Page 6 of Full Throttle 2

Her throat was too thick with emotion to speak, but she forced out the words. “I can’t let the press see me like this.”

Liam took a step around Colby to shield her from the flashing lights. “Let’s go inside.” He wanted to do more but knew the optics would make Colby look weak. Weakness was not anything Colby could display. Therefore, Liam would wait to comfort her until they were alone. For now, he would support her in other ways.

Colby shook her head no. “I can’t go inside.” Her voice was soft. “Not yet, and I can’t let the other teams see me like this either.”

After a quick glance around, Liam saw, as expected, all eyes were focused on her, everyone looking for a reaction.

Colby was still processing her loss and taking it hard. It killed him that there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it. However, Liam would do what he could. It was a small gesture, but he removed his mirrored sunglasses and placed them gently on her face.

His voice was strained. “Take your time.” Liam deserved an award for the level of rage he was keeping at bay. Every race.Every. Fuckin’. Race,he’d worried if idiots were going to end Colby’s life, and this contest wasn’t any different.

There were several scary moments that looked like drivers were purposely trying to take her out. It was disgusting and hard to comprehend the level of animosity against her just for being on the circuit. It was a miracle she placed as high as she had.

Colby never got a break, not on or off the track, from people who wanted to cause her physical harm. Liam had to hire round-the-clock bodyguards. And the press, they were like vultures, looking for anything to slander her.

“Colby! How does it feel to lose?!”

“Did they cheat you out of a win?”

“Should you have stopped to change tires on lap 320?”

Colby ignored the shouts from the reporters. Mostly because she was having a moment. She’d started to wonder if she had what it took to be a premier driver in this sport. It wasn’t like she hadn’t known it would be difficult, but she thought there had been some progress since her brother's death and her first win. No one could have prepared her for just how tough things had been.

Shouts from the press were getting louder. As much as Colby wanted to ignore them, it was impossible. In just a few moments, she had to attend the mandatory press briefing required after every race.

Get it together. You can’t let them see you break.

Briefly, Colby closed her eyes, took a deep breath, held it, and blew it out. She allowed herself another moment to shake off the sick feeling in the pit of her stomach before removing Liam’s glasses and handing them back.

When she looked up this time, Liam was relieved to see embers of the fire that typically burned deep within her.

It was still there.

“I just needed a minute. I’m ready.” Colby did her best to reassure him. She knew that if Liam could choose any other career for her, he would, but this was her chosen path.

Liam wasn’t convinced. “You sure?”

Colby nodded. “I’m sure.”

Cyrus had been standing just a few feet away. If she needed him, he would be there, but she needed Liam. He’d given his baby girl some space but had also been listening to their conversation. As soon as they were finished, he walked over. “You don’t have to do this press conference. We’ll take the fine.”

Colby wouldn’t hear of it. “Absolutely not. They may have stolen the checkered flag, but there is no way in hell I’m going to let those assholes think they won.”

It was important to Colby that she projected strength not just to the opposition but for Lockwood Racing as well. She set the tone for the team, and they would follow her lead.

Liam saw the moment her mask was firmly in place.

“It’s showtime.” Her tone said it all. The vulnerability from earlier was gone. Replaced by a fearlessness that Liam could only admire. There was steel in her back as he watched her walk toward the lion’s den, Team Lockwood trailing closely behind.

Where did she find the strength?He was both mad as hell and in awe.

Chapter Four

Colby hadn’t been able to catch her breath since crossing the finish line and losing a race she knew she’d won. Not when she had been surrounded by a bloodthirsty press pack, NASCAR handlers afraid she’d say something that would cause a backlash, rabid fans, her own security, the likes of a presidential detail, and, of course, her team.

A coldness swept through her after the press conference as she beat back the feeling of anxiety. She could only imagine the stories that were going to be written about her loss and the stupid hot takes of talking heads on sports shows and podcasts.

Being under the microscope nonstop was taking its toll. Everyone watched her like a hawk for their own reasons, but Colby knew they all wondered the same thing, including her own team.When will she break?Was this it? Was this the moment?

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