Victory Lane (Shady Falls #1) (3 page)

“I’m good, Steve. It was just a rough night.”

He looked sympathetically and nodded. “Bad dreams?” When I nodded, he smirked just a little. A teasing glint lit up his eyes. “I’d be happy to chase those nightmares away, if you wanted.”

The smirk and the teasing tone calmed me. He wasn’t hitting on me, not really anyway. He was just trying to calm me down, much like Jake and Cade did when I was worked up.

“In your dreams, buddy. This girl can take care of herself. No knight in shining armor for me.” Steve’s smile widened, and he was about to say something more when the door opened. 

Roger, our instructor, came into the room and immediately everyone hushed. We all knew what was next and our excitement was palpable as it grew through the room. Roger was a retired crew chief for one of the most famous racecar drivers of all time. He had mostly graying hair, his wizened face was careworn, and his eyes held a wealth of knowledge and understanding. Roger had more knowledge about racecars than anyone I’d ever met. He loved to share stories of what he liked to call his ‘glory days’ and he loved to share what he knew with all of us. Unlike the guys, he did treat me a little differently. He seemed to expect
more
from me. He challenged me both mentally and physically. He’d always say half of working on a car was mental. You had to be able to figure out the problem before you could fix it. He told me figuring out the problem was my strongest asset. I could often ferret out issues before I loosened even one bolt.

“All right fellas. Let’s get goin’.” He waited a moment, looking around the room at the group, making eye contact with each one of us in turn. He smiled a warm, fatherly smile. “First, I’d like to tell y’all how proud I am of you. Y’all are some of the best mechanics and engineers I’ve trained in all my years of doin’ this. This group’ll be my most successful, I know it.”

“That’s ‘cause Toni’s here,” Steve shouted, smirking at me. I just shook my head and scowled at him. This was his way of distracting me and helping me to clear my head.

“Well, someone had to carry your sorry ass,” I shot back.

Shouts of mocking and sarcastic comments came flying across the room as Steve pretended to fall over, shot in the heart. I laughed at his ridiculous actions. I wished I could like him, but there was nothing but friendship there. There was never anything more than friendship with anyone.

Roger shook his head, exasperated with us all. “Maybe I lied. I can’t wait ‘til y’all get the hell outta here.” His grin was wide as he looked around. “The twenty teams y’all will be placed with are ready and waiting for y’all to arrive. They each have information about their interns including your grades, your strengths and weaknesses, and whatever other information we felt was pertinent.” He looked at me with that last bit. I knew he would have to let the crew know I was female. I expected that, but apprehension struck me as I realized teams might not have wanted me because of my gender.

“Like the fact Toni’s a chick?” Steve interjected.

“Somethin’ like that,” Roger said with a smile. “What I’m gonna have y’all do is come to my office individually to get your packet of information and any other things the teams wanted you to have. We’ll discuss some ins and outs and you can be on your way. Y’all are to report to your teams first thing tomorrow mornin’. They’re preparin’ for the start of the new season, so your presence will be helpful. Don’t forget, you are an intern. You’ll do whatever’s asked of you. If someone wants coffee and they ask you, you get it. You will be doin’ the grunt work no one else wants or likes to do. You have to pay your dues. Understood?”

We all nodded, but none of us was happy about it. I was especially terrified because yet again, I would have to prove myself to a bunch of guys, but I wouldn’t be able to if I was off getting coffee and donuts for the team. The only way I would be able to make an impression would be if I could get under the hood of a car and show them what I can do. I understood the need to pay my dues, and I wanted that opportunity no matter what.

Roger left for his office and we all filed out of the room to our break area. There were pinball machines, a pool table, a television with a gaming system, and other things to keep a bunch of twenty-something guys busy. We all sat around, some talked while others played the various games. I picked up a book and read. I needed to empty my mind of my restless night and what was about to happen. Books were the best way for me to relax and calm myself. Transporting myself away for just a while was a welcome distraction. My current book was transporting me to the land of Greek and Roman demigods, gods, and goddesses. I liked a world where the underdog became the hero and the least likely guy was the most powerful of all. This black haired, green-eyed demigod was my favorite book boyfriend.

“Ya know, Toni, you’re a grease monkey. You ain’t supposed to be a book geek too,” Joe teased from the pool table. He leaned his thin, muscular frame over the table and sunk the cue ball into the pocket.

“I just don’t feel like kickin’ your ass at pool, again. I’ve taken enough of your money this semester. Jenny’s gonna kill me if I keep takin’ your money.”

“Jenny don’t control me,” he growled. I laughed because we both knew it was a lie. His girlfriend Jenny was sweet, kind, and had him completely wrapped around her little finger.

When it was finally my turn, I reluctantly placed my book in my bag and slowly walked to Roger’s office. I was excited before, but now I realized it was possible that he wanted to do this privately because no one wanted a woman. That thought was like a shot to the stomach.

I knocked on his door and pushed it open. Roger sat on the other side of his old wooden teacher’s desk. The thing looked like it was a hundred years old. It was discolored from years of wear and tear. One of the legs was missing and being held up with a brick and there were grease stains all over. The rest of the office was sparse. A few posters of cars and teams, several pictures of what I presumed were his family. The picture that stood out the most was the picture of Kyle Redding, Julius Fuller, Axel Turner, and Roger. I knew this picture well, it was Axel’s and Roger’s last season opener and Kyle’s and Julius’ first in the Sprint Cup series. It was one of my favorite pictures.

“Have a seat, Toni,” he said with a smile. I hoped his smile was a good thing because my stomach was flipping and turning over with nervousness. “Well Toni, it’s been an interesting three and a half years with you. You know I’m an old timer, so when I saw a girl’s name on my roster I wasn’t happy. And I’ll be honest, when I saw you, I was even less happy. You are a beautiful young lady and I worried you’d distract the boys.”

I looked at him, surprise plastered across my face. My mouth hung open in shock at his words. I never would have guessed he had a problem with my presence. I didn’t say a word; I sat there and tried desperately not to allow the feeling of despair to pull me under. I didn’t want to know this and I was now even more terrified of what he was going to tell me.

He snickered, “The look on your face tells me you weren’t expecting to hear my honesty.” I shook my head. No, I never expected he would tell me this, but I couldn’t verbalize anything at the moment. “I’m not telling you this to upset you, but I wanted you to know what you were up against when you walked in here. I know you understood you’d have the guys to contend with, but I bet you didn’t expect a chauvinistic pig as a teacher.” He snickered a little at his comment. I knew the teachers could be my worst enemies, but Roger never once let me see it. I was more shocked at his professionalism and his ability to hide his true feelings. Then he continued, “Anyway, I must tell you, you exceeded my every expectation. You’ll do well in this field and with this internship. You’re ready.”

Relief flooded through me as he continued to talk. I’d proven myself. I was proud of what I’d accomplished so far and hearing I was ready from this iconic man made me exceedingly happy. “You think I’m ready?” I asked in a small voice.

“Certainly. That’s why you’re being placed with one of the top teams in the circuit. You’ll be interning with crew chief Kyle Redding on Julius Fuller’s number fifty-five car.”

My heart stopped, Julius Fuller was one of the best drivers out there at the moment. He came off a winning truck series career. His rookie season he had a breakout year and won rookie of the year in the Sprint Cup series. Over the last few years, he had been in contention for the series championship, but last year a couple late season wrecks killed his chances. Everyone believed he would be in contention for the championship once again, and I was getting to work on his team. He was said to have a horrible temper and rumor was he could be impossible to work with, so I worried about that. However, my biggest fear was because I’d crushed on this guy since his truck racing days. I’d always dreamed of meeting him. But now I didn’t know if I wanted to. What if I couldn’t see past my crush?

Roger continued, not seeming to notice my building panic. “Kyle has been provided with as much information about you and your abilities as possible. He knows you were crew chief for the winning team in the car build challenge. That’s what earned you this opportunity. Your ability to delegate work, think through problems, and then fix them, is what helped your team to win the challenge and why Kyle requested you as his intern.”

Once again my heart stopped. “He
requested
me? Why would he request me? I didn’t know they could request interns.”

“Every team has the opportunity, but most don’t take it. They usually allow us to place our students with the teams we feel will be the best fit. But upon reading your information, Kyle was insistent, and of course he’s just as willful and stubborn as his father,” he said with a grin.

Then something dawned on me. “Wait, Kyle’s your son, right? Why would he want me when he could have the best in the class?” I asked.

He smiled. “Yes he is. He also knows what it takes to impress this old fool. You managed not only to impress your classmates and the other instructors, but you impressed me. Kyle knows if someone impresses me, they are damn good at what they do. You have the mind of a crew chief, not many of our students show that ability. So as soon as Kyle realized, he told me he wanted you as his intern. And just in case you hadn’t noticed, you
are
one of the best in the class, Toni.”

I was stunned. I didn’t know what to say or do. I was going to intern with one of the best crew chiefs in the business, with one of the best drivers ever to get behind the wheel of a car. Roger smiled at my shock. “You alright there, girl?” he asked with a snicker.

“I … I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t need to say anything. Report to Fuller’s garage tomorrow morning by eight o’clock sharp and be ready to work. They’re gonna challenge you in every way possible, so be ready. Not many women make it this far into the program and none has been as close as to work one-on-one with a crew chief. Be proud of yourself and prove this old fogy still knows what he’s talking about.”

I nodded, took my things and turned toward the door. “Thanks Roger. I won’t let you down.”

“I know, Antonia. See you in a few weeks.”

Chapter Two

Toni

I ran out into the bitter cold but didn’t feel a thing. I wasn’t thinking about the cold or the biting wind as I hurried across the parking lot. I was too excited. My future, a future which was once almost out of reach, was now just in my grasp. Tomorrow, I would no longer be Toni the student or Toni the wanna-be mechanic, I would be Toni the NASCAR crew member. My stomach churned with nervousness and my hands trembled slightly, but I was more excited than I’d ever been for anything in my life.

Jumping into my truck, I immediately dialed my father as I turned the engine to warm the interior. I had to call him and give him the news. It was times like this I wished he were closer. I wished I could go to him and celebrate my exciting news with him. Times like this, I also missed my momma terribly. My sadness cleared the moment I heard my daddy’s voice reverberate through the phone. His deep and soulful voice was always a soothing sound for me. Just his voice calmed the nervousness flooding me. I smiled and breathed deeply, relaxing into the warmth of my seat. 

“Antonia,” he declared when he answered the phone. “How are ya, honey?”

“Great, Daddy. I’m better than great actually.”

“What’re you doin’ callin’ so early? Shouldn’t you be in class?” There was a concern in his voice as he spoke.

“I got my placement, Daddy. I know what team I’ll be interning for this spring.”

He waited for a moment before he asked, “Where will you be goin’, darlin’? You ain’t goin’ too far away, are ya?”

I smiled to myself. I was happy to be able to give him such good news. This has been a real concern between both my dad and my friends. They were all concerned about where I’d end up. If I was honest, I was concerned too.

“I’m not goin’ far, Daddy. I’m gonna be right here in Mooresville. I’m gonna be workin’ with Kyle Redding and Julius Fuller.”

To say he was excited would be an understatement. He whooped into the phone, he actually hooted and hollered as he announced my fortune to all within hearing range. It was the funniest thing I’d ever heard. I couldn’t help but laugh at his reaction as he shouted his excitement throughout the garage, letting everyone know I was going to be interning with Kyle Redding.

“Toni, your momma would be so proud of you. She always said you’d do amazin’ things,” he stated after he calmed. Hearing about my mother used to upset me. It was hard growing up without her. But hearing this, knowing she would be proud of me, made this moment so much more special. My mother was the strongest person I ever met; she loved her family and friends fiercely. She fought her hardest against a disease that destroys people every day. I missed her terribly, especially on days like today. Tears formed in my eyes as I thought about how much I missed her and how much I missed my father. I hated that I couldn’t share any of this with him in person.

I spent the next few minutes on the phone with my dad, promising to visit soon and to take care of myself. When we finished talking, I pulled out of the parking lot and turned toward Cade’s and Jake’s gym in town. Jake and Cade Hanson were identical twin brothers and my best friends in the whole world. They had been through so much with me—my mother’s death, growing up, and the nightmare which was Todd. We were inseparable growing up and when I made the move to Mooresville, they came to visit and never left. They started working for others but it wasn’t long before my entrepreneurial friends found a way to live life on their own terms.

When I got to Hanson Fitness, I began to relax. This place had been a second home to me since the twins opened two years ago. If I wasn’t at my uncle’s bar, I was at the gym. The solace and safety that I found within those walls and with the brothers was unparalleled. The gym was the place I started to find my physical power, ensuring a security I thought I’d never know again. The twin’s friendship and support gave me the strength I needed to find psychological fortitude once again. I would never be able to repay them for everything they’ve done for me over the years.

The brothers were both with clients, forcing me to wait impatiently in their office. This was one of my favorite places. This gym was where I opened up and found confidence in my appearance and myself. Working out helped drown out Todd’s toxic words, and helped me to see myself a little more clearly.

I sat back and waited until Cade walked into the room. He smiled when he saw me; his sapphire blue eyes sparkled with mirth. His close-cropped sandy-blond hair dripped with moisture. His square jaw was covered in light stubble that gave the appearance that he just didn’t bother. He was handsome without even trying. His Hanson Gym t-shirt had the sleeves cut off so it displayed every bulging muscle in his arms and showcased his thick neck. His baggy shorts hung low on his hips, highlighting his powerful legs. Women were no match when he and his identical twin brother were together.

He walked over to the couch and plopped down, slinging his arm across the back. He sighed as he relaxed back, smiling wider when he turned his head and looked at me. “What’s up, sweetheart?” he asked. Out of the two, Cade was the intense twin. He took everything so seriously. Cade didn’t do anything without thinking about every possible angle or obstacle. He was so sensible about everything that he didn’t even date without carefully considering every conceivable difficulty. He always ended up talking himself out of the women he dated.

“Where’s Jake?” I asked. I couldn’t tell one the news without the other, Jake would never forgive me. Jake, the more passionate twin, was easygoing and fun loving. He was impulsive and somewhat irresponsible, but he also angered easier than Cade did. He’d been the exuberant one in our group when we were young, but that changed when we were teenagers. He was still cheerful and lively, but there was a darkness behind Jake’s boisterousness.

“He’s comin’. Everything okay?” Cade wrapped his overly muscular arm around my shoulders and pulled me into his side. The twins always had a way of making me feel like I was the most important person in the world to them.

“Perfect,” I said, but didn’t elaborate.

Finally Jake came out of the locker room with an extremely buff and attractive man in tow. Jake smirked at Cade and me as he walked his client to the door.

I needed to spend more time around here if all of their clients are this hot. I didn’t want to date but there was nothing wrong with looking.

Jake sauntered back toward us, his normal swagger present in his walk. He was identical to Cade in almost every way but there were subtle differences. Cade was about an inch taller and about twenty pounds heavier. Jake’s muscles were just as defined and powerful, but his frame was slightly leaner. His sandy-blond hair was long, down to his shoulders so he had to tie it back at the nape of his neck while he was training. Jake’s handsome face was also always clean-shaven.

His mischievous grin graced his handsome face as he returned to us. He dropped down on the couch on the other side of me, wrapped his equally bulging arm around my waist, and slid next to me. I loved how the brothers were a constant comfort and consistent strength for me. Sandwiched between them, there was no safer place in the world as far as I was concerned. I didn’t seek male companionship. Jake and Cade were my companions, my friends, and confidants. I knew they blamed themselves for what happened just as much as my dad did. But none of them realized there was nothing they could have done to change what happened the summer after senior year. I didn’t let them help me and Todd sure as hell would have found a way to get to me no matter what they did to try to protect me from him. We were friends before we could even walk, and we would always have that closeness. I wished they could both find deserving girls, but neither of them seemed to care. Sometimes I worried they held themselves back because of me.

“Alright, sweetheart,” Cade said. “Out with it. What was so important you had to make sure we knew you were here and wanted to talk?”

“I got my placement today. I know where I’m interning for the semester.”

Jake let go of my shoulders and spun to stand in front of me, his long sandy-blond ponytail whipped around and stuck to the dampness on his neck. His bright blue eyes were wide, looking into my brown ones to try to gauge my feelings. Cade kept his strong arm around my shoulders, but I felt him stiffen slightly. This was something they both have worried about since I started school. Jake pulled me up and directed me to sit on the coffee table while they sat in front of me on the couch. They were mirror images of concern and worry. The apprehension in their eyes made my heart melt and think about all of the times they tried to save me.

“Come on, Sweetheart, you can do better than that,” Cade taunted as I tried desperately to get out of the hold Jake had on me. As always, our playful bantering turned into a wrestling match. I was usually much more agile. But my whole frame hurt from yet another one of Todd’s assaults. The constant physical and sexual attacks wreaked havoc my body and my mind. He seemed to think he owned me.

“Dammit, Jake, let me go!” I growled at him. I didn’t want him to know I was hurting and couldn’t handle this today. My long sleeve shirt and pants hid the latest evidence of Todd’s abuse, last night’s bout having been worse than ever. When I told him I didn’t want to get married and I was going to school, he was pissed. I should have known better than to try to reason with him. I needed to get the hell away from him. But he never went away. He always found me.

“Funny, Toni. I never surrender, especially to a weaker opponent,” Jake laughed. Little did he know I was a much weaker opponent than usual. I continued to struggle against Jake when he wrapped his arm around my waist to try to control me. A maneuver he’d done a million times, but today it was bad. I cried out from the pain shooting through my body, inflicted by his touch. Tears instantly filled my eyes. I had a feeling that Todd had done some real damage to me last night, and the pain I felt when Jake held me only added to my fears.

When the twins saw my reaction to being touched, they both froze. Cade strode across the room toward me as Jake stepped back, their blue eyes full of alarm. Before I could move away and pretend I was fine, Jake had a hold of my hands and Cade was lifting my shirt to expose my abdomen.

“Hey,” I whimpered, “get the hell off.” But I knew the moment they saw the bruises. I felt Jake’s hands tighten around mine as I fought to get away from his hold. Cade just stood still as a statue and stared at my mangled body. The evidence of both old and new abuse marked me.

“What the hell is this, Antonia?” Cade whispered. But I didn’t bother answering; I didn’t have to. My secret was out, they knew.

“I’m gonna fuckin’ kill him,” Jake growled, his usual easy-going manner was now dark and explosive. “He’s fuckin’ dead.”

“No, it was an accident. He didn’t mean to hurt me.” I tried to placate them. I didn’t want them to do anything which could get them in trouble. Over time, I realized the reason I did what I could to hide the bruises and injuries was because I was more worried about what the twins or my dad would do than anything. I didn’t want the people I loved getting in trouble because of me. And now, seeing the murderous look in Jake and Cade’s eyes, I was terrified that what I had been trying to prevent would come true.

“Is it far?” Jake asked. I could see the unease. We’ve never been far from each other for long. They followed me to Mooresville after everything with Todd because they worried about me. They would probably follow me again, but their lives were here. The thought of being too far away was concerning for all of us, but thankfully that issue was moot.

“Nope, not far at all,” I said, trying desperately to hide my smile. Keeping my voice as flat and unfeeling as I could, I continued. “As a matter of fact, it’s only about a twenty minute drive from here. I’ll be interning with Kyle Redding.” Then I waited. They were avid race fans, just like me, so I knew it wouldn’t take long to link Kyle’s name with the racer’s name. After about twenty seconds, they both leapt off the couch and pulled me up with them. They wrapped their arms around me until I was sandwiched between the two behemoth brothers as if I was nothing but a wisp of air. It was another thing I loved about being friends with these guys; I wasn’t petite and willowy like a lot of girls. I was tall and my form both muscular and curvy. I wasn’t the kind of girl that feels small around anyone. I was often as tall or almost as tall as many of the men I was surrounded by, but with Cade and Jake, I always felt good about myself.

“Julius Fuller’s team? Are you fuckin’ shittin’ me? You’re gonna to be on the number fifty-five race team?” Jake asked.

I nodded. “Yep, I report tomorrow morning at eight.” I couldn’t hide the huge smile pulling at my lips. This was the greatest opportunity ever.

“You know we train some of their crew, right? And you know Kyle Redding and Julius Fuller actually train here as well.”

I shook my head, I didn’t know, although it shouldn’t surprise me. Jake and Cade had made quite the names for themselves and since Kyle was Roger’s son, it was no wonder the number fifty-five team found out about the brothers. Then again, I was kind of surprised about Julius Fuller training here. I guess I just always figured he would have a private place to train. “Julius Fuller trains … here?” I asked astonished. “Why?”