to be honest. I really like that plan.”

“Stop the presses. This is groundbreaking. We’re doing it again.”

“Doing what?” The genuine question in her eyes made him chuckle.

“Agreeing on something.”

“Yeah, we’re up to three.” She threw her leg over his thighs and her heat radiated between two layers of clothes. “Hot dogs, race cars and the fact that we belong together.”

“I’ve got a confession to make.” He grinned. “Although the last one is my favorite. It barely beats out the first,” he said, swatting her butt.

“A smart-ass, huh?” She rubbed her thigh over his groin and his body quickly reacted to the stimulation. A surge of lust bolted through him.

“It takes one to know one,” Mac told her. He smoothed his hand across the spot he just smacked, simply enjoying the feel of the woman next to him. Having her in his arms made every one of his dreams a reality.

“You okay?” she asked.

He’d been squeezing her close and he loosened his grip. He wanted to stroke her hair or her cheek, touch her with more than the arm around her, but the sling made it impossible. “Yeah,” he said. “Sorry. Just thinking about how much I like this. Having you with me.”

Tracey shifted so that she leaned on his chest and looked down into his eyes. She stroked her thumb across his chin. “I like being with you too,” she whispered. “You make me feel safe in a way I’ve never had.”

Knowing this woman the way he did, Mac understood those weren’t easy words for her to admit.

“But at the same time,” she continued, “I don’t want you to completely overhaul your life. I know you have—”

Mac lifted his head and kissed her quiet, taking advantage of her parted lips. “Maybe I want to overhaul my life.” He tucked some hair behind her ear. “Maybe I don’t have a choice.” He gave her another tender kiss, smoothing his lips over her soft mouth. “I don’t want to be without you.” He saw the emotion in her eyes, the love, the happiness…even a speck of doubt. “You made me face myself.” Mac’s chest felt tight. He’d never realized how loving someone could set him so free. “I love you.”

Smiling back at him, she still looked serious. “I love you too. I love you so much.” She kissed him again and this time she decimated him with lethal lips, a killer tongue and roaming hands. She had him harder than a post in under a minute.

Pulling back a fraction, she ran her finger along his cheek. “I didn’t think I’d ever find a connection like this with anyone. But then I wasn’t really good at giving any chances,” she added ruefully. “I’m sorry I made it so difficult for you in the beginning. I know it’s no excuse, but I was off-balance.”

“Anybody would’ve been,” he said. “I know you were close to Joe. I never expected to replace him.”

“I know.” Pausing, she searched for words. “Joe loved me and wanted to protect me, but he did it by letting me stay cocooned in my life.” She looked into his eyes, “You made me feel whole for the first time in four years. You made me feel like a woman, not just a race-car driver who happened to be a woman.” She gave him a soft smile. “I haven’t been both in a long time.”

Mac smiled. “Well, you’re good at both. Very good.”

“Really? Because I thought I needed to practice a little more…” She grazed kisses across his jaw and down his neck, sending tiny shock waves over his skin. “And I’m not talking about the race car part.”

“You need to rest,” he told her between kisses as she methodically unbuttoned his shirt and trailed her lips behind her fingers. But maybe he didn’t sound very convincing because she didn’t stop or even slow down. Not that
that
should surprise him. Good God, the way she fired him up…

“So do you,” she told him, working her way down. “I know just how to put us to sleep.” Using her lips, tongue and hands, she showed him exactly how much she’d learned in their short time together. As she gazed up at him from her vantage point between his legs, her blue eyes full of love and mischief, she stole his breath. Then she proceeded to blow his mind.

The transformation in the mirror was nothing short of a miracle. Professional makeup and upswept hair had Tracey rivaling models in a bridal magazine. The spectacular beaded white wedding gown was fit for a princess.

She never dreamed she’d be a bride.

She never dreamed she’d find a man who’d love her unconditionally and Mac did. Her scar didn’t faze him. If anything, it strengthened the bond they shared. Mac gave her the love and respect she was certain she’d never find. He was her biggest supporter, her best friend and lover. Her life was exactly what she always dreamed it would be. Always wanted.

“I can’t believe this day is finally here,” Kim said from across the room, magically echoing her thoughts. She adjusted the strap on her peach-colored bridesmaid’s dress and fluffed her blond hair.

“I can’t either,” Chelsea replied glancing at Tracey in the mirror. A makeup artist put the final touches on Chelsea’s lips.

Undeniable pride swelled in Tracey’s chest at her sister’s ability to bounce back from the nightmare she’d gone through. Although Chelsea’s bruises and cracked ribs had healed, it had taken a little longer to work through the mental anguish she suffered. But Matthew had been there every step of the way. Eight months had flown by and Chelsea’s decision to move to Indiana had made Matthew the happiest man alive.

Chelsea grinned. “Hey, sis,” she said, “Ready to get hitched?”

“As ready as you are,” Tracey answered with a growing smile. She overflowed with love. Love for her sister, for Mac. She fought back the urge to cry. No way would she cry on her wedding day. That would totally wreck her reputation. “Nice dress, by the way. What’d you do…follow me when I went shopping?”

Chelsea grinned and rose to reveal her gown. Aside from the necklines, the two dresses were almost identical.

Had both of them not found it so amusing, they might’ve thought it a bit creepy. They’d been doing things separately and identically for years. Four months ago, they’d found almost the exact same gown in different cities, on the same weekend, and paid the same amount of money…to the penny.

They’d grown as close as two sisters could become and now they were walking down the aisle together in a double wedding. They made their way closer to the ceremony.

“Matthew told me that Mac broke the track record yesterday at Ed’s place,” Chelsea said.

Tracey nodded, as proud of Mac as she was of her sister. “Yeah, he obliterated my speed by two miles an hour.” That news would tickle Ed once he returned from seeing Eddie in prison. Ed and Beverly never missed a weekend visit, and at the same time, they hadn’t let Eddie’s actions change how they treated Tracey or the crew.

Chelsea shook her head and rolled her eyes heavenward. “Wow, two whole miles per hour,” she teased. “What’s next? He’ll eat ice cream faster too?”

Tracey chuckled. “I know it doesn’t sound like much, but on the track it says something.”

“Do you think he’ll go back to racing?”

“No.” Tracey shook her head. “I’ve tried to talk him into it. Now that he knows the accident wasn’t his fault, he can drive again, but he’s insistent that it’s just a hobby. He doesn’t want to race professionally. Which by the way is fine by me because he’d beat me hands down and.” She said in the same breath, “If you tell him I said that I’ll deny every word.”

Chelsea laughed as Kim arranged their trains at the door. Then Kim kissed each of them and wished them well. She slipped through one of the double doors and walked down the aisle as the only bridesmaid.

“Why the frown?” Tracey asked. “You’re not having second thoughts about getting married, are you?”

Shaking her head with widened eyes, Chelsea adjusted her veil. “No, no. I was just worried about Kim. I think she’s set her sights on Mac’s little brother. I hope she doesn’t break his heart. Kim can be a whirlwind.” Kim had also moved to Indiana since that’s where most of the company’s new clients were based.

“From what I understand, Quinn is his own force of nature. I wouldn’t worry about it. Besides, he’s going back to London to run the business, so there won’t be much time for either one of them to get caught up in anything.”

“That makes me feel better,” Chelsea said. “Oh, before I forget. Royal Oil called again. They want to do another spot.”

“Another one?” Tracey couldn’t believe that after a dozen commercials they still wanted more. “Aren’t they getting tired of me yet?”

“They’re making millions, Tracey. You’re the Arrow 500 champion. No, they’re not tired of you.”

Tracey sighed. Talking about that race still haunted her. Still made her furious.

“Don’t you dare make that noise,” Chelsea reprimanded. “You won that race hands down. It doesn’t matter that Correlli crossed the finish line first. He conspired against you and deserved to go to jail. That race belonged to you, fair and square. For God’s sake, you were going a hundred miles an hour the whole last lap and you still won.”

Closer to a hundred and sixty, but it didn’t matter. Although part of Tracey believed her sister, it still hurt to know that she hadn’t crossed the finish line first and she’d won the race by default. She consoled herself knowing that in a few more months she’d have another chance to win the right way.

“Oh my God!” Chelsea wailed, her eyes wide in panic.

“What?”

“We’re standing on the wrong side. I’m supposed to be on the left and you’re supposed to be on the right. If we move now, we’ll destroy our trains.”

Tracey winced and held back the urge to say
so what?
“Is it that big of a deal?”

Chelsea’s mouth dropped open, as if she’d just heard something taboo.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Tracey muttered.

“This is our wedding, Tracey. How can you think of going down the aisle with your train messed up?”

Well…to tell the truth, it was easy, but she dare not say that out loud. “Okay, okay. What do you—Wait, I’ve got it.” Oh God…this idea was so horrible and so great. It was right up her alley. “Let’s go down the aisle like this. Let’s see if the guys notice.”

Chelsea seemed to pale. “You’re kidding, right?”

“No. C’mon. It’ll be fun. Let’s see if they can tell us apart.”

Clearly torn, Chelsea looked from her train to Tracey. After almost thirty seconds of deliberation, she sighed. “Okay. We don’t really have a choice if we want our trains to look good.”

It was strange how they could be so much alike and yet still be so different. “All righty, then. Are we ready? Because I think they’re playing our song.”

Chelsea eyes widened at the sound of the wedding march. “Oh my God. I’m getting married.”

“Me too,” Tracey whispered. “Let’s get to it. On three, ready?”

Chelsea nodded. “One.”

“Two.”

“Three,” they said in unison as they opened the doors.

The banquet room was filled to capacity. Their men stood at the end of the aisle. Both tall, dark and handsome. Both wearing immaculate tuxedoes. Both looking a little shell-shocked at their women.

The ladies had only walked several feet when Tracey noticed Mac’s eyes. He studied Chelsea, since he was expecting Tracey on his side of the aisle. Matthew had the same look on his face as he studied her. As they got closer, the men looked back and forth between them, then to each other and back to them.

Tracey would’ve laughed out loud, but she didn’t want to give it away. Instead she walked slowly with her head held high and a smile plastered on her face.

She watched a look pass between Mac and Matthew, and right before Chelsea and she approached, the men switched places.

Tracey took Mac’s arm as they continued down the aisle together. “I knew you’d figure it out,” she said.

“Was that some sort of trick to make sure we knew who was who?” he asked wryly.

“Not at first,” Tracey whispered. “It was a train thing.”

One eyebrow lifted. “A train thing?”

“I’ll explain later.” She paused. “Did you really think I’d let you marry my sister?”

The other eyebrow lifted. “Did you really think I’d marry your sister?”

“Would you two cut it out already? We’re getting married,” Chelsea murmured.

“Yeah, Mac, shhh,” Tracey said. God, she loved him, loved to tease him too.

“I didn’t start this,” Mac whispered.

“But you still—”

“Both of you,” Chelsea hushed with wide eyes. “Stop it.”

“Atta a girl. You tell ’em,” Matthew added softly.

Tracey was bursting with happiness as the four of them reached the non-denominational minister who smiled and opened his book.

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this man with this woman and this man with this woman…”

* * *

Don’t miss the next title in the Adrenaline Highs series by Dee J. Adams,
Danger Zone
, coming in February 2012 from Carina Press!