Page 41 of Break My Heart

Good.

I gesture toward the track. “This place is predictable for you.”

“And?”

“You can hide mistakes here.”

He lifts his chin. “You think there’s more.”

“Maybe. Want to find out?”

“Where?”

I twist my head and point in the direction of where I’m staying. “My father’s track.”

There’s a pause before he asks carefully, “Do you mean to tell me my mysterious neighbor all these years has been none other than your father?”

“Yes.”

“You’re offering me a chance to drive on Lewis Porter’s track,” he reiterates.

Dario steps beside me, attention sharpening. “I’ve heard rumors your father’s track isn’t forgiving.”

“They’re well earned,” I reply. “If you want to push the limits—yours and the system’s—you can’t continue to do it somewhere predictable. Safe won’t get you what you want.”

Silence settles for half a second before Leo asks, “You think I’ve been playing it safe?”

I consider the question before I answer. “I think your driving is strong. It’s been good enough. Now is your chance to be better. If you really want to be, that is.”

My words hang between us, laden with dual meaning.

Something in his expression shifts again—not anger. Not offense. Recognition. He exhales slowly, gaze dropping for a fraction of a second before returning to mine. “When can we go?”

“Any time, really.” I slide my hand into my pocket and wait.

He exhales slowly. “Then I’m ready to try…if you’ll let me.”

The words settle somewhere under my ribs—dangerous, unwelcome—and I hate that a part of me still wants to believe him. I don’t answer right away. He doesn’t get that from me anymore—easy, immediate.

I hold his gaze for a second longer than necessary then I nod decisively before asking, “This afternoon?”

Dario breaks in between the tension arcing between us. “We’ll have the car there in an hour.”

Neither Leo nor I acknowledge his agreement. For a second, everything but the intensity with which Leo is staring at me fades away—his team. The track. Reason.

I step back and grin. “Relax. You’re going to need to be your best.”

“You don’t think I can handle it?” Leo asks with a hint of rare arrogance.

“Has any Porter made it easy on you?”

To my side, I hear Dario choke on a laugh. Leo turns his head and scowls at him. My lips twist into a smirk. “Let’s see how you hold up on Dad’s track.”

Walking away, I gather my computer and head out through the garage to my car. I know—without looking—he’s following my every movement.

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TELEMETRY LAG: DELAY IN REAL-TIME DATA TRANSMISSION