Chapter 33 Gianna
Gianna
PRESENT
Police Search and Rescue have been looking for Erik for a week now. There’s still no body. Deputy Dellenty stayed true to his word and kept our names clear.
As for the Mustang, Mr F and Renny have spent hours repairing the mechanics. Ryker sourced pristine replacement panels – making sure they came from a reputable classics collector, of course. And Monz has helped rub down the clear coat ready for me to respray the car tomorrow.
But sometimes the nightmare of what happened replays in my mind.
I killed someone. I don’t regret it. Ryker was right – it was him or us – and I’ll choose us in this lifetime, and any other.
But still. My body feels paralysed with guilt sometimes.
But when the darkness threatens to overwhelm me, Ryker and Chuckie are there to remind me of the light.
Dellenty and Hayley handled the aftermath of what happened on Black Point, leading an investigation of Erik’s confession. Hopefully they identify the officers who accepted the bribes. It feels good to know that there could be justice for Jace.
I reach up, running my fingers along the silver chain around my neck, gripping the metal bar that hasn’t left my body since I got it back. Bullitt.
I miss you, big brother.
Dirt kicks up under my shoes as I inspect the track of Hammer Time Circuit. I haven’t started renovations to reopen it yet, but I plan to preserve as many of the original features as I can. This way, it’ll always feel like I have a little piece of Pa with me. And Jace.
‘Trip down memory lane?’ Ryker calls out, approaching me with a happy Chuckie by his side and his bandaged left arm held gingerly behind his back.
‘Just thinking,’ I say as Ryker wraps his good arm around my waist, bringing me into his warmth.
‘About what?’
‘Once this place is open, the first tyres to hit the new circuit should be ours,’ I say. ‘I bet I could take you on the corners now. Interested?’
‘In a bet against you?’ Ryker shakes his head. ‘That’s still not a wager I’m willing to take, Little Suspect.’
‘Scared?’ I tease. ‘Do you remember when I beat you?’ I muse, tasting the words. ‘Hmmm. No, no. That’s not right … Do you remember when I beat you?’
‘What are you doing?’ Ryker side-eyes me.
I shrug. ‘Just testing how it sounds. I like it.’ I face him, giving him a hard stare. He lets loose the perfect smile that he knows I can’t resist. My heart still threatens to give me cardiac arrest whenever I look at him.
‘Deal, baby,’ he finally says. ‘Let’s see what you got. But first, I’ve got something for you,’ he says, bringing out a small picture frame he was hiding. He hands it to me.
I let my fingers travel over the cool glass. ‘Brooks takes home Spokes Cup in three-peat win,’ I read the title out loud. Beneath the words is a photo of the Mustang with Pa standing proudly next to it.
‘We could hang this in the new lobby.’ Ryker slips his arm around my waist and pulls me in close. He gives me another heart-stopping smile before Chuckie gets a little jealous and weaves his way through our legs, breaking us up.
‘You’ve got competition.’
Ryker scratches Chuckie’s head. ‘I love you, Chuck, but even you won’t come between me and my girl.’
‘Alright guys, food!’ Mr Fernando bellows by the temporary barbecue we’ve set up beside the track entrance.
As we approach, he plates up stacks of steaks, ribs and chargrilled … I don’t even know what. But I can tell those are one of Ma’s creations, so I steer clear of them, and I’m not the only one. Tyler, Renny, Monique and Mr Fernando start to dig in.
‘Doesn’t anyone want my lumpia?’ Ma pouts, lifting the ceramic dish.
‘I’ll have one.’ Ryker reaches for a deep fried roll and bites down. The audible crunch is followed by a counterfeit smile. ‘So good, Mrs B.’
I giggle as he takes a napkin and slyly spits the remnants into it.
Then the rumble of a Porsche 911 Turbo rolls into the car park and I’m surprised to see Chloe Dellenty step out. I head over to greet her. She smiles brightly, as elegant as ever with her clean pressed pantsuit, sleek bob and the poise of a swan.
‘Hey, Chloe. What a nice surprise.’
‘Hey, Gia. The painkillers for Chuckie came in, so I thought I’d drop them off.’ She hands me a small plastic bottle. ‘And I owe you one, for saving my dad.’
‘How’s he healing?’
‘He’s a soldier.’ The ends of her hair flick her chin as she nods.
Chuckie heads to her side, and she pulls something out of her back pocket before leaning down. ‘I wouldn’t just bring meds for the best boy.’ She wraps a blue snood around his neck. The material has a little fuzz to it, then I notice the intricate stitching and lack of label. It’s handmade.
‘That’s cute. You knit?’
‘Crochet.’ She finishes tying off the bow. Chuckie gives her a lick before running back to the picnic table.
I glance back at the Porsche, curiosity getting the better of me.
‘That’s not the car Erik stole and took apart …?’ I point to the vehicle.
‘Uh-huh.’ She twists her lips. ‘What an asshole, right?’
‘How did you get it restored? I saw it on the news – it was in pieces.’
She waves her French-tips in front of her. ‘Insurance covered the replacement, but I’m thinking of selling it. It should have been called the bankrupter, not the widow-maker.’
‘Well, you hungry? We’re having a barbecue.’
She looks over my shoulder and her face drops when she sees Tyler. He’s staring at her intently.
‘You know Tyler, right?’
‘We met once,’ she says the words plainly, but her eyes swirl with myriad emotions. A ghost of guilt, maybe, but it’s mixed with defiance.
‘Something went on between you two?’ I ask.
‘Nope.’ She hums dismissively. ‘Absolutely nothing.’
‘Well, come grab a plate?’
‘Thanks, Gia, maybe another time. I’m on a bit of a deadline.’ She gives a tight smile before pointing to the med bottle. ‘It’s a mild painkiller. Chuckie’s doing well, but keep the medication going till the bottle is empty. Twice a day,’ she clarifies, before jumping back in her car with a wave.
I return to the table and sit next to Monique. She and Renny, sitting opposite each other, are bickering about something.
‘Ow!’ he whines, reaching under the table to rub his shin.
Monique gives him a sardonic grin. ‘Oops.’
Ryker appears with a plate. ‘Veggie burger for my girl.’
I grin, and he grabs one of my fries and crunches it between his perfect teeth. He leans in close. ‘You’ll notice these aren’t cold. Or a stranger’s.’
I give an apologetic shrug. ‘You were an ass that day.’
We sit around the makeshift table, made from the scrap metal hoods and bumpers found around the speedway grounds. It’s a safety issue at best and a trip to the hospital to treat tetanus at worst.
But life has never made more sense.
Things haven’t been easy. There’s been so much loss, and an equal amount of pain. But all I know is that every day is a new adventure, filled with more ‘remember when’s than ‘imagine if’s, and I never go to sleep wishing there were things I could have done but didn’t.
The people around this table are my family.
And right now, they’re exactly what I need.
THE END