When everyone's gaze turned toward Leon, Gisele instantly realized she had asked a foolish question.
A driver this skilled—could there really be someone stronger than him on the entire West Coast?
Impossible.
Unknowingly, Gisele felt a wave of admiration rising for Leon. He wasn't just powerful—he had charisma. Men like him always attracted women no matter where they went.
"You flatter me," Leon chuckled. "I only dare to call myself second. I'm still waiting for the true number one to come and beat me."
The way he said it was dripping with style—like a master undefeated, longing not for victory, but for the day he finally lost.
But truthfully… who could actually defeat him?
Elena covered her mouth and laughed softly. "Is this what you Asians call humility? If you're second, then no one else dares claim first."
Hattie also smiled. "Being able to join the team of the West Coast's number two, I'm more than satisfied."
The two women exchanged knowing looks, their laughter light but teasing.
Shaw's expression twisted subtly—he had picked up on a certain word. "Join? …You joined his team?"
He turned to his younger sister with suspicion. "If you want to race, I'll help you. I'll buy you a Lamborghini Sesto Elemento if you want!"
For Shaw, money wasn't an issue. He could easily afford it. The Sesto Elemento had a sky-high price tag of around 15 million yuan, but Shaw liked it not just for its monstrous performance—its name carried a bold edge too.
It was called Sesto Elemento because of its extensive use of carbon fiber. Since carbon is the sixth element on the periodic table, the car was named after it. Thanks to this, the hypercar's body weighed only 999 kilograms—far lighter than Bugatti, Ferrari, or any other rivals in its class.
Pair that featherweight frame with its 5.2L V10 engine delivering 570 horsepower, and it could push beyond 370 km/h—rivaling the speed of China's proud high-speed trains.
Shaw loved it, especially the rare V10 configuration when most competitors only offered V8s. It promised to be a thrill to drive.
He expected his sister to be thrilled at the offer, but instead, she curled her lips and leaned into Leon's arm, resting her head on his shoulder.
"No thanks. Your car's not as good as Leon's."
The entire table burst out in laughter.
Shaw's face soured—his own sister had just dismissed his prized offer! Sure, the Sesto Elemento was worth millions, but compared to Leon's ride, even Shaw had to admit it fell short.
"Tch, so what if his car is better? It's not like he's giving it to you." Shaw muttered. After all, no one in their right mind would give away such a car. Even something a tier or two lower would still cost a fortune.
"Why not?" Hattie teased. "Elena has one, I should get one too."
The words hit Shaw like a bomb. Giving away a supercar just for joining the team? Nobody in the world did that. Not a single crew.
His face hardened. Could Leon be conning his sister?
"You're really giving away supercars? Join your crew and you hand out keys?" Shaw's eyes sharpened with suspicion.
Leon smirked. "Why don't you join as well? Then you'll see for yourself."
Leon had noticed Shaw's talent—his driving skills were sharp, his reflexes trained, and with the right machine, his speed could soar. With an upgrade, Shaw might even be the first in the team to break 500 km/h.
"No way. You just want me playing second fiddle," Shaw snorted, though his hesitation betrayed him.
His past with MI6 had left scars—betrayed by teammates, burned by trust. He'd vowed to go it alone ever since. And yet… Leon's car, the Diomas Nilo, tempted him. His heart wrestled with itself.
Leon's sly grin cut through his doubts: "What, you don't trust me? Aren't you worried what might happen to Hattie if you're not around?"
"You wouldn't dare!" Shaw's teeth clenched.
"Not now. But later? Who knows?" Leon replied, eyes sparkling mischievously.
That struck home. If he was there, Hattie would be safe. He had promised their imprisoned mother he'd protect his sister until she married. He couldn't risk her getting hurt—or worse.
"Fine. I'll join you!" Shaw growled, finally slamming down his decision.
Leon's smile widened with approval. He liked people who were decisive, loyal, and ruthless when necessary. The kind of man who could casually stroll with two grenades in his pockets and blow up anyone who crossed him.
"Good choice," Leon said.
"…Then can I join too?" Gisele's eyes gleamed with interest.
"I'm a navigator. Back with Braga, I was his strongest driver." Her tone carried pride—becoming a navigator wasn't easy; you had to prove yourself by beating the best.
Leon frowned slightly. "And what about Braga? You can't be in two crews."
Gisele smirked. "He was about to kick me out anyway, trying to put his mistress in my spot. I'll quit. That'll make him happy."
She turned her head toward Hobbs. "Besides, with the famous Agent Hobbs here, Braga won't be bouncing around much longer, right?"
Hobbs blinked. "How do you know my name?"
He hadn't introduced himself since arriving.
Gisele grinned. "Who doesn't know the Rock, Agent Hobbs? Anyone in this life worth their salt knows which cops can't be bought. If we didn't, we wouldn't have survived this long."
In the underworld, knowing who could be bribed and who would rather kill you than bend was life or death.
Hobbs just shrugged, offering no reply. Operations against Braga were top-secret anyway.
Leon studied Gisele's expression. Since she was already cutting ties with Braga, he tossed her the keys to the Diomas Nilo.
"You talk a big game. Later, you'll drive us back to New York. Let's see if you can handle the speed."
A playful grin tugged at his lips. Once she sat in the seat, saw the 900 km/h speedometer, and pressed the accelerator past 300 km/h, would she scream in terror or keep her cool?
The thought made Leon chuckle to himself. Gisele would be the first outsider to truly test his machine.
~~----------------------
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