Chapter 438

[ 952 words ]

Julian’s POV

“I’ve never been more fucking sure of anything,” Katia said. “Go get in your car, Jules. We’ve got a race to win p>

I almost smiled despite the knot in my chest and walked back to my own car.

Gail found me a few minutes later with Aiden still on her hip.

“I’m taking him somewhere with a clear view but away from the main crowd,” she said. “I don’t want anyone looking at this kid and wondering why a Windsor is standing that close to Catwoman’s car p>

“Smart,” I said.

“I’ll disappear the second the cars line up. Nobody needs to see where Aiden’s aunt goes once the engines start p>

She left with him, weaving through the crowd toward a raised bit of concrete further back. Close enough to watch. Far enough that no one would connect the dots.

I found Zane near the staging area going over the last details.

“You block the left side,” he said.

“I’ve got people watching the right. Sam’s on Tessa’s team. Marcus is shutting down any livestream that tries to go too wide p>

“And if something goes wrong p>

“Then we handle it,” Zane said. “Like we always do p>

The starter started calling racers to the line.

I pulled my car in beside Katia’s. Close enough that our formation looked natural. Far enough that it didn’t look planned. Tessa rolled up on Katia’s other side a second later. Same deep red car. Phoenix mask catching the headlights. She was already talking to whatever stream she had running; of course she was.

The crowd got louder. That electric, hungry noise people make when they know they’re about to see something worth talking about for weeks.

The starter raised the flag.

I glanced once toward the concrete where Gail stood with Aiden. Even from here I could see my son bouncing, yelling something that sounded like his mother’s name with pure six-year-old excitement.

The flag dropped.

We shot off the line together. Three engines screaming. The waterfront road opened up, and the city turned into a blur. Katia took the early lead exactly like we planned. She cut through the first curve like she owned the damn road.

I stayed right behind her right shoulder. Close enough to block any camera that might catch too much of her through the glass. Matching her speed. Never pulling ahead.

Tessa pushed hard through the second turn. She almost came even with me for a stretch. The old competitive shit rose up in my chest, and I shoved it back down. Tonight wasn’t about me winning. Tonight was about making sure Katia crossed that line first.

I eased off and let Tessa take the spot beside me. Kept myself solidly behind Katia instead. A wall between her car and anything coming up too fast from behind.

Katia held the lead through the long middle stretch. Her line through every curve was sharp as hell. You could feel how much of herself she’d poured into this race. Every skill she’d built over years of driving circuits, just like this one.

The final stretch opened up.

Katia hit the gas and pulled away with that same reserve she always saved for the end. She crossed the finish line a full two car lengths ahead of both of us. The crowd lost its fucking mind.

I came in second. Tessa trailed third, and even through her tinted glass you could feel the frustration rolling off her.

Katia didn’t stop.

She didn’t slow down more than she had to. Didn’t get out. Didn’t linger for one second longer than the win required. Her car just turned, smooth and clean, and disappeared down a side street before most of the crowd had even finished screaming.

I knew exactly what she was doing. Same pattern she’d followed for years. No interviews. No close photos. Nothing for anyone to examine long enough to notice something they shouldn’t.

I pulled off to the side and watched Tessa climb out of her car. She yanked her mask down, scanning the crowd for any sign of where Catwoman had gone.

She found nothing.

I made my way over to Grandma Celeste a few minutes later. Gail was already back with Aiden, who launched himself at my legs the second he saw me.

“Dad! You came in second p>

“I did,” I said, picking him up. “Your mom is very fast p>

“She’s the fastest,” Aiden said, like it was the most obvious truth in the world.

Grandma watched the crowd start to thin out. Tessa was still standing by her car, refusing to leave until she’d squeezed every last chance of learning something useful out of the night.

“She found nothing,” Grandma said quietly.

“She found nothing,” I agreed.

Noah and Delia joined us. Delia had her arms crossed against the cold, but there was something almost calm in her face for once.

“That was incredible,” Noah said. “I’ve never seen anything like it p>

“You get used to it,” Zane said, walking up with Sam. “Though it never stops being a little terrifying to watch p>

“A little,” I admitted.

Martha and David came over last. David clapped me on the shoulder like we were at some regular family event.

“Quite the night,” he said. “Glad we came p>

“So am I,” I said, and meant it more than he probably realized.

We started leaving the same way we arrived. Staggered. Different cars. Different routes. Everyone carrying a different version of the night home with them.

My phone buzzed as I got into my car. One message from Katia.

Home safe. Waiting for you.

I smiled and pulled out, checking my mirrors twice, then a third time, making damn sure nothing followed me.

If you find any errors (non-standard content, ads redirect, broken links, etc Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible.