Chapter 30

A hard glare settled over Jake's features as he retorted, "Rylie, you're acting completely reckless.Victory isn't yours to take, and don't come begging your brother for mercy when it falls apart." With those words, he pivoted and strode off.

Stationed at the helm of the command post, Rylie readied herself for the crucial final lap. She slid on her headset and spoke with authority. "Team, I'm shifting our tactics for this race. Let's pull together and give it our all."

Soon,in a blaze of red and green, the signal lights flickered-instantly, twenty cars thundered down the rain-soaked track, engines howling in perfect harmony. Sheets of rain poured from above, and every spin of the tires sent geysers of water shooting skyward.

Using every ounce of muscle from his modified engine, Jake lunged into the race, carving out the coveted inside lane.

Like a predator unleashed, his car screamed down the straightaway, edging out a clear advantage with half a car's length to spare.

Meanwhile, Britton's lead driver bore down, jaw clenched, fingers dancing across the wheel as he dialed in settings for maximum traction in the downpour.

"Turn three's a trap!" Rylie called out through the headset. "There's deep water ahead. Keep it steady and don't force your way through."

Without hesitation, her teammate responded and quickly adjusted his driving, "Roger that!"

Rylie had barely finished the warning before disaster struck-Jake's car lost its grip entering turn three, spinning helplessly across the slick surface and smashing into the guardrail in a shower of sparks.

All around the circuit, the commentator's excited voice reverberated from the hologram displays:"A shocking turn of events! Phillip's top driver has crashed in the opening lap!"

"How could this happen!" A surge of disbelief overtook Phillip. Fury boiling over, he slammed his fist against the pit rail, leaving a sharp dent in the alloy as metal groaned beneath his knuckles.

Stacey offered a shaky reassurance from behind, fingers nervously twisting the hem of her suit. "Don't worry, Phillip. We haven't lost yet."

Determination etched into his jaw, Phillip locked his eyes on the gap closing between Jake and Britton's lead. "Jake, do not let Britton's team claim the first lap advantage. They're closing in-find a way to hold them off!"

The message was crystal clear to Jake. All the other teams faded into the background; Britton's drivers were the only real threat. Buying time against them meant hope for victory remained.

Spotting Jake's strategic move, Rylie caught on immediately and warned, "Heads up - Jake's coming up behind you. He'll try something risky. Make room."

"But if I let him through, I'll lose momentum and forfeit our lead," the team's lead driver sneered, voice tight with uncertainty.

Rylie didn't flinch. "Trust the plan. We can sacrifice a little time-keeping everyone safe is the priority."

She understood all too well the kind of desperation that would drive Phillip to bend the rules.

Britton threw his support behind Rylie, saying, "You heard her-follow the boss."

Reluctance written all over him, the lead driver eased off, letting Jake slide ahead so they finished the lap neck and neck for third and fourth place.

Thunder rumbled as the race pressed on, and the rain only fell harder.

Cutting through the storm, Anna Foster-Britton's third driver- put on a masterclass in precision,nailing every drift in a series of S-curves and surging up to second place.

Britton's excitement was evident as he drummed his fingers across the screen. "Anna's tearing it up!We're only one and a half seconds from the lead now!"

From her post in the pit, Rylie wiped rain from her goggles, listening as Britton kept his eyes on the weather feed. "Looks like it's finally clearing up on the summit."

A thoughtful frown creased Rylie's brow. "I doubt it. When I flew in by helicopter, I saw a thick cloud mass building over the summit. I'd bet hail's on the way."

With a sly grin, Britton replied, "Their team's rookie hasn't raced in weather this brutal. If she ends up running the final lap like you predict, they're in rea trouble."

Earlier laps saw Britton's and Phillip's crews racingside by side, their times separated by mere fractions.

That neck-and-neck struggle was all part of Rylie's plan. She'd timed her last run to coincide with Stacey's, pitting them head-to-head and making any gap between them crystal clear.

By the time the fifth lap brought the field to the mountain's peak, the sky that looked promising just moments before had darkened. Only a dozen cars remained.

Raindrops thickened, transforming into marble-sized hail that hammered the vehicles with every hit.

"Boss, I can barely see ten yards in front of me!" the fifth driver, Chad Blake, reported shakily through the communicator. "Braking distance has increased at least threefold!"

Eyes fixed on the data, Rylie kept her composure. "Smooth on the throttle. Let your instincts guide you.Start slowing down a good 200 yards before turn seven-don't risk it."

Trusting her, Chad drew a steady breath, relying on his gut and his dashboard as he ghosted through the whiteout. His car slipped past Phillip's as if invisible, clawing into the lead and shrinking the gap to just 0.8 seconds.

Meanwhile, down in the pit, Stacey was already in her seat, helmet fastened, bracing for the handoff.Phillipo stepped over, his words hushed but urgent. "Stacey, weather's gone wild at the summit. We're trailing Britton by just 0.8 seconds. You have to make it up on this lap. It's all in your hands now."

A jolt of nerves shot through Stacey. Rylie had always carried the pressure before, buying her time in every relay. Now, everything was on her shoulders.

Jake, sweat still streaking his face, added his own push, replying, "Whether we clinch the win or not-i's on you, Stacey."

Uncertainty gnawed at her. She glanced up and asked, "What's happening on the summit? Is the weather still rough?"

A weary sigh escaped Phillip. "No, the weather's taken a turn for the worse. Hail's coming down hard,and you can barely see ahead. It's too late to swap drivers, so you have to stay sharp. But meanwhile,you can't let Rylie get past you. She's the only one standing in our way now."

Steeling herself, Stacey gave a resolute nod. Outwardly, she looked composed, but her grip on the steering wheel betrayed a faint tremor.

Why did Rylie have to be on the final leg as well? If she failed-especially against Rylie-how would Phillip see her? And what about the team, or all those fans cheering her on?