Colby closed her eyes as she was transported back to that time and moment. “His car exploded. They weren’t able to get him out in time. We had to have a closed casket funeral because he was so badly burned.”
“My god.” Liam pulled Colby tighter and kissed the side of her head. “I’m so sorry, baby.”
“Me too.” She sighed. “No one ever paid the price for killing my brother. There were some fines, some sanctions, but no justice. After it happened, I spent every second I could training to avenge my brother’s death. Sure, I want to make history, but that’s not the real motivation behind everything I’ve done. For a few years, I got sidetracked, met a guy, and tried to create a new life for myself. But I’m a James. Racing is in my blood. I decided to get back to my roots and become the best that NASCAR had ever seen. I wanted to be so good that there would be no denying me. My plan was to pick up where Rodney left off with one exception.” Colby lifted her head to stare into Liam’s eyes. “I am going to give Lorene the same mercies he gave my brother.”
“Your goal is revenge?” he asked.
Without flinching, Colby responded, “Yes.”
“What happened to him was horrific, but he died doing what he loved. Would Rodney want that for you?”
“You can’t possibly understand.” Colby glanced down at her fingers. “It doesn’t matter.”
“It matters. Can you live knowing you killed someone?”
“Lorene? Yes.”
“I don’t believe that. I also can’t believe Rodney would want you to have blood on your hands.” Liam chose his words carefully. “I have faith in you.”
Her head jerked up. “That’s hard to believe when you and Brian had no plans to let me drive in this race. He told me everything about the stupid bet and how that could have devastating consequences when it comes to your family’s business.”
“You haven’t known me long enough to know that I always have a contingency plan. In some cases, more than one.” Liam cradled Colby’s face in his hands. “Please, trust me.”
She held his gaze until he lowered his head and gently placed his lips over hers.
After their kiss, Liam pulled back slightly. He rested his forehead against hers. “I didn’t plan on falling in love with you, and I certainly didn’t think I would have a hand in helping you make history. I know how important this moment is. I want a future with you. Which is why I hope you can let go of the past, and focus on building the future you deserve. One that Rodney would want for you.”
“I don’t know if I can,” she said.
“I believe my woman can do anything.”
“Do you really deep down in your soul believe that?”
“I can prove it.”
Colby was skeptical. She echoed him. “You can prove it?”
He nodded. “If you’re up to it. I can absolutely prove it.”
She pressed her lips together. “How?”
Liam reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, and dialed a number. Impatiently, he waited for someone to pick up. The moment they did, he began to speak. “You know that thing we’ve been working on? I think we’re ready. Can you meet us at the place? Great. See you in about twenty minutes.” Liam disconnected the call, resting his head in the crook of Colby’s neck. “Let me take you someplace special.”
She wasn’t sure if she had the strength to leave her hotel room. “I don’t know, Liam.”
He stood and brought Colby to her feet. “Please. Trust me.”
Trust. There was that word again. Liam was asking a lot, and while she shouldn’t trust him, Colby did. “Let me clean up first.”
Chapter 26
Colby was not in the mood to do anything but curl up in bed and pull the covers over her head. She had no idea how she allowed Liam to talk her out of doing just that. Instead, she’d splashed her face with cold water, thrown on a black hoodie, a pair of dark jeans, her favorite pair of Chucks, and followed him out of her hotel room.
In the darkness of the night, Liam pulled Colby along toward Lockwood’s assigned garage.
It wasn’t cold, but she was chilled to the bone and mentally exhausted. “Why in God’s name are we here this late? The track closed a couple of hours ago.”
“I’m keeping my word.”
“What? By dragging me around and us looking like thieves in the night. We are so going to get arrested.”
Liam chuckled. “I doubt anyone mistakes us for thieves.”
Spoken from the ivory tower of privilege, Colby thought. There were barely any black people on this track during the day. Yet, she was at the Atlanta Motor Speedway after closing, wearing a hoodie with four big ass bodyguards following them. At night, they might be mistaken for a gang. If I don’t hurry up and get my ass back to the hotel. She might not even make it to jail. Black folks walking around in the dark wearing hoodies had proven to be a lethal mix. Colby lowered the hood from off of
