Chapter 1

1

The day before the race, I torched my ride and announced I was quitting.

My fan club went ballistic, unsubscribing faster than you can say "sellout," and the casual followers turned on me like a pack of wolves.

Even Derek "The Devil" Davison, the guy who saw me as his only real competition, had the nerve to play Mr. Sympathy.

"It's gonna be lonely at the top without him. I really hope he gets back on the track. I need him to push me."

I just laughed.

...

Last time around, my custom-built speed demon ended up looking identical to his.

No matter how many videos I posted showing every step of my build, he just had to cry to his fans, "Let Riley have it. He needs it more. I can win on skill."

And just like that, I was the bad guy.

Then, the minute I turned the key, my car blew sky-high, turning me into a freakin' vegetable.

His fans were all over it, saying I got what I deserved.

Even as my fiancee pulled the plug on my life support, I couldn't wrap my head around it.

How did everything that was mine, my career, my girl, become Derek Davison's?

Then, I woke up on the day the race schedule dropped.

"Fifty-something test run, and we're still killing it!"

Leo, my best friend, smacked me on the back, nearly sending me sprawling!

I wasn't a freaking vegetable anymore.

I was back!

"You earned it, man!"

Leo thought I was stoked about the car's performance, laughing and telling me to get ready for tomorrow's race.

"Hold up!" I stopped him short. "Don't submit the data yet. I wanna take one more look."

I sprinted to the garage while pulling up Derek Davison's specs.

They were a million miles away from my car's, which is why I didn't see it coming last time.

But the second I got to my baby, the page refreshed.

"Riley! What the hell! Davison's updated specs are a carbon copy of ours!"

Leo, looking like he’d seen a ghost, came running, ready to call lawyers and scream bloody murder.

I felt like I was going to throw up, but I held up a hand to stop him. "Data submission isn't due until midnight. Chill."