He was out for Marcus after all, the kid had wrecked his car, and there was no way Teague was going to let that slide so easily.
Victoria climbed out of the car and asked Teague for a notepad and pen. Five minutester, she handed them back to him.
"Here''s a list of the parts you''ll need. The engine''s fine, but if you want any upgrades, I can take care of it-no charge."
Teague took the list, looking unconcerned at first. He was a sports car collector; of course he could understand Victoria''s notes. But as he read through, his
expression changed.
"You actually know how to do this?"
She shot him a look. "What do you think?"
Victoria peeled off her gloves. "It''s not a big deal. Once you''ve got the parts, I can fix it up in forty minutes."
She was speaking to Marcus, but Teague nearly burst outughing.
"Forty minutes?"
Victoria nced at Teague, barely bothering to hide her disdain.
"Do you even know anything about cars? Ever watched Form One? Back in 2018, the Vivian Racing Team managed a 1.8-second tire change and rebuilt a totaled car in thirty minutes at the world championships. Look it up if you don''t believe me."
Teague actually had heard about that, but watching this slip of a girl bluff was still something else.
He grinned, mischief in his eyes. "Alright, I''ll get the parts. He''ll pay. You fix the car."
Then he leaned in a little too close to Victoria, giving her a sleazy look.
"And if you can''t pull it off, you''ll have to be my girlfriend."
Marcus immediately pulled Victoria behind him. "Cut the crap. I told you, we''ll get it fixed."
"Can Miss Fannie drive?" Max had been listening nearby for a while. He didn''t catch most of the conversation, but ever since Victoria taught him how to y a racing game, he''d looked up to her.
Victoria hesitated for a split second. Of course she could drive-she was a pro, a real expert.
But-
"No, sweetheart. Miss Fannie just fixes cars-she doesn''t drive them."
Marcus ruffled Max''s hair and nced at Victoria. "Sorry for the trouble. Let''s get going."
Victoria nodded. Teague kept his eyes glued to her, his mind spinning with wild thoughts.
He wanted this woman.
"How about I give you guys a ride? Pick anything you like,” Teague offered, feigning generosity.
Marcus stayed protectively close to Victoria and replied coolly, "No need."
Victoria wasn''t about to get involved with a spoiled rich kid looking for trouble. "We''ve got our own car, thanks."
Teague watched as Marcus led Max and Victoria to their car.
The McLaren roared to life, its engine thundering like a beast.
A cold, menacing glint shed in Teague''s eyes.
"Sir?"
A few men in ck appeared at his side. Teague flicked his cigarette to the ground and smirked.
"Fix the car? She can try fixing it in hell."
He ground the cigarette under his heel, waved his hand, and the men piled into
their own cars, tearing after the McLaren.
Marcus''s car sped south, leaving the quiet streets behind and heading toward the bustling city.
At a major intersection ahead, a fleet
of ck SUVS came barreling in
from both sides, each one gunne
straight for them at breakneck speed.
Even with Marcus''s lightning reflexes, he couldn''t avoid the ambush.
The car was T-boned, spun through
the air, and mmed down after a full 360-degree roll. Inside, the world spun violently-Victoria tumbled with it.
The brutal impact nearly knocked her out; sticky blood ran down from her scalp.
As her eyes fluttered shut, she thought she saw Edith.
"Mom... are you here to take me home?"
But her mother had died from heartbreak, her father was
remarrying with the Turner fam
money, and her aunt was lying in a
There were vultures circling McNeil Estate. Her own daughter had turned away from her.
She was so tired. So tired she just wanted to fall asleep and never wake up again.