SAVANNA (VERONICA)
The city lights passed quickly until the car slowed gradually and eventually, the car stopped.
“We’re here,” the driver said, glancing back at me through the rearview mirror, a hint of hesitation in his eyes like he wasn’t entirely sure why anyone would want to stop in a place like this…
That alone is a teenage girl.
I didn’t bother though, instead, “how much?” I asked quietly.
“Eighteen bucks” he said.
I handed him a twenty dollar note, “keep the change.” And with it, I left the car ignoring his appreciated look.
The place was more of an industrial area, so, at this hour the place was quiet, but not for people living in the shadows…
The wind was chilling at night.
I pulled the hood of the oversized hoodie over my head, letting the shadow fall over my face, hiding the sharpness in my eyes, dulling the outline of who I was.
I walked down the street.
The deeper I moved, the quieter it became, except the faint vibration underneath.
Soon, the vibration turned to a distant echo.
And the more I walked, the more it grew…
As I walked further, the hum of low yet powerful engines roared in the air, along with laughter.
One more turn and Lights began to flicker ahead— it was a signal, but only for those who wanted to look.
I walked a bit more, turned the corner, and stepped into it…
And the world shifted instantly.
The silence was gone, now filled with bright lights, crowds, beats of music, and expensive cars.
A street racing ground…
My gaze followed the lined polished, expensive cars on both sides of the road.
People, mostly youth, were huddled together— laughing, yelling, placing bets, their voices mixing with the engine roar that shook the ground beneath my feet.
The air was thick with hot blood, old money and crazy recklessness.
I walked forward in the crowd.
A race was already underway…
Two cars zoomed past, their engines screaming as they tore down the road.
Some looked worried, seemingly for the bet they had made.
After all, street racing was all about money.
Standing there, my gaze moved over the scenes.
And my lips twitched in satisfaction…
This was one of the places where money moved faster than tornadoes.
In the field of racing, people risked their money recklessly.
They risked everything for pride.
And tonight— I was here to make money as well.
No, not through betting.
That was boring.
I was here for racing.
I had seen it online this morning, while shopping with mom and Ethan.
A hidden corner of the internet where these races were whispered about, where places moved around, and only those in the know could find them.
And tonight was supposed to be big…
A race hosted by a group of rich, spoiled kids with more money than sense.
And I intended to take advantage of that.
A deafening screech made me frown and my focus shifted to the ground.
One of the cars had surged forward, crossing the finish line first.
A limited-edition Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, in midnight black.
The engine was still roaring like a beast that hadn’t finished hunting.
That sleek, aggressive design gleaming under the lights, with every curve screaming wealth, power, and arrogance.
The car paused as though the main hero of the platform.
Well, a car like this was always a main hero.
However, it certainly did not belong here.
Bronx couldn’t afford such luxury.
A few seconds later, the driver’s door lifted open, revealing a young man.
Slowly, he stepped out.
Voices overlapped as people gathered around him, patting him on the back, praising him loudly as though overlapping him in butter…
“Man, that turn— you smoked him!”
“Danny, that was insane!
You just ate him, dude!”
“Didn’t even give him a chance!”
Standing at one side, I watched them— him precisely.
Daniel Carter, known as Danny.
the only son of the powerful families in New York.
The Carter family.
And this young guy carried himself with arrogance— just like any spoiled brat.
He didn’t bother the praises, seemingly used to it.
He wanted more.
And that made me smile.
I wondered if that confidence would remain before the night ended.
Leaning back slightly against his car, his brow arched quietly as his eyes scanned the crowd with sheer challenge.
“Anyone else?” he called out, a smirk tugging at his lips, trying to be the ‘cool dude’.
“Or are you all done losing tonight?”
A few people laughed.
Others looked away.
“Come on man, we lost you a couple of times.” Someone said from the crowd.
“Yeah?” His lips curved upward with a grin.
“Then let’s do it again, and this time— “Fifty grand.”
His tone was too casual.
Surely he had never cared for money, nor did he know anything except how to spend it.
Silence followed.
People looked at each other.
Fifty grand was a lot for most of them.
Certainly, no-one stepped forward.
“Come on, guy, no one?” His brows arched with more arrogance as though he knew.
“No-one wants to make it interesting?”
However— ” I do.” I said, stepping forward.