Chapter 126: Racing
The rotor blades cut through the morning sky, the deep thrum echoing across the California coastline.
Liam sat comfortably in the chopper’s cabin, the leather seat cradling him as the landscape passed in blurs of green and gold far below. Mason and Nick sat opposite, silent and composed.
For thirty minutes, only the steady rhythm of the engines filled the cabin and Liam’s ears, then Lucy’s voice came gently through the Gear Glass.
"Sir, the circuit is cleared. Three cars are prepped for you in the paddock: a Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+, a Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut, and the Rimac Nevera."
Perfect. Thank you, Lucy, Liam muttered with a satisfied smile.
"You’re welcome, sir."
Liam was actually curious on how she was able to rent those three cars, but he decided not to ask. Lucy was capable and has her ways.
He leaned back, letting his eyes close for a moment, as he enjoyed the ride.
***
Almost an hour later, the helicopter blades slowed as the chopper descended, wind flattening the grass around Laguna Seca’s private helipad.
Liam sat forward slightly, eyes narrowing at the ribbon of asphalt that snaked across the hills
The pilot guided the chopper toward the small private helipad inside the circuit grounds. The skids touched the tarmac with a controlled bounce, and the blades slowed as the engine wound down.
The door opened and Liam stepped out first of the chopper first, Mason and Nick at his back
A group of track staff stood waiting near a row of garages. Their uniforms bore the Laguna Seca crest, and their posture carried both professionalism and a hint of awe. Very few clients arrived by private helicopter with their own security detail, and those were always people of high status.
"Mr. Scott, welcome," the man at the front said, extending his hand. "I’m Darren, head of operations here. It’s an honor to host you."
Liam shook his hand firmly. "Thank you for accommodating me on such short notice."
"Of course. The track is yours for as long as you want it. If there’s anything you need—fuel, maintenance, timing systems—it’s already arranged."
Darren gestured toward the garages. "If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to your cars."
They walked across the pit lane, the air already carrying the faint scent of rubber and gasoline. Inside the paddock, three cars gleamed under the white lights, each prepared meticulously.
Even the staff stole glances, unable to mask awe. Few people on the planet could casually summon such machines
One of the technicians stepped forward, holding a black bag. "Sir, we have helmets and racing suits ready for you. For safety."
Liam shook his head politely, as he said, "Not necessary. I’ll be fine."
The man hesitated, then nodded quickly, stepping back.
Liam walked to the Bugatti first, his fingers brushing the smooth hood. He circled once, then slid into the driver’s seat and pressed the ignition.
The engine roared to life, a sharp metallic growl that echoed across the paddock.
He eased the car forward, rolling out of the garage and onto the pit lane. A marshal waved him through, and then he was on the track.
***
The first lap was reconnaissance. He guided the Bugatti through the bends, feeling its weight, its balance. The Chiron wasn’t delicate. It was raw muscle, like it was barely tamed.
By the second lap, he pressed harder, making sure to trim down unnecessary movements. The engine’s deep howl rose to a scream as the car devoured the straight. The g-forces pressed him against the seat and his vision tunneled slightly at full throttle.
He gritted his teeth in exhilaration, as his blood pumped hot, with his heart pounding in rhythm with the car.
"This is power," he muttered.
He dove into the Corkscrew, braked late, and the Bugatti thundered down the drop, tires biting, the chassis vibrating like a beast trying to tear free.
"Lap time: 1:24.9," Lucy said, as he completed the lap.
Liam laughed under his breath. He felt bad for holding himself back for a whole month and not enjoying things like this more.
He pushed harder, each lap shaving tenths. By the end, his body was buzzing with intense adrenaline. When he finally eased into the pit lane, the car ticked and hissed as if it had fought a war.
Liam climbed out slowly, chest rising and falling. He looked at the staffs who were looking at him strangely, and he smiled as he walked to the Koenigsegg Jesko.
He got and the moment he pressed the ignition, the 5.0L twin-turbo V8 snarled, higher pitched than the Bugatti, sharper, impatient.
He launched it out of the pit and immediately felt the difference. The steering was knife-sharp, the downforce gluing it to the asphalt.
When he floored it on the straight, it didn’t just accelerate, rather, it detonated. His head snapped back, his stomach dropped, and his pulse spiked.
His knuckles tightened on the wheel, but his grin widened. "This... this is madness."
The Corkscrew came and he barely braked, trusting the car’s aerodynamics. The car obeyed, flowing down the slope like liquid steel, biting the track with perfection.
"Lap time: 1:22.3," Lucy’s voice came again, as he finished the first lap.
Liam felt the heat in his chest. He pushed again. By the next lap, he had shaved it down to 1:21.8.
The staff outside erupted in noise. That was beyond the limit of what they expected to see today.
But Liam wasn’t finished. He pushed again, every gearshift timed with flawless instinct, as he carved through the track, each lap shaving fractions.
By the time he pulled the car back into the pit, the final time displayed: one minute twenty flat.
The pit lane fell silent for a moment. Then the applause came louder this time, mixed with disbelief.
Darren shook his head, muttering, "Unreal."
Liam stepped out of the car with a calm expression, but he wasn’t calm on the inside. His hands trembling slightly from the overload of adrenaline.
Finally, the Rimac Nevera.
When it powered on, there was no roar but when Liam touched the accelerator, the silence shattered into violence.
The Nevera launched forward with instant torque, pinning him harder than either the Bugatti or Jesko. The world blurred around him, as the corners came in an instant, and the car’s advanced systems adjusted perfectly.
There was no engine scream, only high electric whine and the sound of tires ripping into asphalt.
Liam’s pulse still hammered as he pushed the car even harder, and the car obeyed flawlessly, never once losing composure.
Lucy’s report: "Lap time: 1:19.8."
The fastest yet.
Liam decided to drive three more laps but at normal speed this time, savoring the feel, before returning to the pit.
The staff gathered, clapping, shaking their heads in amazement.
Darren stepped forward, smiling broadly. "Mr. Scott... I don’t think anyone’s ever broken times like that on a casual run here. You’ve set a new benchmark today."
"I had fun," Liam smiled.
The staff exchanged glances. For them, it had been a display. For Liam, it was just another of his mornings.
Mason and Nick stood quietly nearby, their eyes betraying nothing, though they had felt the same thrill watching their employer dominate a world that wasn’t his.
Liam looked once more at the three machines, with a small smile on his face.
This was worth the day.