Page 112 of Start Your Engines

Niki guffaws. “The player is in love? Sure. Jog on, Dane.”

Connor’s face drops, and my heart breaks.

“Connor, I love you, too. But I need to talk to my brother. Could you leave us alone?”

He lifts his eyebrows as if waiting for me to change my mind. I kiss his cheek and hold his hand to my heart. “Please?”

“Are you two fucking kidding me with this? Get lost, Connor,” my brother shouts.

Connor hesitates, but my pinched stare has him walking to the lift.

“Get in my suite now, Niki,” I hiss as I open my room and storm into it.

Niki slams the door as he joins me. “He’s not the right man for you, sis. He’s a player. He treats women badly?—”

I round on him. “This isn’t about him, although I’d defend that incredible man until I had no breath left in me. This is about us. You’ve lied to me repeatedly. Did you know Dad was selling the team no matter what I did?”

Niki holds his hands up.

“You shit,” I snarl.

“Sen, I was trying to protect you. I thought if I came home and took over, then we could run it together. I’d be in charge, and I could protect you. With me leading things, I’d convince Dad not to sell.”

I square up to him. “Are you kidding me? I don’t need you. You should have believed in me. You should have been proud of me like I’ve always been proud of you. I’ve made this team a success.”

“A success at what cost? Your health? You’re not being rational. Look at who you’re dating. You can’t be thinking straight. I love the guy, but he’s not boyfriend material, and he’s your driver! You’ve always said it’s hard to be a woman in this industry, but look at who you’re secretly dating. What will people say because I know you haven’t told your team?”

“What do you mean?”

“I went to the garage to find you, but no one knew where you were. Macca needed you, but you were off with Connor. Connor is distracting you. I told him to protect you this season, and he didn’t, and now you’re losing the team. All those people depend on you.”

“And I’m doing everything I can to ensure we have a future.” My shoulders hunch as I pace. I check my phone. Ten missed calls from Macca.

“By getting distracted and going off with Connor the week before your last race?”

It’s like he’s repeating all my fears. My inferiority complex rears its head, and I don’t know what to believe. “I’m an effective boss. We’ve done well this season. We nearly made the top six. Why can’t you believe in me?”

He walks towards me, and I step back. “Because I don’t recognise you anymore. Do you remember saying how difficult it was for you to make strides for women? You’ve struggled your entire career. Don’t let it all go for him.”

“I’m not.” I drag in a breath. “I’m stronger with him and with the whole team on my side.”

“If he’s really as great as you say he is, and if you love him as much as you say you do, then why didn’t you tell me? I heard it from Dad. He called me as I got to the hotel. I didn’t believe him because the idea you’d date your former enemy, a player, was ridiculous.”

I freeze, staring at Niki.

“We wanted to tell you face-to-face,” I stutter. I rub my scar as I fumble with my words.

“Are you ashamed of him, Senna?”

“No!”

“But you know people will think less of you. You’ll lose all the respect you’ve earned like you lost Dad’s and mine.”

I choke. This isn’t my sweet older brother.

“And you’ve put the company at risk by dating him. How can you make reasonable decisions when you’re secretly dating one of the team? You can’t. I want you to be happy and have a good life, but you can’t do that with Connor. You need protecting, and he isn’t the guy to do it.”

“You’re saying these things because you’re hurting.”

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