Page 21 of Formula Freedom
His eyes go wide. “How… how did you know?”
“It doesn’t matter, but now everyone knows, and you have a lot to answer for.”
“I just—” He stammers. “I fucked up, okay? I know that. I would never really hurt her, Reid. You’ve got to believe me.”
“You left your handprint on her face,” I snarl. “Bruises on her arm. You sent her threatening texts.”
“That was—” He swallows. “It got out of hand. She was provoking me. You know how Lara can be.”
I almost go blind with rage and give him a hard shake. “Don’t you dare try to make this her fault. You were fucking cheating on her, you lowlife piece of shit.”
“She’s stubborn. She pushes. I just… I lost my temper. It wasn’t supposed to happen.”
I can’t believe he’s still trying to put this off on her. I can’t fucking stand someone who doesn’t take responsibility for their actions.
“You’re done, Lance,” I growl. “You go near her again, and I swear to God you’ll regret it.”
The change that comes over Lance could be frightening to some. I bet Lara has seen this and been scared. Face hardening, eyes cold and calculating, and a slight sneer twisting his face.
He knocks my hands away from his chest and leans toward me. “You’re just pissed because I got her and you didn’t.”
That stuns me for half a second, but I brush it off as ludicrous. I even open my mouth to deny it, but he rolls right over me with a smirk. “Yeah. Thought I didn’t know? You’ve been carrying a torch for her since we were kids. Always second best to me, little brother.”
I rear back, fist tightening. My arm even starts to swing, prepared to launch straight into that nose that matches mine. I even anticipate the crunch of bone, the satisfying spurt of blood, but then Carlos appears, stepping between us and clapping a firm hand on my chest.
“Not here,hermano,” he says low. “People are watching and he’s not worth it.”
I breathe hard, fists still clenched, but I let Carlos ease me back a step. I glance around, and sure as shit, several people have stopped in their tracks, watching the brotherly drama play out.
Lance straightens his shirt, giving me a cocky, hollow grin. “See you around, little brother.”
He saunters off like he’s won something, and maybe he did. He wasn’t intimidated by my threats in the least, which means Lara will still be in his sights.
Carlos shakes his head beside me. “Guy’s a bloody mess.”
“Yeah,” I mutter, watching Lance disappear into the crowd.
My friend’s strong hands go to my shoulders, forcing me to turn to him. Carlos’s expression is grim. “You need to snap out of this. You have another practice session in a few hours. You have qualifying tomorrow and a race on Sunday. You’re one of the fastest right now, but to keep that, you have got to get your head on straight. You cannot afford to let this interfere with your concentration.”
I blow out my frustration, rake my fingers through my hair. He’s right… I have a job to do. I have a career that I love more than anything, and I cannot let this thing with Lance and Lara derail me. As much as I vow to protect Lara from my brother, and as much as I want to make my brother suffer, those things have to give way to something more important right now.
CHAPTER 7
Lara
The door tothe suite clicks open a little before nine o’clock, and the sound sends a surprising jolt through me.
I set aside my laptop from its position on my knees and my project sketches slide off the couch cushion. I’ve been trying to focus all evening—trying to dive into the residential development project I’ve been assigned for a new coastal resort near Byron Bay—but my mind keeps drifting. To Reid. To Lance. To everything in between.
I push to my feet as Reid steps in, tugging off his Matterhorn jacket and running a hand through his messy blond hair. He looks exhausted. And still stupidly gorgeous.
“Hey,” he says, voice warm but undeniably tired.
“Hey,” I reply, crossing the living room to meet him. “Long day?”
“You could say that,” he murmurs, setting his keys and phone down on the console table.
I hesitate, then add, “I watched practice today. You looked good out there.”
