Page 109 of Celestial Combat

We surged forward. My shoulder throbbed from the fight, my ribs screamed every time I breathed – but I didn’t slow down.

Jiehong glanced at me in his side mirror, raging.

I blew past him.

The outside of the track was a blur. The whole world was reduced to speed, sensation, and the scary man sitting silent beside.

We cleared another curve, tires screaming over the asphalt. I didn’t ease off.

I went up a gear.

“What took you so long to find me?” I asked, eyes locked on the next turn.

“Had to finish business in my office first.”

I’d come to understand whenever Zane said ‘business’, he referred to business with my brother. So, they were making progress.

“Thought you’d be where I left you.”

I let out a laugh. “Your mistake.”

Lap one.

“You really hot-wired this?” Zane asked, glancing around the cockpit. His voice was too calm.

“I like to keep my skills sharp,” I said, throwing him a look. “Besides, it’s not like I had your keys. What’s up with that collection of luxury racing cars hidden in your garage, anyway?”

“You could’ve asked.”

“You would’ve stopped me.”

“Can I?”

I pushed the speed even higher. The speedometer climbed. The frame trembled.

Lap two.

Zane braced a hand against the door, watching me now instead of the road. “You know you’re going too slow, right?”

I arched a brow, glancing his way.

Downshifted and slammed the gas again.

The car surged forward like a bullet, hugging the next curve so tightly that the tires kissed the edge of the track. I felt the back fishtail slightly – perfect control, just enough risk to make Zane’s lip twitch with the ghost of a smirk.

Lap three.

We were flying now. The track lit up in patches from the overhead rig lights, casting long shadows across our faces.

“You gonna yell at me for stealing a car?”

“Not yet. I’m waiting until you crash it.”

I grinned. “That’s not gonna happen.”

“Didn’t say it was. Just that I’d wait.”

Lap four.

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