The roar of the engines was so loud, vibrating through the soles of Nathan's shoes and rattling in his chest. He stood behind the metal barrier, his fingers gripping the cold railing so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
He focused on Zane's car, which was a blur of light every time it passed him.
Nathan's mouth was dry. He didn't care about the speed or the skill or the money being bet by the shouting crowd around him. He only saw the erratic way the car took the corners.
It was too fast.
"Please, be safe," Nathan whispered into the collar of his jacket. The wind whipped the words away instantly.
"Please… Zane."
He found himself closing his eyes every time Zane's car drifted near the concrete edges. He was praying, repeating the same plea over and over in his mind. He wanted the race to end.
The checkered flag dropped. Zane's car crossed the line first, the engine screaming along with the cheers from behind him.
Zane won.
