SAVANNA (VERONICA)
The crowd paused for a moment and then all heads shifted, eyes landing on me.
Danny’s gaze followed last.
His gaze traveled down top to bottom.
Curious, like he was trying to figure out if this was a joke.
His brow arched, “you?” The skepticism in his tone was clear.
He didn’t believe me.
“Who is she?
Never seen her before.”
“Can’t even see her face properly.”
“She’s just a fat, teenage girl.
What can she do?” — whispers began.
Danny, however, pushed himself off the car and walked a bit forward.
“Girl, do you even know how to race?”
“I do.” My tone was calm.
He smirked, “really?
So you’re aware of the dangers of racing?”
“Why not try without wasting money?” I held his gaze.
“Or— are you scared of losing?”
For a moment silence fell, until a few whistles came out of the crowd.
Someone laughed.
“Damn!
The girl’s courageous.”
Danny’s smile shifted, his brows arched further as he again gazed up and down.
“Interesting.”
“Well, girl, I admire your courage.
It’s almost believable, however, with courage, you also need a car.
So, where is your car?” His eyes flicked past me briefly, like he was searching for the car I had come with.
When he saw none, he shook his head, “if you wanna race, the first rule is you need a car.
And— with having your own car, you also need to know how to drive.”
“And I see none of it.
So…?”
I looked around, and my eyes fell on a grey Mustang.
It was old enough, but quite high enough for someone in Bronx.
“Whose car is this?” I asked.
A young guy frowned.
“Mine, why?”
“Good.” Lifting my hand, I pointed toward it.
“That is the one.”
All gaze shifted to it, including the guy who didn’t really understand what was happening.
People gasped, and some laughed.
“That?!”
“Yo, this girl’s crazy!”
“She probably has no place to use fifty grand.
Girl, give it to us!” — the crowd was stunned.
I didn’t care though.
I only watched Danny.
“That is my car.”
“You sure you wanna take the risk of fifty grand?
Girl, that’s…”
“I’ll not lose.” My words paused him.
“I have a condition though.” I added.
“And…?”
“Since I’m racing with an old Mustang, I’ll do the race if the money is a million.”
For a moment— No one spoke.
Then the crowd erupted.
Laughter broke out, loud and disbelieving.
“Is she serious?!”
“This girl’s a nut I’m telling you!”
“Racing with an old Mustang with recent Lamborghini?
Eh, my money is on Danny!”
“Danny’s gonna have a race with himself!”
Danny, however, watched me quietly, before shrugging, “Alright,” he said slowly, “One million if you win.”
There was no hesitation in his voice.
Because to him— There was no risk.
But—
“But, I’m not!
I’ll not give my car!” The guy, looked like a college student.
I turned quietly, and walked toward him.
He straightened seeing me.
“Back up!
I’m not giving my car to you!”
“I need your car.” I said calmly.
He blinked.
“Didn’t you hear me!?”
“I need it for ten minutes…
I’ll give you ten grand once I’m done.”
“What!?” His expression shifted from confusion to disbelief.
“A-are you serious!?”
“Yes.” I held his gaze without hesitation.
He looked like he was about to deny it.
But then he watched me again, and then to his car.
“…Ten grand?” he repeated slowly.
Reconsidering the amount.
Something he probably never saw in life together.
After a pause, “okay, but— but I’ll be sitting beside you.
I will not…”
“Alright.” I cut his words.
“Hell,” Danny called out from behind me, his voice laced with amusement, “Since you’re quite determined, for your courage, I’ll give you a thirty-second head start.”
More laughter followed.
The crowd leaned in now.
Curiosity had replaced dismissal although they were sure of the result.
I didn’t respond.
Just opened the driver’s door.
The seat was unrefined compared to what I was used to.
But it didn’t matter.
The guy sat beside me, still in a haze.
Probably doubting his choices.
“Tighten your seat belt.” I warned him.
He glanced at me before doing so.
My hands rested on the wheel as I slowly moved the car to the starting point.
Savanna had many skills, and one of them was— Racing.
Although I didn’t plan to reveal my skills so much, it all happened for Abrahams.
My fingers tightened around the wheel as a flicker of irritation crossed my mind.
If the Abrahams hadn’t been so cheap, I could have earned my money a little later.
Those stingy Abrahams.
Damn!
But it was fine.
I was here now.
Besides, I hadn’t raced for too long and it was just the right time to feel the thrill of the experience all over again.
The engine hummed beneath me.
Much weaker than to perform in a race, but still alive.
And that would suffice.
I adjusted the mirror slightly and caught Danny pulling his car into position.
With a growl of engine, The Lamborghini gleamed under the lights.
I pulled over my hoodie more, as the crowd gathered closer now.
Voices rising high.
Racing had been something I grew up with.
From the very beginning in the Abyss we had been trained to be reckless and merciless.
There was nothing in this world we could not work with.
I remembered once I had chased a bugatti with a frail cab, and this— I glanced at the steering wheel.
“This one’s still workable.”
“What?” The guy beside me frowned.
“Nothing.” I murmured.
Someone stepped forward to signal the start.
My grip on the wheel tightened out of sheer excitement.
It had been a while since I raced.
The countdown began.
Three—
Two—
One—
And my lips twitched to a sneer…